INTERACT-EUROPE Showcase Event

Pioneering the Future of Inter-Specialty Cancer Education: Breaking down barriers and uniting expertise.

 

On 17 November, the day after the European Cancer Summit 2023, the event brought together leading oncology education experts from across Europe, and many others, to consider ground-breaking new methods and tools for improving inter-specialty cancer training.

 

The INTERACT-EUROPE project, a flagship element of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, has developed an innovative new approach to supporting new levels of cooperation between professions involved in cancer care by creating a first-of-its-kind inter-speciality cancer training curriculum.

 

Tested by a pioneer cohort, and with technology-enhanced features, the showcase event looked to the future as ambitions increased to embrace more than 100 cancer centres in 15 or more countries to the programme by 2027.

16 November 2023 15:30 - 20:00 CET 17 November 2023 8:00 - 14:00 CET

Radisson Collection Hotel, Grand Place Brussels (and Virtual)
Rue du Fossé aux Loups 47, Brussels 1000, Belgium

Programme  

Pioneering the Future of Inter-Specialty Cancer Education: Breaking down barriers and uniting expertise 

This event has been held in conjunction with the European Cancer Summit on 15 & 16 November 2023. Please find all details about the Summit here. 

 

Thursday 16 November 2023 - At the European Cancer Summit

The programme at the two-day European Cancer Summit has been designed to include the Workforce session and a preview of the INTERACT-EUROPE Showcase Event on Thursday afternoon, followed by a drinks reception.

15:15-15:30 – Networking Coffee
15:30-16:45 – An Oncology Workforce in Crisis: They care for us. Do we care for them?

The current shortages within the healthcare workforce are having a profound impact on the dedicated men and women on the frontlines of cancer care in Europe. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists – they are all struggling to cope. More and more report burnout, forcing them to leave their professions. Those who remain are given more responsibilities, larger caseloads, and ever-taller stacks of paperwork. Mistakes under these conditions are inevitable, and care is being compromised.  This must stop, and it's up to us to help stop it. This session discussed how.

With Workforce Network Co-Chairs Mirjam Crul and Beate Rau, including speakers:

  • Marta Cohen, Professor, Consultant Pathologist & Head of Histopathology Department, Sheffield Children’s Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust
  • Antanas Montvila, Vice-President, European Junior Doctors Association (EJD)
  • Rachel Giles, CEO, International Kidney Cancer Coalition, & Member, Patient Advisory Committee, European Cancer Organisation
  • Wendy Oldenmenger, Assistant Professor at Erasmus MC, European Oncology Nursing Society & Co-Chair, ECO Workforce Network
  • Heather Moses, Head of Europe & Canada Medical Affairs, AstraZeneca   
16:45-17:00 – Preview of INTERACT-EUROPE  

A look forward to the next day’s Showcase event on INTERACT-EUROPE, a unique inter-specialty cancer training programme set to improve cancer care through cooperation. The INTERACT vision is all about bringing together oncology professionals across Europe, and providing them with the tools understand each other and work together to provide quality cancer care. 

The curriculum was developed alongside 33 organisations from 17 countries. Last month, our highly successful pilot workshops brought together over 40 oncology professionals (including medical oncologists, clinical oncologists, oncology surgeons, oncology radiologists and oncology nurses) in Lisbon to train and explore inter-disciplinary approaches to cancer treatment.

This was only the beginning of our mission! The next phase is the new INTERACT-EUROPE 100 project, which will continue the legacy of the project expanding to 100 selected cancer centres across Europe.

The INTERACT-EUROPE Showcase Event offered delegates the chance to learn more about the takeaways of the project and explore future opportunities for pan-European inter-specialty cooperation. Find out more about it from our CEO on this video.

Speakers at this preview session included:

  • Alberto Costa, CEO, European School of Oncology
  • Fernanda Conceicao, Oncology Nurse Team Leader, Champalimaud Foundation Clinical Center
  • Kim Benstead, Co-Chair of INTERACT-EUROPE Steering Committee
17:00-17:15 - With thanks to our Volunteer Leaders

ECO paid tribute to volunteer leaders in the 2023-2024 mandate stepping down from their roles.

17:15-17:30 - Closing session of the European Cancer Summit

A look back at this year’s Summit highlights with Andreas Charalambous, President of the European Cancer Organisation, Winette van der Graaf and Kathy Oliver, European Cancer Summit Co-Chairs.

17:30-19:00 – INTERACT-EUROPE Networking Reception

 

Friday 17 November 2023

08:00-08:45 – Networking Breakfast
08:45-09:00 - Welcome to INTERACT-EUROPE
09:00-09:55 - Pioneering Inter-Specialty Cancer Training in Europe 

A tour through some of the main achievements of INTERACT-EUROPE, introduced by Andreas Charalambous, Professor, Cyprus University of Technology & President of the European Cancer Organisation.

Including contributions from expert speakers:
  • Philippe Roux, Acting Director, SANTE B.1, European Commission
  • Niall O'Higgins, Professor Emeritus of Surgery, University College Dublin & Co-Chair of the INTERACT-EUROPE Steering Committee
  • Alberto Costa, CEO, European School of Oncology
  • Fernanda Conceicao, Oncology Nurse Team Leader, Champalimaud Foundation Clinical Center, Lisbon
  • Fernando Aguirregomezcorta, Paediatric Oncologist, San Joan de Deu Hospital, Barcelona
  • Luzia Travado, Head of Psycho-oncology Unit, Champalimaud Foundation Clinical Center, Lisbon
  • Rachel Giles, CEO, International Kidney Cancer Coalition
09:55-10:10 – Networking Coffee Break
10:10-11:20 - Empowering Professions: Inter-Specialty Knowledge     

An explanation of the process taken to develop the inter-specialty cancer training programme curriculum, including indication and thoughts about its best mode of delivery in the future. This session was introduced by Kim Benstead, Chair for the Curriculum Committee, European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) and Co-Chair of the INTERACT-EUROPE Steering Committee.

Including contributions from expert speakers:
  • Jesper Grau Eriksen, Director, Director, School of Radiotherapy and Oncology, ESTRO
  • Jan Geissler, CEO, Patvocates & ECO Patient Advisory Committee member
  • Nikolina Dodlek, Executive Board Member, Young Cancer Nurse, European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS)
  • Ton Brouwers, Manager Education and Training, European Association of Urology (EAU)
  • Mirjam Crul, Vice-President, European Society of Oncology Pharmacy (ESOP) & ECO Board member, Co-Chair of Workforce Network
  • Celia Díez de los Ríos de la Serna, Co-Chair of the Education group, EONS, & PhD candidate, University of Barcelona
11:20-12:20 -  Spotlight on Technology: Learning and Recommendations

An explanation and discussion of the principal activities of INTERACT-EUROPE in respect to its investigations of the role of technology to enhance delivery of inter-specialty cancer training. This session was introduced by Andreas Charalambous, Professor, Cyprus University of Technology, and President, European Cancer Organisation.

Including contributions from expert speakers:
  • Jorge Civera, Professor of Computer Science, Universitat Politècnica de València
  • Jana Steinbacher, Research Associate, Heidelberg University of Education
  • Virpi Sulosaari, President, European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS)
  • Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti, President, International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) & Co-Chair of the ECO Inequalities Network
  • Zeina Chamoun-Morel, Training Project Coordinator, Institut Curie, Paris
  • Ton Brouwers, Manager Education and Training, European Association of Urology (EAU)
12:20-12:50 - Networking lunch
12:50-14:00 - Into the future

Key highlight recommendations of the INTERACT-EUROPE project were examined and explored. The future strategy and tools for achieving inter-specialty cancer training in 100 cancer centres across Europe will be set out for discussion. This session was introduced by Virpi Sulosaari, President, European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) and Andreas Brandl, Surgical Oncologist, Digestive Unit, University Hospital Heidelberg.

Including contributions from expert speakers:
  • Olga Maksymovych, Carpathian Institute of Analytics (FrankoLytics)
  • Csaba Degi, Executive Secretary, International Psycho-oncology Society (IPOS) and President-Elect, European Cancer Organisation
  • Sarah Collen, EU Policy Manager, European Association of Urology (EAU)
  • Kathy Oliver, Chair and Founding co-Director, International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA)
14:00 - Departures

Speakers

  • Philippe Roux Head of Unit, Health and Food Safety, European Commission
  • Alberto Costa Executive CEO, European School of Oncology
  • Kim Benstead Chair for the Curriculum Committee, European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)
  • Virpi Sulosaari President, European Oncology Nursing Society
  • Niall O’Higgins Professor Emeritus of Surgery, University College Dublin
  • Mirjam Crul Vice-President, European Society of Oncology Pharmacy (ESOP)
show all speakers (16)

Speakers

  • Philippe Roux Head of Unit, Health and Food Safety, European Commission
  • Alberto Costa Executive CEO, European School of Oncology
  • Kim Benstead Chair for the Curriculum Committee, European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)
  • Virpi Sulosaari President, European Oncology Nursing Society
  • Niall O’Higgins Professor Emeritus of Surgery, University College Dublin
  • Mirjam Crul Vice-President, European Society of Oncology Pharmacy (ESOP)
show all speakers (16)
  • Philippe Roux Head of Unit, Health and Food Safety, European Commission
  • Alberto Costa Executive CEO, European School of Oncology
  • Kim Benstead Chair for the Curriculum Committee, European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)
  • Virpi Sulosaari President, European Oncology Nursing Society
  • Niall O’Higgins Professor Emeritus of Surgery, University College Dublin
  • Mirjam Crul Vice-President, European Society of Oncology Pharmacy (ESOP)
  • Andreas Brandl Surgical Oncologist, Digestive Unit, University Hospital Heidelberg
  • Luzia Travado Head of Psycho-Oncology Unit, Champalimaud Clinical Center, Lisbon
  • Jesper Grau Eriksen Director, ESTRO School of Radiotherapy and Oncology
  • Ton Brouwers Manager Education and Training, European Association of Urology
  • Andreas Charalambous Professor, Cyprus University of Technology, and President, European Cancer Organisation
  • Csaba Degi President-Elect, European Cancer Organisation
  • Kathy Oliver Chair and a Founding Co-Director, International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA)
  • Rachel Giles CEO, International Kidney Coalition
  • Sarah Collen Co-Chair, Inequalities Network Read Bio
  • Jan Geissler CEO, Patvocates
  • Nikolina Dodlek Executive Board Member Young Cancer Nurse, EONS
  • Olga Maksymovych CEO, Carpathian Institute of Analytics (FrankoLytics)
  • Jana Steinbacher Research Associate, Heidelberg University of Education Read Bio
  • Fernanda Conceicao Oncology Nurse Team Leader, Champalimaud Foundation Clinical Center Read Bio
  • Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti President, International Society of Geriatric Oncology-SIOG Read Bio
  • Jorge Civera Professor of Computer Science, Universitat Politècnica de València Read Bio
  • Marco Kalz Professor of Digital Education, Pedagogical University Heidelberg Read Bio
  • Celia Díez de los Ríos de la Serna Co-Chair of the Education group, EONS, & PhD candidate, University of Barcelona Read Bio
  • Zeina Chamoun-Morel Training Project Coordinator, Institut Curie, Paris Read Bio
  • Fernando Aguirregomezcorta García Paediatric Oncologist, San Joan de Deu Hospital, Barcelona Read Bio

Speakers

  • Philippe Roux Head of Unit, Health and Food Safety, European Commission
  • Alberto Costa Executive CEO, European School of Oncology
  • Kim Benstead Chair for the Curriculum Committee, European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)
  • Virpi Sulosaari President, European Oncology Nursing Society
  • Niall O’Higgins Professor Emeritus of Surgery, University College Dublin
  • Mirjam Crul Vice-President, European Society of Oncology Pharmacy (ESOP)
show all speakers (16)

Speakers

  • Philippe Roux Head of Unit, Health and Food Safety, European Commission
  • Alberto Costa Executive CEO, European School of Oncology
  • Kim Benstead Chair for the Curriculum Committee, European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)
  • Virpi Sulosaari President, European Oncology Nursing Society
  • Niall O’Higgins Professor Emeritus of Surgery, University College Dublin
  • Mirjam Crul Vice-President, European Society of Oncology Pharmacy (ESOP)
show all speakers (16)