Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) and Palm Beach—Promise Fund of Florida organised an international virtual breast and cervical cancer symposium about challenges and opportunities in the current oncology delivery system in both countries to discuss the impact of efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality cancer care.


Participants in the symposium


Many competent authorities in Qatar and the US participated in the event, the first collaboration in a two-year partnership between the two non-profit organisations. Both non-profits will seek to collectively improve health education, training, and delivery of cancer care charity navigation services in their respective countries. They also strive to improve prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship in women's cancer.
The US team is headed by Nancy Brinker, former ambassador of the US, former chief of protocol of the US, the World Health Organisation's goodwill ambassador for Cancer Control and founding member of Promise Fund. Other members are Dr Michael Zinner, chief executive officer, and executive medical director at Miami Cancer Institute, Dr Lillie D Shockney, distinguished service professor of breast cancer, professor of surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Qatar Cancer Society team is led by Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani – chairman, and the other members are: Mona Ashkanani, general manager, Dr Hadi Mohamad Abu Rasheed, head of Professional Development and Scientific Research Department, Dr Artefaa al-Shamari, oncoplastic breast surgeon, Hamad Medical Corporation and honorary ambassador of QCS.
Brinker welcomed the co-operation between the two institutions and the qualitative efforts led by Qatar, represented by QCS in the field of caring for people living with cancer and providing best quality and efficient services.
Sheikh Dr Khalid welcomed the co-operation with the Promise Fund of Florida, which would leave a lasting impact on people living with cancer, physically and psychologically, and its implications for spreading awareness on cancer and ways to prevent it.
He affirmed QCS' keenness on co-operation between various parties locally and internationally and keeping pace with the prestigious international experiences and expertise, to develop its programmes and plans through the exchange of ideas and visions between experts from different sectors and interests.
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