The sunny skies of San Diego served as an invigorating backdrop for an abundance of excitement, ideas and expertise at SSO 2019. The SPC ensured that the scientific program achieved its promise to deliver a diversity of expertise with over 560 oral, Poster and ePoster Abstracts. Outgoing SSO President, Armando E. Giuliano, MD delivered the Presidential Address, “Serendipity and Strategy on the Path of Progress,” during which he reviewed the status of the Society’s strategic plan, introduced the new SSO brand and closed with the following statement, “Our Society has a vision for the future. Leading together we will achieve our mission to improve cancer care worldwide. Leading together we can create the future of surgical oncology.” Read more about the SSO 2019 highlights including award recipients, top tweets and the photo gallery.

During the Society’s annual Presidential Address, Armando E. Giuliano, MD formally presented the new brand identity for SSO. The change reflects how our Society is dynamic, contemporary, and moving forward. The new tagline – Leading. Together. – spotlights leadership both for the Society and for our members and stresses the multidisciplinary and collaborative ways we engage to advance surgical oncology. Learn more about the new brand and the value that SSO delivers.

Meet up with a global community of cancer surgeons in the SSO HUB at SSO 2020, March 25 – 28, 2020 in Boston, MA. “The HUB” is an interactive space organized by disease site offering SSO-developed education, as well as industry spotlights. James R. Howe, MD, SSO President-Elect and Chair of the Annual Meeting Reimagination Task Force explained, “The SSO HUB replaces the traditional exhibit hall with an environment that emphasizes new ways of learning and collaborating. It is very unique, and the Task Force is looking forward to seeing it come to life in Boston.”

This year, Ajay V. Maker, MD, University of Illinois at Chicago and Director of Surgical Oncology at AIMMC/Creticos Cancer Center, received the Clinical Investigator Award for his proposal, “Combination Immunotherapy to Treat Colon Cancer Metastases.” Dr. Maker said, “Our hypothesis is that we can increase the success of the immunologic attack by first stimulating and trafficking anti-tumor T-cells to the tumor, and second, by removing inhibitory signals within that tumor environment.”

The 2019 recipient of the Young Investigator Award is Georgia Beasley, MD, Duke University. She received the Award for her research topic, “Comprehensive Immunologic Profiling of the Sentinel Node to Optimize Care for Patients with Melanoma.” Learn how Dr. Beasley is using nanostring technology and digital spatial profiling in her research.

The Global Forum of Cancer Surgeons (GFCS) released its third article, Global Forum of Cancer Surgeons: Perspectives on Barriers to Surgical Care for Cancer Patients and Potential Solutions in time for SSO 2019; it identifies the barriers to surgical care for cancer patients in different countries. Learn more about the new article and the recent meeting of the Global Forum of Cancer Surgeons.

Fellows Institute II was once again a successful half-day event prior to the official start of the 2019 Annual Cancer Symposium. Geared toward Surgical Oncology and Breast Surgical Oncology fellows, the Institute consisted of 8 sessions delivered by SSO leaders and experts and moderated by Drs. Sarah McLaughlin and John Mullen on behalf of the SSO Training Committee. Topics were chosen to complement the Fellows Institute I that occurred in November 2018 and ranged from succeeding as an academic surgical oncologist to practical tips at the start of clinical practice.

SSO is pleased to announce that The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has invited SSO to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to bring surgical oncology content to the the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). SSO will also be hosting an educational session during the symposium and is encouraging members to submit abstracts for consideration to this meeting that runs December 10 – 14, 2019.

Connect, Collaborate and Expand Your Network. SSO’s new online community is now available to all members! Login today to find fellowship with your peers from around the world in My SSO Community. Discuss clinically challenging cases, share resources, and engage with the Society – join the conversation today! Visit myssocommunity.www.surgonc.org.

Registration is open now for several new webinars in May. These educational opportunities developed by the SSO Education Council in partnership with SSO’s Disease Site Work Groups cover various disease sites. ExpertED@SSO webinars are one of the many benefits that are included in your SSO membership.