Editorial introductions

Abstract

Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care was launched in 2007. It is one of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The fields of supportive and palliative care are divided into 12 sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Journal's Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS Aminah Jatoi Aminah Jatoi, MD, is a practicing oncologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, USA. She carries a strong interest in a variety of cancer-related palliative care issues, including the management of weight loss in patients with advanced cancer. Florian StrasserFlorian StrasserFlorian Strasser, MD, is a medical doctor with board certification in internal medicine, medical oncology and palliative medicine, and dedicates his work on clinical and research activities of integrated oncology and palliative care and cancer cachexia / nutrition / rehabilitation, as well as capacity building in multi-professional teams. His interest lies in the development of clinical models, clinical practice tools, and quality indicators to integrate oncology and palliative care. This work is also affiliated with international organizations, with functions as Chair or other responsibilities, in the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), Multinational Association of Supportive Care and Cancer (MASCC), European Association of Palliative Care (EAPC), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), or the International Association of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (IAHPC). Florian Strasser is based in the Oncology Department of the Internal Medicine and Palliative Centre at Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Switzerland. Gustavo de SimoneGustavo de SimoneGustavo De Simone was born in Argentina in 1955 and graduated as a physician in 1979 completing his specialty in medical oncology. He was appointed Medical Director of the Palliative Care Program at Mainetti Comprehensive Cancer Centre in La Plata, Argentina in 1991. Since then he has contributed to the development of specialist palliative care services in Buenos Aires and other cities in Argentina. He has led development of palliative care education mainly at postgraduate level within the University of La Plata, Argentina (1992 to 1997) and Universidad del Salvador, Argentina (1998 to present), and has been involved in the development of the research and development programs. He is Medical Director of Pallium Latinoamerica Study Centre (NGO), which has had academic links with Oxford International Centre for Palliative Care since 1993. In June 2005, Dr De Simone was made Coordinator of Post-graduated Training in Palliative Care (Residence Program) within the Ministry of Health, Buenos Aires Government. He is currently Chief of Education and Research Department at the “Bonorino Udaondo” Public Hospital in Buenos Aires. In 1998 he became Honorary Professor of Palliative Medicine at the Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, and Director of the Career of Medical Oncology. This is the first Chair in Palliative Medicine in Argentina and provides a focal point for educational developments in South America. Based on his commitments to education, he got the 2003 International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) Annual “Vittorio Ventafridda Award”. In 2009 he was made Director of the working group on End of Life Decisions at the Medical Ethics Committee of the National Academy of Medicine.