ASCO 2018
The most exciting part of winning an international award, getting to visit the US for the first time, meeting your best friend, roaming around Chicago, going to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting (who had 40000 registrations this year) – was the people that I got to meet - the fellow IDEA (International Development and Education Award) recipients.
A group of bright young people from parts of the world having similar problems, if not worse, than ours. Some of them, who took palliative and end of life care as a passion. Edom was the only female oncologist in the country of Ethiopia which has one Radiation Machine for 100 million people. Pesona is one of the few gyne-oncologists from India’s neglected Northeast. Ishamel complained that Ghana doesn’t have enough mammography machines for screening and hence all his patients come in an advanced stage. Patience from Zimbabwe and Angela from Kenya took oncology training abroad and came back to their home countries to ensure that quality care is not denied to their patients. Eunice moved to palliative care after the child she treated with a lot of love, left the world. Das from Bangladesh and Jennifer from Guatemala were the first recipients of an ASCO award from their respective countries. Along with 11 others who had similar inspiring stories. Stories of struggles, hardships, undying passion, and determination.
They did not complain or resign to their fate when faced with adversities. They were focused and they fought. Fought against everything from natural calamities, corrupt governments, to poverty and disbelieving patients. All of them had a fire in their eyes and an intense passion for service.
Every great dream begins with a dreamer.
ASCO - IDEA winners 2018.
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