ESMO conference, Lugano, 6 July 2007
Francesco Atzori
ESMO fellowship Recipient 2006-07
Medical Oncology Department
Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
The importance of international experience. An ESMO fellowship recipient view
Topics for discussion...
• Why do we need a fellowship? Goals
• Post-residency Fellowship: the Process
• Achievements and future aims
Applying for a fellowship : Why?
•At least 10 years of training to be qualified to take care of patients with cancer.
•The training is arduous...
•How to put into practice our acquisitions?
Residency/fellowship training program:
Applying for a fellowship : Why?
Goals of post-residency training:
• Develop a knowledge “niche” for future academic growth
• Improve skills in chosen research area (translational,
basic science, etc.)
• Design of clinical trials with novel agents and treatments
• Experience in publishing results in scientific journals
Applying for a fellowship : Why?
Goals of post-residency training:
• Develop a knowledge “niche” for future academic growth
• Improve skills in chosen research area (translational,
basic science, etc.)
• Design of clinical trials with novel agents and treatments
• Experience in publishing results in scientific journals
Applying for a fellowship : Why?
Goals of post-residency training:
• Develop a knowledge “niche” for future academic growth
• Improve skills in chosen research area (translational,
basic science, etc.)
• Design of clinical trials with novel agents and treatments
• Experience in publishing results in scientific journals
Applying for a fellowship : Why?
Goals of post-residency training:
• Develop a knowledge “niche” for future academic growth
• Improve skills in chosen research area (translational,
basic science, etc.)
• Design of clinical trials with novel agents and treatments
• Experience in publishing results in scientific journals
Applying for a fellowship : Why?
Goals of post-residency training:
• Develop a knowledge “niche” for future academic growth
• Improve skills in chosen research area (translational,
basic science, etc.)
• Design of clinical trials with novel agents and treatments
• Experience in publishing results in scientific journals
Develop a successful academic career!
Applying for a fellowship: the process
• What are the new and important areas of research in oncology in the years to come?– Talk to people– Attend conferences– Read, read, read.
• Ok, I know the important areas. What am I interested in? Get more information
• Do I have the potential skills to be successful in the chosen area?
• Look for a program (Hospital) and Mentor that is an expert in your area of interest and start the application process
Steps
•The mentor should train/guide the mentee to become an independent investigator.
•Some of the desired features of a mentor:
•Senior faculty member •Expert/Teacher/Leader •Role model •Guide •Coach •Moral supporter •Takes pride in the achievements of his/her mentee, as if they were his/her own
“Choosing a Mentor is critical ”
Applying for a fellowship: the process
Applying for a fellowship: the process
• Apply….and get accepted • Obtaining funding for your fellowship
– Not essential but important because:• It is more likely to be accepted if one comes with
financial support• It is important for career development purposes:
– It is your first “grant”
– It helps you in developing a focused project (you have to think in detail what you will do and put it in writing!)
– It shows a capacity to secure your own financial support
– Your mentor can assist. It is your first “joint project”
Steps (cont’d)
Applying for a fellowship: the process
How to obtain a grant?
• Apply for it (Nobody will call to volunteer a grant for you)• Several Funding Sources:
– ESMO Fellowships– ASCO Young Investigator Award– ASCO Career Development Award– AACR– NIH: K Award– American Cancer Society – Susan G. Komen Fellowship– National Societies – Institutional Grants– National Cancer Leagues– etc.…
Lorenzo de' Medici
Apply for a fellowship: the process...the European choice
The aim of the ESMO Fellowship program is to provide 1-year scholarships to young oncologists for pre-clinical and/or clinical training in an outstanding European laboratory or clinical facility.
Goal
Making the highest quality of oncology research available throughout Europe.
Benefits
•Collaborating with first-class European institutions
•Receiving support necessary to develop specific research projects
•Improving career development
www.esmo.org
Fellowship’s Objectives:A personal view
• Translational research activities• Educational activities for daily clinical
practice • How to run clinical trials • Networking • How to make a public scientific
presentation• How to write and evaluate scientific
publications
Example: my own fellowship timeline
Limited clinical trial experience!!!
Clinical trials exposure
Month 2
Clinical duties
Example: my own fellowship timeline
Month 3 Month 6
Initial exposure to clinical research !!!
Clinical trials exposure
Month 2
Clinical duties
resposibilities in clinical trials
Example: my own fellowship timeline
Month 3 Month 6
Responsabilities in running clinical trials!!!
Clinical trials exposure
Month 2
Clinical duties
responsibilities in clinical trials
Month 9 Month 12
Upon completing the fellowship…
•Evaluate the skills and knowledge you have acquired
•Look at all opportunities
•Speak to your mentor
Acknowledgements
Marta Parera
Esther Casado
Eduardo Vilar
Jose M. Del Campo
Enriqueta Felip
ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology)
Mentors
Prof. José Baselga
Dr Josep Tabernero
ColleaguesPatricia Gomez
Javier Cortes
Meritxell Bellet
Ben Markman
Serena Di Cosimo
Jaume Capdevila
Javier Ramos
Susana Cedres
Claudia Valverde
Emiliano Calvo
Cristina Saura
Teresa Macarulla
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