21-23 June • San Francisco, CA • #MASCC19
The 2019 MASCC/ISOO Annual Meeting was held in June 21-23 in San Francisco, California, and included an exciting program of presentations, workshops, and discussions on techniques and strategies for minimizing the symptoms and side effects of cancer and its treatments. This year’s meeting featured four major themes: digital health, sexual health, treatment toxicities, and cancer survivorship.
Meeting Chair Andrew Davies, MD, welcomed 983 delegates representing 53 countries. The meeting featured three plenary sessions, three meet-the-expert sessions, four workshops, five joint sessions, and 20 parallel sessions. Of 834 submitted abstracts, 565 were accepted — 46 as proffered papers and 519 as e-poster presentations. Networking events included a Welcome Reception and Awards Ceremony, a New Members Breakfast, and a Presidential Dinner and Dance with a casual California theme — affording numerous opportunities to meet colleagues from around the world. Our program app included abstracts and e-posters, and we have continued to increase our social media presence through Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. This year, the MASCC booth featured a Social Media Station, where delegates received help setting up accounts and learning to use the major social media platforms.
2019 Award & Scholarship Recipients
Rachel Gibson, PhD: MASCC’s 2019 Distinguished Service Award Winner
Rachel Gibson, PhD, is the recipient of MASCC’s 2019 Distinguished Service Award. The DSA, MASCC’s highest honor, is made in recognition of meritorious achievement and outstanding contributions to the society. Candidates are nominated by their peers in recognition of exemplary leadership and accomplishments in support of MASCC’s mission and goals. Rachel has just been appointed inaugural Professor and Director, Allied Health in the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Adelaide, a position that will commence in July 2019. She is also Co-Head of the Cancer Treatment Toxicities Group at the Adelaide Medical School and previously served as Professor and Academic Dean in the Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia. Read more
Fred Spijkervet, DDS, PhD: ISOO’s 2019 Distinguished Service Award Winner
Frederik K. (Fred) Spijkervet, DDS, PhD, Head of the Department Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands, is the recipient of ISOO’s 2019 Distinguished Service Award, the Society’s highest honor. The award was given in recognition of many years of meritorious service to ISOO dating back to 1993. Fred served as Vice President of ISOO from 1994 to 1995, as President from 1995 to 1997, and as Scientific Program Chair for the 1997, 1998, and 1999 Annual Meetings. From 2004 to 2011, Fred chaired the Oral Care Study Group and was an active member of the Mucositis Study Group. From 2008 to 2014, he served as a MASCC Board member and, in 2013, was part of the Scientific Program Committee for the 2013 MASCC/ISOO meeting held in Berlin. Fred Spijkervet is a respected colleague and friend to everyone in ISOO. His clinical perspective has been invaluable in connection with the development of clinical guidelines over the years. This award is richly deserved. Sincere congratulations from everyone at MASCC and ISOO! Read more
Jane Ussher, PhD: MASCC’s 2019 Steven M. Grunberg Memorial Award Winner
Jane Ussher, PhD, of the University of Western Sydney, Australia, is the winner of MASCC’s 2019 Steven M. Grunberg Memorial Award for her research titled “Sexual Issues in Partners of Cancer Patients.” The Steven M. Grunberg Memorial Award is reserved for the author of the highest-ranking abstract submitted to the Annual Meeting and rewards demonstrated excellence in supportive care in cancer. At this year’s Annual Meeting, Jane presented her study of sexual embodiment and subjectivity after cancer across a range of cancer types and stages in partners of people with cancer, across both heterosexual and LGBT relationships. Read more
Young Investigator Awards
Derek K. Smith, DDS, PhD: MASCC’s 2019 Outstanding Young Investigator
Derek K. Smith, DDS, PhD, is the recipient of MASCC’s 2019 Outstanding Young Investigator Award for his research on the efficacy of gabapentin in reducing neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients receiving primary or adjuvant chemoradiation for head and neck cancer. Derek is Research Assistant Professor of Biostatistics and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery and Assistant Director of Supportive Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. He is particularly interested in the impact that cancer therapies can have on oral health, and how the healthcare system can address the unique challenges of maintaining good oral health in cancer patients. He is a member of MASCC and ISOO and of the Oral Care Study Group. Read more
2019 Young Investigators Award Winners
The 2019 MASCC Young Investigator Award winners are Rebecca Burgoyne, MPharm (UK), Selina Chow (Canada), Nikesha Gilmore, PhD (USA), Rahat Ul Ain, MBBS, FCPS (Pakistan), and Derek K. Smith, DDS, PhD, who was named Outstanding Young Investigator.
Travel Scholarship Award Winners
Travel scholarships are awarded to applicants from developing countries to help cover travel expenses to attend the MASCC Annual Meeting. This 2019 recipients were Tomi Kovacevic, MD (Serbia), Ariesta Milanti, RN, MSc (Indonesia), Wanessa Miranda-Silva, DDS (Brazil), Radhika R. Pai, MSc (India), and Pankaj Singhai, MBBS, MD (India).
Radhika R. Pai, MSc: MASCC’s 2019 Cynthia N. Rittenberg Travel Scholarship Award Winner
From among the Travel Scholarship applicants, the nurse applicant with the highest-ranking abstract is awarded the Cynthia N. Rittenberg Travel Scholarship. This year, the award went to Radhika R. Pai, MSc (India) for her abstract titled “Evaluation of an Oral Care Protocol for Chemotherapy- and Radiation Therapy-Induced Oral Complications in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.” Radhika is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fundamentals of Nursing Manipal College of Nursing in Udupi, India. A member of MASCC and ISOO, Radhika belongs to MASCC Study Groups on Oral Care, Hemostasis, and Palliative Care. Read more
2019 Outstanding Study Group and Study Group Leader Awards
Sharon Elad, DMD, MSc: MASCC’s 2019 Outstanding Study Group Leader Award Winner
MUCOSITIS: MASCC’s 2019 Outstanding Study Group Award Winner
MASCC has initiated two new awards to recognize outstanding work by a MASCC Study Group and an outstanding Study Group Leader. Projects carried out by our Study Groups result in clinical practice guidelines, position papers, publications, and other products that advance supportive care in cancer. Through these new awards, MASCC recognizes excellent work by its study groups and the leaders who drive these efforts. The MASCC Mucositis Study Group was named the 2019 Outstanding Study Group, and Mucositis Study Group Chair Sharon Elad, DMD, MSc, was named the 2019 Outstanding Study Group Leader. Read more
Study Group Awards
This year, seven study groups recognized high-quality work by junior investigators in their disciplines. The Fatigue Study Group was the first to honor outstanding young investigators with junior faculty and trainee awards as a means of professional recognition and a way to showcase cutting-edge work by up-and-coming researchers. The awards are based on the quality of abstracts submitted to the Annual Meeting. This year, junior investigator awards were conferred by the study groups on Fatigue, Geriatrics, Mucositis, Neurological Complications, Pediatrics, Psychosocial Issues, and Survivorship. In addition, the Fatigue Study Group recognized Debra L. Barton, PhD, FAAN, RN, as Distinguished Scientific Laureate. See all the award winners.
Thank You to Our Supporters and Exhibitors
