A Message from President Kenneth Tanabe, MD, FSSO

Dear Fellow SSO Members,

It is an honor and privilege to have been elected to serve as President of the Society of Surgical Oncology.  Since the time I first learned of the SSO as a surgical oncology fellow, I’ve held the SSO in highest esteem because of the key role it serves in championing the field of surgical oncology — advancing the science, education, and practice of cancer surgery worldwide.  I am simultaneously humbled and energized to step into the office held previously by so many legendary leaders, all of whom have dedicated their careers to surgical oncology.

As President, during the coming year I will move forward on:

• Increasing the value of the SSO’s educational content at live meetings, on our mobile app, and on SurgOnc Academy
• Increasing the Society’s relevance and value to all cancer surgeons – whether from large or small hospitals, and whether from academic or non-academic settings
• Working with our international partner surgical oncology societies to enhance education and quality of care delivered internationally
• Ensuring adequate resources for the SSO to pursue all of our strategic initiatives including education, mentoring, Women in Cancer Surgery (WICS), the Global Forum of Cancer Surgeons (GFCS) and our initiatives in sustainability
• Increasing the SSO’s role in advocacy

I am indebted to all of the SSO’s members who are volunteering to serve the society across many committees, task forces, and work groups. I am grateful for the excellent work of the SSO Executive Committee and Board of Directors, who set our strategic path forward. I am appreciative of the amazing assistance of the SSO staff – lead by CEO Patti Stella – who work to help the SSO achieve its goals, including those outlined in our strategic plan. And I am very appreciative of all of the SSO’s members who bring energy, enthusiasm and innovation to our society.

Thank you for your loyalty to the Society of Surgical Oncology. I encourage you to engage, volunteer, support, and champion the SSO; purchase and wear SSO swag; attend our annual meeting; explore our mobile app and SurgOnc academy; engage and ask your colleagues to engage.

I look forward to working together with you to identify and pursue new opportunities to advance the science, education and practice of cancer surgery worldwide.

Sincerely,

Kenneth Tanabe, MD, FSSO

President, Society of Surgical Oncology