Live at SSO 2025: Society of Surgical Oncology International Committee presents: the International Career Development Exchange Program
Release Date: 04/04/2025
Securing Funding for Pilot Clinical Trials
SurgOnc Today®
In this episode of SurgOnc Today, Dr. Christina Angeles, surgical oncologist and Chair of the SSO Research Committee, sits down with two experienced surgical investigators, Dr. Andrew Lowy and Dr. Craig Slingluff, to discuss one of the most challenging steps in advancing surgical research: securing funding for pilot clinical trials. Drawing from their real-world experience designing and running surgical trials, our guests share practical strategies for identifying funding sources, building a competitive application, and navigating setbacks along the way. Whether you are a junior faculty member...
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Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Therapies in Melanoma, How’s It Going and What Is Next?
SurgOnc Today®
On this episode of SurgOnc Today, Dr. Amanda Kirane and Dr. Allison Betof discuss the clinical application of TIL therapy for melanoma patients, including the comprehensive care and teamwork required. They also discuss lessons learned and newer clinical trials optimizing the therapy.
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SSO Education Series: Introduction to Value-Based Care in Surgical Oncology
SurgOnc Today®
In this episode of SurgOnc Today, we explore the evolving role of value-based care in surgical oncology. Drs. Casey Allen, Matthew Katz, and Cristina O’Donoghue join the discussion to define what “value” truly means in cancer care, examine the evidence behind programs such as ERAS and prehabilitation, and review emerging frameworks used to assess value in oncology. The conversation also addresses stakeholder collaboration and the critical intersection between value-based care and health equity. This episode offers practical insights for surgical oncologists seeking to deliver...
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SSO Education Series—From Trials to Practice: Key Breast Cancer Insights from SSO 2026
SurgOnc Today®
In this episode of SurgOnc Today, Drs. Kelly Hewitt and Austin Williams review key breast cancer presentations from the 2026 Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Meeting. They discuss real-world implementation of SOUND and INSEMA, evolving approaches to axillary management in the neoadjuvant setting, and emerging data on omission of axillary surgery. Additional highlights include outcomes with partial breast irradiation in the setting of variable endocrine therapy adherence and contemporary management of rare breast malignancies such as angiosarcoma. Together, they explore how these findings...
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Lessons Learned Series: Time from Idea to Clinical Trial Initiation - Not a Simple Ongoing Problem
SurgOnc Today®
On this episode of SurgOnc Today, Dr. Mihir M. Shah interviews Drs. Shailesh Shrikhande and Syed Ahmad about the barriers that slow clinical trial activation and the steps needed to move innovative ideas into practice more efficiently.
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ASO Article Series: Assessing the Evidence for and Utility of Gene Expression Profiling of Primary Cutaneous Melanoma
SurgOnc Today®
In this new episode of Speaking of SurgOnc, Dr. Rick Greene & Dr. Giorgos Karakousis discuss the article: "Assessing the Evidence for and Utility of Gene Expression Profiling of Primary Cutaneous Melanoma" from the March 2025 issue of the Annals of Surgical Oncology.
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SSO Education Series: Stressors in Your First Attending Job
SurgOnc Today®
After years of training and countless hours in the OR, the transition from fellowship to independent practice is one of the most challenging times in a surgeon’s career. In this podcast episode produced by the Fellows and Young Attendings Committee, Dr. Kathrine Kelly is joined by Dr. Mura Assifi and Dr. Michael Wach to discuss the stressors of starting out as a surgical oncologist. This is an honest conversation about building a surgical practice, managing complications, and the unique challenges we all face in the care of the complex cancer patient.
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Lessons Learned Series: Enhancing Enrollment in Clinical Trials - Perspective from Surgical Oncology Leaders
SurgOnc Today®
On this episode of SurgOnc Today, Dr. Mihir M. Shah speaks with Drs. Shailesh Shrikhande and Syed Ahmad about strategies to improve clinical trial enrollment, expand access, and strengthen participation in surgical oncology research.
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SSO Education Series: SSO 2026 Recap
SurgOnc Today®
In this episode of SurgOnc Today, members of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee interviewed attendees and faculty at the Society of Surgical Oncology 2026 meeting. Here, we present some of the most fantastic moments and give initial impressions of up and coming changes in care for patients with cancer. Thanks for listening, and we look forward to seeing everyone in 2027. As always, the Society of Surgical Oncology seeks to improve multidisciplinary patient care by advancing the science, education, and practice of cancer surgery worldwide.
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Lessons Learned Series: Understanding Why Clinical Trials Fail
SurgOnc Today®
On this episode of SurgOnc Today, Dr. Mihir M. Shah interviews Drs. Shailesh Shrikhande and Syed Ahmad about why clinical trials fail, highlighting key challenges in trial design, patient accrual, execution, and adoption in surgical oncology.
info_outlineThe International Career Development Exchange (ICDE) program provides support for up-and-coming, early career surgical oncologists with leadership potential to receive one-on-one mentoring and engagement with a distinguished senior SSO member.
SSO supports a participant from each of our 15 Global Partner Societies, plus two SSO member participants from countries not connected to one of our Global Partners.
Participants receive complimentary registration for the SSO annual meeting and the opportunity to participate in a minimum one-week clinical observership at a US-based SSO member’s institution. Each participant is paired with an SSO Member Mentor with the goal that a long-term professional relationship will develop and continue over the course of the participant’s career. In this episode past ICDE recipients are interviewed about their experiences and the impact of the ICDE program on their career trajectories.