From Fellow to Faculty: Building Bridges in Global Surgical Oncology

The Indian Association of Surgical Oncology (IASO)’s annual National Conference (NATCON 2025) once again reaffirmed the society’s vision of uniting surgical oncologists from across the world in advancing patient care, education, and research.

This year, I had the privilege of chairing a scientific session featuring Dr Bruno Azevedo, an eminent member of the Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology (BSSO). His Keynote Lecture on “HIPEC in the era of Targeted therapies for Ovarian Cancer” — insightful, engaging, and deeply relevant — reflected how global collaboration continues to enrich surgical oncology practice in India.

As I welcomed Dr Azevedo to the IASO platform, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own journey. Years ago, I was on the other side of the equation — a young surgical oncologist travelling abroad to learn, observe, and grow.

I first visited the USA as an IASO-Detroit Fellowship awardee, and then I had the honour of being the first Indian recipient of the International Career Development Award from the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO), USA, through which I spent time as a visiting fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, as well as at University of Chicago Medical Center, in addition to presenting a paper at the SSO Annual Meeting at Phoenix, Arizona. Those experiences were transformative — not only for the knowledge I gained, but for the friendships, mentorship, and perspective they offered.

Standing now on the podium, inviting and receiving international delegates, I was reminded of how the cycle of learning and collaboration continues — how the seeds of global engagement planted then are now bearing fruit within India’s own oncology ecosystem.

Strength in Collaboration

IASO’s growing partnerships with organizations such as BSSO, SSO (USA), BASO (UK), and ESSO (Europe) are a testament to how far surgical oncology in India has come. These collaborations have created pathways for fellowships, joint symposia, faculty exchanges, and cross-continental mentorship — enriching both our local practice and global understanding of cancer care.

For me personally, this year’s NATCON session with Dr Azevedo was more than a scientific exchange — it was a moment of gratitude and reflection. From being a fellow learning abroad to now hosting global colleagues on Indian soil, the journey has come full circle.

As we move forward, such interactions will continue to define the future of surgical oncology — one that values collaboration over competition, knowledge over boundaries, and shared purpose over distance.