The Global Cancer Consortium (GCC) in collaboration with The International Cardio-Oncology Society (IC-OS) are pleased to extend an invitation to you to enroll in our training program in Cardio-Oncology. The first phase of this program aims to provide pre-recorded lectures, each delivered by accomplished professionals in the field. These lectures may be paired with local mentors who will offer hands on clinical application of the principles expounded in the recordings. In parallel, there are clinical case reviews and presentations by faculty, as well as trainees enrolled in the course and an opportunity to consult with the course directors. In this way, you will participate in a curriculum that has direct impact on patient care. There are two training tracks:
- Train-the-trainer track. Candidates will have a minimum experience of 2 years practicing cardio-oncology at a high-volume center and should be interested in serving as trainers for future trainees in this program.
- Trainee track. Candidates will be:
- established or in-training Cardiologists,
- established or in-training Hemato-Oncologists,
- established or in-training Medicine physicians, or
- established or in-training PharmDs.
To enroll in the training program, prospective Cardio-Oncology trainees will fill out the application form found at : https://members.ic-os.org/page/GlobalCOCertTrainingCourse. After careful review, the applications will be approved if they meet the eligibility criteria for one of the two tracks mentioned above. Only those applicants who are approved for enrollment in the course will pay their Fees directly to IC-OS for the IC-OS Certification Exams before gaining access to the online lectures. Instructions for payment of fees will be provided by Dr. Stephen Casselli, Executive Director, IC-OS, Tampa, Florida, USA (Email: directoricos@gmail.com).
Perspective
Cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are interlinked through common risk factors, co-occurrence in an aging population, and the deleterious effects of cancer treatment on cardiovascular (CV) health. The relationship between cancer and CVD is bidirectional. Well-known risk factors for CVD, such as tobacco, obesity, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, diabetes, alcohol, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, are also risk factors for many cancers.
Cancer treatment has been associated with a wide spectrum of short- and long-term cardiotoxic effects, with cardiomyopathy resulting from anthracyclines as a classic example. An explosion of novel cancer therapies has revolutionized the field and dramatically altered cancer prognosis. However, these therapies have introduced unexpected CV complications beyond cardiomyopathy. Ironically, increases in CV morbidity and mortality now threaten to offset the advances in cancer-related survival. Moreover, the epidemiological impact of cancer therapy-related cardiotoxicity is growing, and the number of cancer survivors and aging patients with various CV comorbidities at risk for cancer is increasing.
Oncologists are thus increasingly collaborating with CV specialists to risk-stratify and to address myriad co-morbidities and the adverse effects of novel cancer therapeutics, the mechanisms of which are often poorly understood. CV specialists need to have a thorough understanding of the complex pathophysiology that links cancer and CVD and the mechanisms of novel chemotherapeutic agents. Familiarity with the modalities to risk-stratify and detect early CV effects of cancer treatment is among the skills required for optimal care of the cancer patient. With growing recognition of the importance and complexity of the relationship among cancer, its treatment, and CVD, CV professionals need exposure to the field of cancer therapeutics and its effect on CV health.
Cardio-oncology (or onco-cardiology) has emerged as a field of expertise that aims to usher patients safely through cancer therapy and into survivorship while tempering CVD and minimizing risks of cancer therapy, as competing causes of morbidity and mortality. It has become increasingly clear that the involvement of a cardio-oncologist enables the cancer treatment team to provide the most effective cancer therapies while minimizing CV toxicity and improving the health of long-term survivors of cancer. With growing clinical demand, there will be an increasing number of cardio-oncology training programs, located mainly at tertiary/quaternary referral centers.
Curriculum
There are two mandatory components and one optional component in this training program.
1. Mandatory Didactic Component. The Global Cancer Consortium (GCC) in collaboration with The International Cardio-Oncology Society (IC-OS) will host the educational content on the GCC website. A similar curriculum is followed at many recognized US centers. The content is endorsed by IC-OS and will be updated from time to time.
The content will be available online so that the enrolled trainees may review it at their own convenience. The website will track their activity. After completing the didactic component, the trainee will take the Competency Assessment Exams (100 questions, 75% passing score).
2. Clinical Case Reviews and Presentations. Course faculty and trainees enrolled in the course will meet virtually, at least once every quarter, to present and discuss clinical cases and provide an opportunity for trainees to consult with the course directors. These presentations will ensure patient privacy by removing all identifying information.
3. Mandatory Clinical Component. Clinical exposure is available at the institute of the trainee if appropriate arrangements can be made. An opportunity to gain national (in the trainee’s home country) and international exposure (mainly in USA) may also be available, but cannot be guaranteed. This will depend on the availability of the position, availability of funding and ability to obtain the visa. The time of clinical exposure for oncologists and cardiologists/ physicians is 6 months. Clinical exposure in cardio-oncology could occur simultaneously with the didactic component or after successful completion of the competency exams depending upon the requirements set by the participating institute.
For those enrolled in the Train-the-Trainer track, clinical exposure is not required. However, clinical competency needs to be demonstrated. This will be assessed based on sample cases involving multistep clinical case scenarios. The candidate will be provided a minimum of 10 multistep cases and based on performance (require >80% correct response), the need for clinical exposure can be waived. Thus, the train-the-trainer pathway candidates will not be required to complete the clinical exposure based upon successful demonstration of a minimum of 2-years of clinical experience in cardio-oncology at a high-volume center and passing the multistep clinical case scenarios.
4. After successful completion of each mandatory component mentioned above, trainees will be eligible to take the IC-OS Certification Exams.
5. Optional Research Component. Interested candidates may be provided mentorship and involved in research projects.
COURSE COPYRIGHT
The lectures are delivered online and remain the intellectual property of the faculty member who delivered them. Access is provided only to those who register for the course. Individuals enrolled in the course may use the original content for their learning and completion of course requirements. Course recordings may not be reproduced, shared with anyone, or uploaded to other online environments. Trainees are not permitted to re-record the video and audio recordings of the course material. Downloading, copying, photographing or distributing them is prohibited. Trainees registered for the course are expected to maintain the security of their internet accounts used to access the recorded course materials.
