John Wayne Clinical Research Lecture: New Avenues for Uplifting the Global Quality of Care in Surgical Oncology.

Abstract

Health care equality is an idealistic goal that is difficult to achieve. However, uplifting the quality of care in surgery for cancer is achievable through several means, the most important of which is training of surgeons through properly structured training programs. However, such programs vary greatly, and no uniformity of curriculum exists throughout the world. On the other hand, several avenues are available for uplifting the quality of care through education and dissemination of knowledge at an individual level, an institutional level, a national level, and an international level. Efforts to uplift the quality of surgical care at an individual level can be by direct delivery of care or by dissemination of knowledge and experiences through personal interactions, lectures, and published works. Conferences, webinars, and travel grants are effective means offered by several institutions and national professional organizations. At an international level, however, much more can be done. For example, in the specialty of head and neck surgery, the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS) has done extraordinary work through world congresses, world tour programs, master courses on operative techniques, and its most impactful program, the Global On Line Fellowship in head and neck surgery and oncology. The programs offered by IFHNOS have had a huge impact on the quality of surgical care for head and neck cancer worldwide. This prototype can be used in many other specialties of surgical oncology to uplift the quality of care globally.