Each year, IASLC seeks early-career physicians to participate in the IASLC Academy, a professional development program taught by prominent leaders in the field of thoracic oncology. Last year, the 2023 IASLC Academy class had the opportunity to serve as the inaugural Amazing Case Race cohort. Back for a second year in 2024, the Amazing Case Race is designed to give Academy members experience while bringing some friendly competition to the World Conference on Lung Cancer.
During the past 9 months, members of the 2024 Academy received guidance and feedback from mentors on their own individual thoracic oncology projects. They also participated in professional career development sessions. During WCLC 2024, the Academy will attend a final workshop where each academy member will present a summary of their project.
In addition, each member produced a case summary based on real-life patients, and during WCLC, attendees will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite, most remarkable case summaries. Following the meeting, the five cases with the most votes will be included in an IASLC case-based simulation course.
IASLC Academy Co-chair Christian Rolfo, MD, PhD, MBA, Drhc, Director of the Division of Medical Oncology and Associate Director for Early Phase Clinical Trials at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, said the program, which has been in place more than 5 years, provides a unique platform for international, multidisciplinary networking, bringing together key opinion leaders in thoracic oncology from around the world.
In recent years, a significant number of early-career lung cancer experts have taken advantage of this program to acquire essential tools and insights to enhance their career development and fully realize their professional potential, Dr. Rolfo said.
Fellow Co-chair Rami Manochakian, MD, FASCO, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, said leading the Academy with Dr. Rolfo and the other faculty mentors has been an honor.
“Working with our faculty members and experts to mentor and support an amazing, dedicated group of early career thoracic oncology clinicians and researchers has been a wonderful experience,” he said. “Witnessing the academy members and their outstanding projects, gives me full confidence that the future of thoracic oncology is in great hands.”
2024 Academy participant Sally Lau, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, said the program has been invaluable to her as an early-career physician.
“I think it is the only the experience of this sort for early-career thoracic oncologists,” she said. “The value I’ve gained from the IASLC Academy is different compared to other programs I’ve done, which are often geared toward fellows. I think the mentorship the Academy provides is really valuable as it is truly a global group of mentees and mentors with different perspectives and experiences.”
Dr. Lau, who produced a case presentation that highlights a new class of therapies for solid tumors, said while she loves the Amazing Case Race for the fun it brings to the work, the Academy is about more than developing projects.
“It’s really about developing our careers,” she said. “I appreciate all I’ve learned about leadership and mentorship and all of the other skills one needs to advance in their careers. I think this is how the IASLC Academy is really different compared to other programs.”
Fellow Academy mentee Maria Gemelli, MD, agreed. Dr. Gemelli, of the Medical Oncology Unit at IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy, said she considers it an honor to have been chosen for the IASLC Academy.
“The formal sessions focused on professional development and leadership skills have been very helpful, but I think the more interesting part for me has been the opportunities to discuss our projects in small groups and receive feedback from our colleagues and mentors,” she said. “Receiving feedback from expert leaders in the field is very, very helpful.”
Dr. Gemelli also said she appreciates the opportunity to attend the World Conference as a member of the 2024 IASLC Academy and is looking forward to meeting fellow Academy members and mentors in person.
“I think this may be the most important part of the Academy—the networking opportunities with colleagues,” she said. “You can engage with people from all around the world. It’s really a great opportunity.”
