On 15-16 January, RCSI will host an exciting Regional Networking Event in its capacity as a Leading Cancer Centre within the INTERACT-EUROPE-100 education consortium. Building on an earlier EU-funded initiative co-chaired by RCSI past president Prof. Niall O’Higgins, the EU-co-funded INTERACT-EUROPE-100 project is a flagship initiative of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to provide new standards in teamwork in every cancer centre in Europe.

Cancer patients in Europe are treated by an array of different specialties and professions: medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, cancer nurses and many others. For cancer care to be delivered optimally, close collaboration among these professionals is essential. But that requires a thorough knowledge of each other’s roles and goals in treating any patient.​ The INTERACT-EUROPE-100 project allows various professional specialties across Europe to train together, improving collaboration and patient care through the implementation of an innovative Inter-Specialty Cancer Training Programme.

INTERACT-EUROPE 100 has a clear and unwavering objective: improve cancer care by improving the collaboration of those providing it. The INTERACT-EUROPE vision is all about breaking down medical silos. It provides professionals from different specialties with the skills to communicate with each other more effectively for better patient care.

The Regional Networking Event in Dublin will bring together around 40 participants representing medical oncology, surgery, cancer nursing, radiation oncology, pathology, and health & social care professionals from cancer centres in Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Ireland! Participants will reflect on how the Inter-Specialty Cancer Training Programme is being implemented in their own centres, share best practices, and take part in workshops to strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration. All this with a healthy dose of RCSI hospitality and Irish culture – participants are sure to remember the ceili dance being hosted in RCSI’s new building 118 St. Stephen’s Green!