President's Travel

This autumn, Dr Magrath visited China, Kuwait, the Philippines, Vietnam and Brazil. Each visit granted him opportunities to provide information about the INCTR's work, to discuss INCTR programs and projects with staff of associate member institutions, and to set the stage for closer or new collaborative activities.

In China, Dr Magrath attended a meeting of the International Society of Pediatrics in Beijing. He also met in Shanghai with Drs Wang and Tang, who are participating in the INCTR oseosarcoma study.

In the Philippines, in addition to taking part in the Asian Pacific Cancer Congress and visiting the Philippines Children's Medical Center, highlighted in this issue of NETWORK'S "Partner Profile," Dr Magrath was honored to be invited to the inauguration of the new Philippines Society of Pediatric Oncology.

In Brazil, Dr Magrath attended a meeting of the Brazilian Society of Pediatric Oncology. INCTR hopes to work closely with both pediatric oncology organizations in the future through Dr Julius Lecciones (Philippines) and Dr Sidnei Epelman (Brazil).

Vietnam is a country with which the INCTR previously has not had contact. Dr Magrath visited the Ho Chi Minh City Cancer Center, where he had valuable discussions with Dr Hung, the Director, presented the INCTR's work to oncologists from all over the country, and toured the center as well as area hospitals . His Vietnamese hosts expressed considerable enthusiasm for participating in INCTR projects, and we hope that both Dr Hung and Dr Khuong, the pediatric oncologist from the center, will take an active role in INCTR strategy groups as a means of establishing strong ties with centers in Vietnam.

In Kuwait, Dr Magrath met the Minister of Health, Dr Mohammad Al-Jarallah, and visited the Juma Cancer Center as well as other hospitals. With a high standard of clinical care, Kuwait may have as much to give to the INCTR network as to gain from it. Discussions are continuing as to how best to develop a mutually beneficial relationship.