LAUSR

The 2018 International Cancer Education Conference (ICEC) will occur on October 3–5, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia, coorganized by the American Association for Cancer Education (AACE), the Cancer Patient Education Network (CPEN), and the European Association for Cancer Education (EACE). This year’s theme is Cancer Education: Bridging the Gap Through Health Equity, Innovation, and Advocacy in Global Communities. Having this conference in Atlanta is of particular significance, given the rich histories of this city and the participating organizations. I believe that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 50 years now departed, is smiling down in anticipation of this event. Atlanta played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement. The strategies and tactics used by African American leaders in Atlanta to galvanize black voting power, gain access to public facilities and institutions, and increase economic opportunities for African Americans offer a valuable perspective on the uniqueness of Atlanta’s Civil Rights experience during the period 1940 to 1970. The core of this uniqueness resides in the fundamental role that churches, social organizations, businesses, and other institutions of Auburn Avenue, and the colleges and universities of the Atlanta University Center, played in developing leadership. While leaders traditionally have emerged from institutions in their communities, the confluence of the businesses and institutions of BSweet Auburn^ with the Historically Black Colleges and Universities of the city created an infrastructure for activism that was unparalleled. Across this time period, one of the goals of the civil rights movement in Atlanta did not change: There was a consistent and clarion call to educate. This call is consistent within the sponsoring organizations of the ICEC. Their collective purpose is to improve cancer outcomes through development, application, and evaluation of evidence-based programs focused on communities and special communities, healthcare professionals, patients, and their caregivers. Just like the civil rights movement in Atlanta, the common concept of the ICEC is education. This year’s conference will include pre-conference workshops, which will provide opportunities to learn about and practice new skills. A National Cancer Institute (NCI) workshop focused on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Education Program (R25) will be highlighted. The R25 mechanism supports research education activities that enhance the diversity of the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research workforces. The conference will begin with an opening plenary and keynote presentation by Otis Brawley, MD, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer of the American Cancer Society. He will provide his unique perspective in his presentation titled BCancer Control in the 21st Century.^ This will be followed by a plenary presentation by Mandi Pratt-Chapman, MA, Associate Center Director, Patient-Centered Initiatives and Health Equity, George Washington Cancer Center. She will present BCaring for Diverse Populations: What You Should Know about Your LGBTQI Patients.^Additional plenary sessions will be led by Rebecca Wong, MD, Vice Chair for Education, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto and Chanita Hughes-Halbert, PhD, Associate Dean for Assessment and Evaluation, AT&T Distinguished Endowed Chair in Cancer Equity in Hollings Cancer Center and the SmartState Center of Economic Excellence Endowed Chair in Cancer Disparities at Medical University of South Carolina. The Samuel Harvey Memorial Lecture, established in 1951, will be given by John Daly, MD, FACS. He is the Harry C. Donahoo Professor, Surgery, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University Fox Chase Cancer Center. Dr. Daly will give his viewpoint on BCancer Education: AView from Both Sides of the Table.^ The presentations from these national and international leaders will be supplemented by illuminating oral and abstract * Charles E. Moore [email protected]