As the world looks with hope to COVID vaccination occurring throughout the world, ISOPP members continue to push forward in providing best possible care to our patients. I am immensely proud of the efforts of our members who are contributing to care in the face of these challenging times.

In spite of these extra demands, ISOPP, through its volunteer members, is continuing to work towards several important Society projects. These projects build upon the Society’s 2016 to 2020 strategic plan, which holds us in good stead as we navigate the pandemic and the years to come.

Since ISOPP’s official formation in 1996, the international symposium has been its primary source of revenue, supplemented by membership dues. Back in 2016, we recognized that in order to financially support being a society that delivers value to its members and has an impact on advancing cancer care, ISOPP’s revenue sources needed to diversify. This journey of diversification began with the creation of ISOPP’s Virtual Library and offerings of Masterclasses globally, then the expansion of Regional Symposia into more areas of the world, and today, the development of online education programs paid for through grants.

Even in today’s world, so much that Moe Schwartz, Vision Task Force Chair and a Past President, talked about five years ago in a 2 minute video where she explained ISOPP’s three strategic priorities (education, advocacy and engagement), holds true. As we strive to be a high performing society, embracing and implementing a comprehensive strategic management model, we will share with you, during our upcoming Annual General Meeting on April 24 at 9am EDT (part of ISOPP’s inaugural Virtual Symposium), the outcomes achieved thus far. In addition, the Secretariat and other member volunteers will meet for the next Strategic Planning Session in the coming months to discuss further revenue generating ideas, and ways to ensure a happy, engaged and growing membership.

In the meantime, ISOPP education offerings are on the rise through new initiatives and collaborations, as well as the work of many ISOPP volunteers, such as:

I hope you will enjoy reading the newsletter and all that ISOPP has to offer. A big thank you to all those who participated in the 2021 Secretariat Election, a warm welcome to our newly elected Secretariat members, and much gratitude and appreciation to our outgoing Secretariat members. 

Monday, April 12, 2021 at 12:00 PDT (click here to find your local time)

Join us for this member’s only complimentary panel discussion on the timely topic of vaccine considerations in cancer patients. All presenters are authors of the paper Clinician FAQs And Guidance On Covid-19 Vaccine For Patients Receiving Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (Sact) published by the UK Chemotherapy Board. 

Visit ISOPP’s website for information about the presenters and program.

ISOPP offers online educational opportunities specific to the needs of oncology pharmacy practitioners, and facilitated by ISOPP leaders and oncology pharmacy experts. Is your national / regional organization interested in a joint webinar with ISOPP? Please contact the Education Committee Chair, Himanshu Patel, at education@isopp.org.  

Use your personalized link emailed to you on March 4^th, with the subject line “ISOPP 2021 Virtual Symposium Registration Now Open”, to register for the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioner’s 2021 Virtual Symposium (ISOPP 2021), taking place on April 23-24, 2021, 8:00 to 12:15 EDT (Click here to find your local time). Registration is complimentary for ISOPP members. Unable to locate your personalized link email? Email membership@isopp.org.

Join us for leading edge education to advance your pharmacy oncology knowledge from wherever you are! Topics presented by experts from around the world include:

Be sure to keep visiting the ISOPP 2021 website for program updates and to learn more about our presenters. 

Spread the word using #ISOPP2021VS and please forward this notice to your friends and colleagues who may be interested in what the Symposium has to offer and encourage them to join ISOPP. 

Many thanks to the Task Force for the hard work in developing the program. 

Watch for the launch of ISOPP’s virtual education program on Oncology Pharmacotherapy and Applications of Biosimilars in 2021; made possible through an educational grant from Pfizer.  

The program is aimed at oncology pharmacists who have practiced for at least one year in the area of oncology pharmacy, and will consist of 10 online courses (25 hours) and an opportunity to meet at ISOPP’s 2022 Symposium in Spain to expand the Biosimilars Expert Network. 

10^th Brazilian Congress of Oncology Pharmacists (SOBRAFO 2020)

With the central theme "Opportunities and challenges to the pharmacist in oncology: from patient safety to precision medicine", the 10^th Brazilian Congress of Oncology Pharmacists (SOBRAFO 2020) took place between the 16^th and 21^st of November 2020 in a completely online edition due to the restrictions imposed by the Brazilian health authorities against the pandemic caused by Sars-CoV-2.

The graphic above, We are ISOPP, was created by ISOPP’s volunteer leadership in support and celebration of this year's World Cancer Day's theme - ‘I Am and I Will', which is all about you and your commitment to act.  

World Cancer Day, a global uniting initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), takes place every February. It raises worldwide awareness, improves education and catalyses personal, collective and government action. We're working together to reimagine a world where millions of preventable cancer deaths are saved and access to life-saving cancer treatment and care is equal for all - no matter who you are or where you live.

Source: World Cancer Day Website

Sea to Sky Meeting and Association Management is ISOPP's Society and Symposium Management Office. If you have any questions about membership, services, Symposium or the Society, please contact the ISOPP Office directly as follows:

Email:  membership@isopp.org