The ETC will take an active part in developing a core curriculum for surgical oncology and then work in the line of this core curriculum. As an example, the website will have ”how I do it” articles and educational courses will be arranged with aims set to accomplish specified tasks in the core curriculum. These courses can preferably be joint ventures with organ-based societies, universities or FECS member societies. The ETC will define the criteria for recognized centers where fellows in surgical oncology can attend for shorter or longer periods. Finally, ETC will announce fellowships to promote these activities.

Guidelines in cancer care have been worked out by many national groups and societies. Most of these originates from organ-based societies. ETC will recognize these guidelines by links from the website but we will not put up our own guidelines. One purpose with an education and training committee is to promote learning and this is better accomplished by getting a wide acceptance throughout the surgical oncology society for a core curriculum and the content within it.

The fact the surgical oncology is recognized by UEMS with its own examination (EBSQ) gives ESSO a base to develop a European core curriculum for surgical oncology. It could be argued that a surgeon who fulfils the requirements of the core curriculum and has passed the EBSQ will have no benefit from it, neither in her/his own country nor when moving to another EU country. That might be right for the time being but most likely this will change in the near future, not the least because other medical specialities force a change in the national requirements by setting up European standards. Another important consequence is that ESSO by developing a core curriculum facilitates the process for cancer institutes and hospitals throughout Europe to set up educational programs for surgeons who want to pass the EBSQ in surgical oncology. With clear directives it is much easier for the individual center to adapt to the requirements.

ESSO fellowships

Fellowships will be awarded for several purposes with the common aim that the surgeon should develop clinical and research experience in surgical oncology.

The travel fellowships are open to applicants from countries where ESSO has members and they should be used to visit preferably European centers. The fellow has the choice to visit any department or cancer center. Research in evidence-based surgery and quality assurance will be promoted by fellowships at European cancer organisations, such as EORTC.

The educational courses jointly arranged by ESSO and FECS member societies will be sponsored by fellowships awarded to some applicants. One of these courses is the annual course in clinical trials design at Flims.

Accreditation Council of Oncology in Europe

ETC participates in the Accreditation Council of Oncology in Europe (ACOE) and promotes conferences organized by surgeons to apply for CME points via ACOE. There is no need for the organizer to apply for accreditation by several bodies. An ACOE accreditation is the base for accreditation by UEMS and national authorities.

ESSO website and the European Journal of Surgical Oncology

The education and teaching committee has several activities displayed on the ESSO website www.esso-surgeonline.org and  Fellowships and joint courses arranged by ESSO can be found here. There is an interest among our members to read ”how I do it” articles by leading surgeons in Europe. These articles cover a broad field of topics by invited collegues from our own as well as other subspecialities. Most articles have earlier been published in our journal, the EJSO, and we plan to expand this collaborative publishing effort. ESSO publishes the EJSO ten times per year. The ETC has a position in the editorial board of EJSO and we consider the journal to be an excellent tool to promote and facilitate international exchange to surgeons specialising in oncology.