Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1117–1118

SOCIETY NEWS AND VIEWS International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP): Developmental Goals 2014–2016: Communication Update SIOP Executive Board SIOP was founded in the late 1960’s. It has grown into a dynamic and vibrant global organisation, which has over 1,000 active members in 93 countries. Its memberships are multidisciplinary health-care professionals with a specific interest in paediatric and adolescent cancer.

VISION SIOP’s vision is that no child should die of cancer and that survivors of childhood cancer experience the best health and quality of life possible.

MISSION The mission of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) includes the following: To ensure that each child and adolescent with cancer has access to state of the art treatment and care. To ensure that all involved in childhood cancer worldwide, have access to the latest progress through meetings, networking, and continuing professional development. To support those caring for children, adolescents, and young adult with cancer to provide the best curative and palliative therapies. To advocate for appropriate long term follow up for children, adolescents, and young adults after treatment for cancer. SIOP has realized its role as the global advocate for all children and adolescents with cancer and their families. Recognizing the importance of this role SIOP plans to pursue a more active advocacy role. In addition there is a need to reconfirm its profile of as the major international paediatric and adolescent oncology society committed to the promotion of quality science, education and the creation of opportunities for networking among those sharing the SIOP vision. The research and healthcare professionals in Paediatric Oncology have witnessed tremendous progress and change in the last few decades. There are changing and varied challenges for our membership, patients, families, healthcare systems and research endeavours. In order to deliver high quality research and educational meetings and serve the needs of its membership requires SIOP to evaluate its current status, define developmental goals, and develop action plans for the implementation of those goals. To understand the context of the current status of SIOP an environmental scan and SWOT analysis was undertaken. Based on this background the following developmental goals and actions have been discussed by the SIOP Board and a summary is presented here for membership and public awareness. Implementations of these goals are in process and will be completed by 2016. The complete document of these Developmental Goals and background thereof is available on the SIOP website: http://www.siop-online. org/

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2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. DOI 10.1002/pbc.25478 Published online 21 March 2015 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com).

SIOP DEVELOPMENT GOALS: TIMELINE 2014–2016 External Goals (1) To advocate globally for children with cancer and their families: A committee with representation form the SIOP continental branches and the PODC committee (Paediatric Oncology in developing counties) has been formed for the purpose of global advocacy for the needs of children and adolescents with cancer. A position paper has been published [1] and a 3-year working plan and deliverables established. Official status within WHO has been obtained to introduce childhood and adolescent cancer on the Global Health Agenda within noncommunicable disease (NCD) groups. Advocacy partnerships with other societies and organizations are being forged. Using the strength of its global membership SIOP desires to be the leading international advocacy organisation to further the mission and vision of SIOP. Reports from the advocacy committee will be available on the website and membership participation welcome. (2) To promote the participation of young professionals in SIOP activities and to encourage them to become members: The SIOP Scientific Committee (SC) has been charged with the responsibility to pursue this Developmental Goal. It was ascertained from the SWOT and environmental analysis that the demographics of the membership were slanted towards those in the latter part of their careers. The need to engage young investigators was recognised so as to encourage their membership and improve the standard of the scientific submissions at the meetings. In order to implement this goal the following have been initiated: The Young Investigator (YI) awards for outstanding abstracts have been established and awards were given for the first time at the Toronto congress. A YI dedicated session will be held at all congresses. A YI working group has been formed. YI award winners will receive free SIOP membership for 1 year and be invited to participate in the young SIOP group. The “YI awards” will be promoted through the SIOP website and congress publications, PBC Journal, fellowship programs and at major institutions globally. The SC will survey the YI membership to identify the career needs of young professionals and their expectations. (3) To improve SIOP visibility and improve internal and external communications: A Website and Communications Committee has been constituted for the purpose of updating and improving the SIOP and developing a communication strategy. A survey of the Correspondence to: Paul C. Rogers, Division of Pediatric Oncology/ Hematology/BMT, BC Childrens Hospital & University of BC, 4480 Oak St, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6H 3V4. E-mail: [email protected] Received 22 January 2015; Accepted 25 January 2015

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membership was conducting to guide the process of renewal. The website survey is available on the SIOP website. Key findings were the request for increase educational content, especially the keynote and symposiums at the congresses, as well as an interactive clinical forum to gain access to expertise within the membership. The committee, along with the Kenes staff, are now undertaking a revue of the website and are embarking on improving the lay out, functionality, educational content, and the inclusion of a membership “Chat room.” A communication strategy and use of other social media will be developed. The expectation is that this goal will be finalised by the end of 2015. (4) To focus attention on the future needs of research in paediatric oncology: The SC recognises the need to improve the scientific content of the congresses and has the intention over the next 2 years to; initiate position papers on developing trends; hold ad hoc seminars during the annual meeting on specific diseases and topics; promote specific events with industry partners; communicate with scientific leaders and other research organisations worldwide. SIOP has a unique global reach, multidisciplinary membership and varied scientific expertise across all cancer types. The goal is to enhance scientific communication, interaction, and collaboration that is required for future research and to raise the scientific profile of SIOP. (5) To explore possible partnerships with sister societies sharing similar mission and vision: There are numerous other organisations and societies with an interest or specific mandate related to clinical care, science, advocacy, education, families and survivorship perspective. There has been a legacy understanding and cooperation with IPSO & PROS. During the SIOP 2014 congress, business meetings were held with IPSO, PROS, POEMS, ICCCPO, WCC, and UICC. The board is exploring the benefit of developing “Memorandum-ofunderstanding (MOU)” for the conduct and responsibilities for and between the different linked societies or organizations. (6) To increase the SIOP membership and have a society which understands and fulfils the needs of its members: An active campaign is being conducted to promote SIOP membership and enhance the benefits of its membership. Changes in membership fees for different categories are being contemplated.

Internal Goals and Operations (7) To outline the present structure of SIOP: The organisational structure has not been as transparent as it should be. The organisational chart has been redefined and presented at the annual general meeting in Toronto. It is available on the website. The purpose and terms of reference of each committee or working group have been written or are a work in progress. New committees or working groups will be established according to identified need. (8) To develop a repository of all pertinent documents: To ensure continuity and legacy of the changing boards, an electronic repository of all pertinent documents related to the strategic and operations decisions of the board are required for future reference. This responsibility has been accepted by our professional congress organiser, Kenes.

Pediatr Blood Cancer DOI 10.1002/pbc

(9) To define SIOP policy for investing and distribution of reserve funds: SIOP is currently in a fortunate position of having reserve funds for improving operations and to cover possible emergency expenses. The need was recognised to develop a policy, which guides the board in the use and investment of its reserve funds. This is in process. (10) To develop standardized and summarized reports of the annual meeting: A review of the successes and failures, attendance, demographics, financial reporting and changes for improvement is required after each congress. This will be standardised for each congress in order to allow review of objective data for comparative analyses of consecutive meetings. (11) To describe the procedures and responsibilities of the local organising committee and the PCO (Kenes) for the organization and conduct of the annual meetings: It has been identified that there can be confusion of responsibilities for the organisation of the congresses between the SC, LOC, PCO, and the board. In order to rectify this, a comprehensive handbook is being written to be available for the 2015 meeting. This handbook will be updated after each congress as needed. (12) To prepare a 3-year report regarding the relationship between SIOP and the present PCO (Kenes): The PCO has a renewable 3-year contact for the organisation of the congresses and conduct of the operational activities of SIOP. Thus a review process is required prior to each renewal. A report and recommendations to the future SIOP Executive Board regarding the renewal or the rescinding of the contract with Kenes will be prepared.

CONCLUSION: SIOP LEGACY (2014–2016) These 3-year goals have been developed to make SIOP a more modern, efficient, and inclusive international scientific society with a focus on research, education, advocacy, and the needs of its membership. SIOP has to adapt to meet the needs of its members and continuously re-evaluate its mission, vision and goals. The Board welcomes an active dialogue with its members, sister societies and within this (Our) journal. The culture of SIOP is one of great collegiality providing an open forum for communication and networking. We appreciate that the journal has given us this opportunity to document for a wider audience the current developmental goals of SIOP.

SIOP EXECUTIVE BOARD Giorgio Perilongo—President Gabriele Calaminus—Past President Gregory Reaman—Treasurer Paul Rogers—Secretary General Francois Doz—Chairman Scientific Committee

REFERENCE 1. Calaminus G, Birch JR, Hollis R, Pau B, Kruger M. The role of SIOP as a platform for communication in the global response to childhood cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013;60:2080–2086.

International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP): Developmental goals 2014-2016: Communication update.

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