SSO’s 2018 – 2020 Strategic Plan includes an education-focused goal: support career-long education, recertification and quality patient care. Over the next two years, over 50 new programs will be developed. Glenda Callender, MD, Vice Chair of the Education Council describes the work of this group and the value of SSO’s educational programs.

SSO’s mission is to advance cancer care worldwide and has partnered with various international organizations and societies to define issues and establish a path forward to improve care. SSO is excited to present a joint session with the World Health Organization and ASCO at the upcoming World Cancer Congress in October 2018.

SSO offers a variety of educational events and resources to support career-long learning. We are pleased to announce a new CGSO Board Review Course scheduled for January 26, 2019, in Chicago. In addition, SSO’s educational activities support ABS Continuous Certification.

The SSO Foundation is calling for melanoma-related research proposals for a 2018 – 2020 Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) in Melanoma. The deadline for submitting a proposal is September 20, 2018.

The SSO Scientific Program Committee is now accepting abstracts for SSO 2019, March 27 – 30 in San Diego, CA. Submit your abstract by Monday, October 1, 2018.

14th International Symposium on Regional Cancer Therapies Call for Abstracts is now open. Submit your abstract by Monday, October 8, 2018. Please note that abstracts submitted for SSO 2019 will be allowed for presentation at this meeting. For complete information, visit the Call for Abstracts page.

2018 Fellows Institute: November 12 – 14, 2018, Houston, TX
CGSO Board Exam Review Course: January 26, 2019, Chicago, IL
14th International Symposium on Regional Cancer Therapies: February 16 – 18, 2019, Phoenix, AZ
SSO 2019: March 27 – 30, 2019, San Diego, CA

The 2019 Application for Engagement (formerly Call for Volunteers) will open later this fall and will allow Active, Active International, and Emeritus members in good standing to apply for positions on the volunteer groups that perform important work in many areas of the Society.

SSO will host a Member Reception and Town Hall during the upcoming Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons meeting in Boston on Sunday, October 21, 2018.

The newest Video Forum Series on Robotic Approaches for Gastrointestinal Malignancies is a series of five activities that will cover minimally invasive approaches utilizing robotics for a variety of gastrointestinal procedures with video recordings and a live webcam Q&A and discussion with the faculty. The next webinar is scheduled for September 13, 2018.

Login to ExpertED@SSO to watch the archived webinar, “Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and Management of Regional Lymph Nodes in Melanoma: American Society of Clinical Oncology and Society of Surgical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update”. Led by Sandra L. Wong, MD, lead author of the Guideline, this webinar covers important information and updates from the joint ASCO-SSO Melanoma Clinical Practice Guideline.