The importance of international experience' An ESMO fellowship recipient

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The importance of international experience. An
ESMO fellowship recipient view
Francesco Atzori ESMO fellowship Recipient
2006-07 Medical Oncology Department Vall
dHebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
ESMO conference, Lugano, 6 July 2007
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Topics for discussion...

• Why do we need a fellowship? Goals
• Post-residency Fellowship the Process
• Achievements and future aims

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Applying for a fellowship Why?
Residency/fellowship training program

• 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?

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!
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Applying for a fellowship the process
Steps

• 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

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Applying for a fellowship the process
Choosing a Mentor is critical

• 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

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Applying for a fellowship the process
Steps (contd)

• 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

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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
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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
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Fellowships ObjectivesA 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

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Example my own fellowship timeline
Limited clinical trial experience!!!
Month 2
Clinical trials exposure
Clinical duties
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Example my own fellowship timeline
Initial exposure to clinical research !!!
Month 3
Month 6
Month 2
Clinical trials exposure
Clinical duties
resposibilities in clinical trials
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Example my own fellowship timeline
Responsabilities in running clinical trials!!!
Month 3
Month 6
Month 2
Month 9
Month 12
Clinical trials exposure
Clinical duties
responsibilities in clinical trials
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Upon completing the fellowship

• Evaluate the skills and knowledge you have
  acquired
• Look at all opportunities
• Speak to your mentor

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Acknowledgements
ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology)
Mentors Prof. José Baselga Dr Josep Tabernero
Colleagues Patricia Gomez Javier Cortes
Meritxell Bellet Ben Markman Serena Di
Cosimo Jaume Capdevila Javier Ramos
Marta Parera Esther Casado Eduardo Vilar Jose
M. Del Campo Enriqueta Felip
Susana Cedres Claudia Valverde Emiliano Calvo
Cristina Saura Teresa Macarulla