Abstract 91: IGCS Fellowship Program in Mozambique: the Results

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Mozambique is a country with a very high prevalence of gynecological cancer and, until 2018 had no training program in gynecologic oncology and no gynecologic oncology specialists. Through the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) global fellowship program, three gynecologists in Mozambique were trained to become gynecologic oncologists and completed training in October 2020. Methods: The training program pairs specialists in gynecologic oncology with gynecologists in countries without a formal training program in gynecologic oncology. In Mozambique, fellows were paired with specialists from Brazil and the United States, due to a common language with Brazilians and pre-existing partnerships. Over a 2.5 year period, fellows performed self-study using an on-line curriculum, received training in clinical practice and surgery with specialist mentors who traveled to Mozambique 3-4 times/year, attended monthly tumor boards and other regular virtual meetings, and visited the mentors' hospitals in Brazil for a 3 month observership. All surgical cases were logged in REDCap. after completing all requirements, the fellows successfully completed a final exam and received a certificate of successful completion of training. Results: During the training, each fellow participated on average of 251 surgical procedures where they performed: 69 radical hysterectomies, 80 simple hysterectomies, 92 salpingo-oophorectomies, 73 pelvic lymphadenectomies, 2 para-aortic lymphadenectomies, 14 radical vulvectomies, 19 inguinal lymphadenectomies, 34 cold knife conizations and 38 loop electrosurgical excision procedures (LEEPs). At the conclusion of the fellowship, the fellows were performing these procedures independently. Conclusion: The IGCS program and international mentors supported the training of physicians in Mozambique, a country without formal gynecologic oncology training, facilitating the acquisition of the knowledge and skills to effectively care for women with gynecologic cancers. Citation Format: Ricardina Rangeiro, Dercia Changule, Siro Daud, Magda Ribeiro, Elvira Luis, Flora Mabota, Georgia Cintra, Renato Moretti-Marques, Andre Lopes, Marcelo Vieira, Mila Salcedo, Ellen Baker, Cesaltina Lorenzoni, Kathleen Schemeler. IGCS Fellowship Program in Mozambique: the Results [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 9th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; Global Cancer Research and Control: Looking Back and Charting a Path Forward; 2021 Mar 10-11. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2021;30(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 91.