“The IPOS Academy was inspiring and educative.  It has yielded so much positive impact and influence.”
Quote from previous attendee of our IPOS Training Academies

Start Date: September 2022

Overall Goal: To train attendees on best-practices in psycho-oncology in African oncology settings

IPOS has developed, in close partnership with partner organizations in Africa, an IPOS Pan-African Capacity-Building in Psycho-Oncology ECHO. Key benefits of ECHO are: 1) To build capacity for comprehensive cancer care in Africa through dissemination of best practices in psycho-oncology; 2) To hear worldwide experts on state-of-the art psycho-oncology practice; 3) To connect with other professionals in oncology and create a community of practice allowing for rich mutual learning and clinical discussions; and 4) To provide consultation and support in creating local program development planning in psycho-oncology.

Please see the following links for a short description of Project ECHO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAMaHP-tEwk&feature=youtu.be and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfqRwNd0Nao&feature=youtu.be

This ECHO will deliver training in evidence-based practices through monthly meetings over the course of one year. Each meeting lasts 1h30-2h and will be on a different topic in psycho-oncology. First, there will be a presentation by an international speaker, then a participant will present a case relevant to the lecture, and third there will be a case discussion led by the lecturer and a panel of experts in the field. Participants in the program will be professional working in direct clinical contact with cancer patients in Africa in a field appropriate to the field of psycho-oncology (e.g., physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers).

Applications are now opened for the program. Kindly complete the scholarship application, which will be peer-reviewed. Eligibility criteria are found below. Applications will only be accepted if they are received at your earliest convenience before May 27, 2022 to the following e-mail address: [email protected]. Applications must include the fully completed Application Form including the checklist and a five-page Curriculum Vitae for the applicant.

Our Organization:

IPOS is the sole multidisciplinary international charitable organization devoted to psycho-oncology, leading in education, research, training, public policy, and advocacy. In 2014, IPOS celebrated its 30th anniversary and IPOS holds non-state actor status with the World Health Organization (WHO). Part of our mission is to build capacity for cancer care in low- and low-middle income countries including in Africa. IPOS includes 40+ member countries from 6 continents.

Full eligibility criteria for the application (please note that all criteria must be met):

• Be a professional working in direct clinical contact with cancer patients in Africa (you will be asked for formal signed letter from your institution as part of the application);-e.g Physicians, Nurses, Psychologists, social workers
• Be a member of the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS)  and of your National Psycho-Oncology Society where it exists, or willing to be a member if accepted to the program
• Be fluent in oral and written English. Note: According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “when a person is fluent, they can speak a language easily, well, and quickly.”
• Have access to a camera and to internet to be able to participate in the ECHO sessions with your camera on during the sessions.
• Commit to attend the twelve ECHO sessions if selected to be a participant in the program (the sessions are scheduled on every first Thursday of each month at 12-2pm EDT starting in September 2022 except for a few sessions which will occur earlier during the day for scheduling reasons and for which we will inform you ahead of time);
• Consent to the ECHO sessions being recorded (the didactic teaching only) and posted on the IPOS website;
• Willing to complete short questionnaires throughout the program to give your feedback about the program as it evolves;
• Commit to sharing the knowledge learned through the Academy to professionals in your city and country in Africa.

Note: It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the application is complete. Incomplete applications or handwritten applications will be automatically withdrawn from the contest without notice. Applications will only be accepted if they are received at your earliest convenience before May 27, 2022 to the following e-mail address: [email protected]. Applications must include the fully completed Application Form including the checklist and a curriculum vitae, resume, or biosketch  for the applicant.

Note: Please send any questions you may have about this call for applications to the following e-mail address: [email protected]. IPOS will only be able to answer any questions related to this call for applications from April 11th to 22th, after which IPOS will no longer be able to answer. After the May 27 deadline, the only correspondence the applicants will receive is the result of the competition. Participants should anticipate receiving the results by the last week of May. If you have not received a response, please check the IPOS website to know if there has been a delay in the processing of the applications. If you have not received a letter of offer by the last week of May, unless otherwise indicated on the IPOS website, it means that you were not selected to participate in this ECHO.

HOW TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION?

• Kindly complete the scholarship application
• When saving your complete application, please save it with your country and complete name including your last name and surname separated by underscore. For example: Nigeria_Henry_Ann
• Please then email your Scholarship Application Form completed via computer or typewriter, including the check list below, a current copy of your Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English, and the signed waiver form and institutional letter confirming your work in direct contact with cancer patients in Africa no later than May 27, 2022 to the following email: [email protected]. PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS WITHOUT A 5-PAGE CV WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

All applications must include a fully completed and signed Applicant Waiver Form as well as a letter of attestation of your employment from your institution confirming that you are working in direct clinical contact with cancer patients in Africa. Incomplete waiver forms will result in your application being rejected.

Read more by going to IPOS 2021-22 ECHO Call for Scholarships 06052022 (1).pdf