INCTR is committed to enhancing knowledge and skills among health care professionals involved in cancer treatment and prevention in developing countries. In addition to the training elements relating to specific projects, a variety of educational activities are undertaken, including meetings, courses, workshops, symposia, expert visits to institutions in developing countries, and sponsored training or elective fellowships in other institutions that serve as INCTR Training Centers. These activities are organized primarily by members of the Education Committee or INCTR Program Directors, in concert with INCTR branches and offices.

Meetings, Courses, Workshops, Symposia

To date, meetings, courses, workshops and symposia have been concerned with medical oncology, pediatric oncology, oncology nursing, palliative care and clinical trials design and management. For a comprehensive list of these activities organized by INCTR, see Workshops and Symposia.

Visiting Experts

The INCTR has developed a program in which experts in a number of disciplines related to cancer prevention, treatment and research spend short periods of time (one week to three months) in participating institutions as Visiting Experts. INCTR Experts participate in a variety of formal and informal training and educational activities, as often as possible linked to specific INCTR research projects. Emphasis is given to participation in scheduled daily activities relevant to their area of expertise with staff members of the host institution. Such activities may include ward rounds, viewing of pathology slides or imaging studies, examining data, discussing laboratory methodology, etc., and where appropriate, giving seminars and lectures.

INCTR Designated Training Centers

INCTR has established a program in which training is provided in selected centers in developing countries. This not only is more cost-effective, but provides an environment closer to that in the trainees' own country, and lessens the likelihood that trainees may not return.

A gynecologist from Ile-Ife, Nigeria received specialist training in gynecological oncology at the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India.

Gynecologists, nurses and social workers have completed training in direct visualization screening techniques for pre-invasive cervical cancer with the goal of developing a comprehensive program in cervical cancer control in Nigeria.

INCTR is coordinating the training of several health professionals from Kabul, Afghanistan, with the ultimate goal of initiating a cancer control program in Kabul. A physician has undergone specialist training in medical oncology at the Tata Memorial Hospital and a pathologist and pathology technician have undergone training at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center in Lahore, Pakistan. This has led to a marked improvement in the capacity to manage patients in Kabul.

Bolivian health care workers have been trained in direct visualization cervical cancer screening techniques at the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas in Lima, Peru.

For more information about INCTR Education Programs, contact: e-mail: edupont@inctr.be