Overview of SASMO

Mission Statement and Vision
The objectives of the Society are to promote medical oncology in South Africa, to further all aspects of cancer research in South Africa, to provide the forum for discussion and the exchange and diffusion of information ideas relating to neoplastic disease, to promote collaboration between specialists engaged in different fields of oncology, including the clinical and experimental, to promote the care and treatment of the patient with cancer, and to further the teaching of medical oncology.

History
The South African Society of Medical Oncology (SASMO) was established in April 1987.

The Society was formed thanks to the initiative of Prof. G Falkson, who was the head of the Medical Oncology Department at the University of Pretoria, and together with a group of medical, paediatric and radiation oncologists, formed the initial Executive Committee.

Since its inception, the South African Society of Medical Oncology has held general meetings, approximately at 18 months intervals, on a rotational basis in the main cities of South Africa.

The present Officers are Prof Paul Ruff (Chairman), Prof Raymond Abratt, Prof Lydia Dreosti, Dr Bernardo Rapoport and Dr Samuel Fourie.

The meetings take place every 18-24 months, together with the South African Society of Clinical Radiation Oncology (SASCRO), and are aimed at improving cancer care and prevention by advancing the education of physicians in the treatment of patients with cancer and by supporting the development of clinical cancer researchers. The target audience of these meetings are Oncologists including all oncology sub-specialties (medical, radiation, surgical, etc.) and as well as oncology nurses, research nurses, pharmacists, genetic counsellors and other health care professionals.

These meetings are part of the CPD programme and its activities foster the communication among the physicians from the various sub-specialties, promoting the exchange of a wide range of ideas related to cancer, including biology, diagnosis, early detection, economic impact, genetics, management, prevention, psychosocial aspects, staging and treatment.