Improving Oncology Worldwide

Uta Schmidt-Strassburger is a biochemist with a minor in immunology. She has earned her PhD degree in chemistry and urology. After years of basic research into tumorigenesis and molecular mechanisms of metastasis, she became the scientific director of the Advanced Oncology study program of Ulm University in 2012, an educational based on the ESMO/ASCO recommendations for a global curriculum in oncology. She has developed the study program further by actively listening to the participants' needs and implementing changes to address them thereby exhibiting a participative leadership approach. The study program covers all aspects of oncology using a zoom-out approach: starting from a molecular approach, touching clinical research, covering clinical oncology as well as management aspects in oncology in different health care settings. Students are provided with a toolkit to improve oncological care in their own settings. Thereby the study program addresses the United Nations' sustainable development goal 3, "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages." Having spent part of her childhood in Russia, Uta became interested in languages early on. She is literate in German, Russian, English and French and strives to learn Arabic as well as Portuguese for an even better communication with her students.

Part 1: Improving Education.- Blended-learning for oncologists and their colleagues.- Establishing a continuing education program based on the ESMO/ASCO recommendations for a global curriculum in Egypt.- Launching the first board-certification program in radiation oncology in Iraq - obstacles and outcomes.- Improving the WHO Classification of Tumours books by an evidence-based approach - a new online/blended learning training program.- Part 2: Improving Clinical Research.- Getting started in research - What registries can do for you.- Asking existing data the right questions - data mining as a research option in low- and middle-income countries.- Evidence-based treatment decisions - Systematic reviews and meta-analaysis in GI oncology.- Establishing and running a research laboratory in Iraq in real life.- Challenges in scientific communications of a pharmaceutical company.- Molecular and cellular analyses of breast cancers in real life.- The use of information technology to advance patient care - Creating, providing and maintaining online resources.- Organization of clinical trials at the Blokhin cancer center in Moscow.- Challenges in establishing the Center for Clinical Trials at Ulm University.- Part 3: Improving Patient Care.-Obstacles and Optimization of Surgical Oncology Services in India and Technology transfer to Cameroon.- Challenges for the young oncology workforce in Portugal.- Challenges in building a cancer center in Armenia - Staying linked to the outside world.- Current challenges in cancer care in Libya.- Quality Oncology Practice Improvement certification in Brazil: A successful knowledge transfer under the auspices of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).- Challenges in running a comprehensive cancer centre.