www.capho.org
E-newsletter Archive

Dear

 

Christopher Ralph
Communications Committee Chair
communications@capho.org

MASCC Travel Grant
CAPhO invites members to apply for an educational grant to attend the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) / International Symposium on Supportive Care in Cancer (ISOO) taking place June 27-29, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.

To apply for a MASCC Travel Grant, it is required that your abstract is accepted by the Symposium. Submit your abstract by Thursday, February 14, 2013.

Click here, sign in as a member and find out further information on submitting an application for a MASCC Travel Grant. The deadline for submitting an application is Monday, March 25, 2013.

HOPA Travel Grant
CAPhO invites members to apply for an educational grant to attend the Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association Conference (HOPA) taking place March 20-23, 2013 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Click here, sign in as a member and find out how to apply for a HOPA Travel Grant.  The deadline for submitting an application is Monday, January 21, 2013.

 

Written by Felice Musicco
ISOPP Publications Chair
musicco@ifo.it

Tell us about your association? ISOPP members share a common interest in providing optimal drug therapy to cancer patients. They are predominantly pharmacists (we also have Pharmacy Technicians as members) practicing in a variety of settings, who provide clinical pharmacy and/or cytotoxic drug preparation services to cancer patients.  Membership in the Society is also open to Oncology Nurses and Pharmacy Students/Residents.

ISOPP members form part of the healthcare team involved in cancer prevention, treatment, supportive care, and symptom management. Of special interest is the prevention and/or management of toxicities associated with cancer treatment. ISOPP members are also involved in clinical-and laboratory-based research, education and management.

The ISOPP website is located at www.isopp.org and the society's official publication is the Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice (JOPP), which is indexed in Pubmed. Besides the journal, the Society publishes a quarterly newsletter. The website has a discussion forum for members to post questions; as well as documentation from the society's conferences. Furthermore, the Society has established Global Standards of Practice for the preparation and administration of cancer drugs; with the second edition of these about to be published.   These documents are also available on the website, and are available in English, French and Spanish. ISOPP also offers its members opportunities to apply for a variety of Grants and Awards.

What is unique about your association? ISOPP is the only society who gathers together pharmacists from all over the world that are involved in the care of patients with cancer. Our Symposia reflect the global status of Oncology Practice and Researchers to the Congresses and makes available the documents produced by the Society, for example the standards. The Symposia also highlights the global experience in the sector.

The Society has an 8 Member Secretariat comprised of a President, President-Elect; Treasurer, Secretary and 4 General Members.  There are also, several Standing Committees (Education, Publications, Membership and Finance, Research and Standards of Practice) that are coordinated by a Committee Chair.  We also have a Newsletter editor.

Non-ISOPP members can access information on our website regarding benefits and costs of membership in the Society and about the history of the Society.

How many members do you have? Currently, the ISOPP is composed of about 500 members. 43% come from Europe, 24% from Australia, 14% from USA/Canada and 12% from Asia and the Pacific Islands. There are also members from Africa and South America.

When is your next conference or continuing education event? The next ISOPP International Symposium will take place in Montreal (Canada) in 2014. ISOPP Symposia are biennial, with an Australasian conference held the years where there are no symposia.

Any initiatives (currently in place or planned in the near future) by your association that you would like CAPhO members aware of? In 2012 the Society has activated a Virtual Journal Club on the Internet that encourages the members to read the articles from the JOPP and to answer on-line queries to check the competencies acquired. A new issue is published every month with a new issue to available since December 6th.

CAPhO Member Spotlight - Philip Shaheen

Clinical Pharmacist (Oncology/Hematology)
Cape Breton Regional Hospital
Pharmacy, Cape Breton Cancer Centre

News? After about a year of 'off the side of my desk' planning, we finally moved (in August) chemotherapy preparation from the Pharmacy to our new Chemotherapy Preparation Suite right in the middle of the clinic at the Cape Breton Cancer Centre.  Also my daughter just brought home her first report card from grade Primary...both items are of equal significance in my household.  HAHA

What is the best part of your job? Knowing that I'm helping to build something new and exciting.  Our new location has already allowed us to more easily provide oncology pharmacy clinical services to the centre; there's no shortage of areas where we can help patients.  I also get to work with an amazingly talented group of people...both on the technical and clinical sides, so that makes my job that much more enjoyable.

What inspired you to work in oncology pharmacy? I truthfully had little/no oncology experience up until a couple of years ago when I joined the hospital pharmacy team.  I had only rotated through a few months of chemotherapy when the decision was made for the pharmacists to be more 'specialized'.  I had spoken with a few others involved in the oncology pharmacy community in Nova Scotia about what they were doing...and could see the great potential of where we could go here.  When the department asked if I'd be interested in taking oncology I jumped at the chance.

Where was the last conference you attended? The Cape Breton Cancer Centre Symposium in October.  Before that, NOPS 2011 in Quebec City.

Where did you go to university? Cape Breton University for a couple of years, then Dalhousie University in Halifax.

What job did you do before working in oncology pharmacy? Before I started at the hospital itself I was a community pharmacist for close to 7 years, doing everything from relief, to staff, to even management for awhile.

What sports and/or hobbies do you do? In the summer months I golf (or try to) and just this year took up cycling.  In the winter it's strictly skating and tobogganing with my family.

What book are you reading right now? "The Elephant to Hollywood" by Michael Caine...one of my favorite actors.

Where would you want a mystery flight to take you on vacation? Around the world with two-week layovers in Ireland, Italy, Greece and Australia.  Is that cheating?

Where were you born? Sydney, Nova Scotia

The Education Pharmacist Committee needs two or three new members, as we have some important initiatives occurring in 2013 and would appreciate more input. The initiatives include the creation of one or two Oncology Practice Essentials Modules and the update of the Hope Module. This is a great opportunity for members to be involved in these core CAPhO projects and to personally gain experience in developing and reviewing education initiatives. Please contact me to be part of the Education Committee.

 

Tara Leslie

The minutes of the CAPhO Annual General Meeting, which was held on Saturday, October 27th, and the Town Hall, which took place on Sunday, October 28th are posted in the members' section of the CAPhO website. Your username and password is required.

CAPhO is Co-host of ISOPP 2014! 

CAPhO was selected as the local host for the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners' 2014 Symposium (ISOPP 2014), which will be held in Montreal. Visit www.isoppxiv.org regularly for updates on the program, venue, registration and other highlights. We are currently in the process of putting together the program and need input from you! Send an email to program@isoppxiv.org with your ideas. Sign up to receive e-newsletter updates into your inbox.

 

 

CAPhO's awards and travel grants provide members with recognition and opportunities not typically available through the workplace. Make sure to check the Members "Awards and Grant Details" page on CAPhO's website in the new year for updates and deadlines. (You need to be logged in to see the page.)