Gastrointestinal cancers
are a key therapeutic area in research, and science is moving
forward in that arena at a fast clip. But how are those who focus
on gastrointestinal malignancies in the clinic supposed to stay on
top of it all?
One great way is to
attend the annual Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, which will
take place January 19-21 in San Francisco.
The symposium-attended
last year by 2,850 residents, post-docs, fellows, and all levels of
faculty and private practitioners-offers a vast array of
educational sessions and abstract presentations focused on GI
cancers.
"The whole point of this meeting is to
take what is happening in current research, understand it, and if
appropriate apply it to the clinical setting," said Cathy
Eng, MD, Scientific Program Chair of the symposium. "My
goals are to provide a well-developed, well-rounded program to
provide fundamental knowledge in translational research, identify
novel clinical findings, and/or discuss aspects of recent clinical
trials in development." Dr. Eng, who is Associate Professor and
Associate Director of the Colorectal Center at the University of
Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Department of Gastrointestinal
Medical Oncology.
Truly
Multidisciplinary
The 3-day meeting is the
largest multidisciplinary GI-focused gathering in the United
States. ASCO, the American Gastroenterological Association, the
American Society for Radiation Oncology, and the Society of
Surgical Oncology all cosponsor the meeting.
"There is no other GI
meeting like this one," commented Richard M. Goldberg,
MD, Chair of the symposium's steering committee.
"Sponsorship by so many academic societies whose specialists
provide clinical management for patients with GI cancer and do
research to advance the field means that the agenda reflects the
latest advances and hot topics in the field." Dr. Goldberg is
Associate Director of Clinical Research for the University of North
Carolina's Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and
Physician-in-Chief of the N.C. Cancer Hospital.
Helping
Initiate More Research
While the meeting helps physicians keep updated on
research and advance their own knowledge base, it also generates
ideas for more research. In addition to the sessions themselves,
much is gained from the symposium's networking opportunities. Dr.
Eng said that the ability to interact and network with colleagues
to generate novel ideas for future research proposals has drawn her
to the symposium year after year.
"The networking
opportunities can be especially pivotal for young doctors," Dr. Eng
pointed out. "We hold a mentoring luncheon on the first day for the
fellows and junior faculty so they can directly interact in small
groups with leading experts in their field. This year, I have
invited 12 of the world's leading experts in GI malignancies,
including ones from radiation oncology, medical oncology, and
surgical oncology. Though it may seem short, this 1 hour can help
individuals resolve questions about faculty development and
potentially develop long-lasting relationships with a mentor from
another institution."
Large, Yet
Intimate
The focused agenda and the opportunity
for participants to interact with the world's experts in GI cancer
have led to growth in attendance every year. Though the numbers of
attendees have been growing, the symposium is small enough to feel
intimate, and this is key, Dr. Goldberg noted.
"For clinicians and
trainees, the program provides a concentrated immersion in GI
cancer patient management and emerging findings in translational
science that is much more user friendly than the large general
oncology meetings that occur in the U.S. and elsewhere."
For more details on the
GI Symposium or to register, visit gicasym.org ■.
