UCSF Faculty and Fellows Present at 2025 AORTIC Conference

By UCSF Global Cancer Program on

Many of our 2025-2026 Global Cancer Program Fellows participated at the AORTIC 2025 Conference, November 2-5, 2025, in Hammamet, Tunisia.  Opening remarks were given by AORTIC President Miriam Mutebi who stressed “Africa’s cancer story is one of resilience, reinvention, and rising together.”  

Opening ceremony AORTIC

Highlight: Expert Panel on North America–South-South Collaboration at AORTIC 2025

A highlight of the agenda was the Expert Panel on North America–South-South Collaboration which brought together leaders from Africa and North America to examine how global cancer partnerships can adapt and thrive amidst the current global health landscape. 

Dr. Betiku Omolade noting challenges as an early career investigator.
Dr. Betiku Omolade noting challenges as an early career investigator.

This panel was developed by Dr. Beatrice P. Mushi, Program Manager for the MUHAS-ORCI-UCSF Cancer Collaboration and moderated by Dr. Abiola Ibraheem (AORTIC) and Dr. Rebecca DeBoer (UCSF). The two-hour session opened with Rapid-Fire Presentations by five emerging African researchers: Dr. Olalekan Olasehinde (Nigeria), Dr. Adamu Addissie (Ethiopia), Dr. Anthony Kityo (Uganda), Dr. Diana Wangeshi (Kenya), and Dr. Betiku Omolade (Nigeria)—each sharing reflections on navigating research and training partnerships within the evolving global health landscape.

An expert panel featuring Dr. Ghassan Abou-Alfa (MSKCC), Dr. Timothy Rebbeck (Harvard/Dana-Farber), Dr. Folakemi Odedina (Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium), Dr. Verna Vanderpuye (Ghana), Dr. Adamu Addissie (Ethiopia), and Dr. Katherine Van Loon (UCSF) explored themes of transparent leadership, power dynamics, and cultural humility in North–South collaborations. 

Expert Panel on North America–South-South Collaboration at AORTIC 2025
Verma Vanderpuye at AORTIC 2025 Panel
Panelists on the importance of north-south collaboration at the AORTIC conference in Tunisia

The discussion underscored practical strategies for sustainability and equity—highlighting the importance of protected time for investigators, fair authorship practices, and ethical treatment of biological samples. The session concluded with a shared commitment to continue this critical conversation—within AORTIC and across other international forums—as the foundation for reimagining enduring global cancer partnerships.

Additional Highlights

AORTIC President Miriam Mutebi giving opening remarks at the 2025 AORTIC Africa Conference
AORTIC President Miriam Mutebi gives opening remarks.
Katherine Van Loon, AORTIC president Miriam Mutebi and Laura Buback
Dr. Mutebi with UCSFʻs Dr. Katherine Van Loon and Global Cancer Program manager Laura Buback.

 

Musafiri Tumusime, Research Manager, with co-author Becky Deboer presenting their poster “A pragmatic model for cultural adaptation of communication skills training for oncology providers”
Musafiri Tumusime, Research Manager and Becky DeBoer of UCSF co-presenting their poster: “A pragmatic model for cultural adaptation of communication skills training for oncology providers.”  
UCSF collaborator Alex Mremi presented on a session entitled “Transforming Diagnostics: Digital Pathology and AI partnerships in Africa."
UCSF collaborator Alex Mremi presented on a session entitled “Transforming Diagnostics: Digital Pathology and AI partnerships in Africa."
Poster from Sarah Kutika Nyagabona: "A Silent Struggle: How Fear And Stigma Affect Care And Treatment For Women With Breast Cancer And Hiv In Tanzania"
Poster from Sarah Kutika Nyagabona: "A Silent Struggle: How Fear And Stigma Affect Care And Treatment For Women With Breast Cancer And Hiv In Tanzania"
Geoffrey Buckle and Scott Swartz at AORTIC 2025
Dr.s Geoffrey Buckle and Scott Swartz presenting on NCCN guidelines.

 

Solidarity Across Borders

Due to instability in the region, many of our Tanzanian colleagues were unable to travel but members of our Global Cancer Program presenter the posters on their behalf.

Becky DeBoer and Dianna Ng presenting poster for Caroline Ngimbe on HPV Screening for Cervical Canceron
Becky DeBoer and Dianna Ng presenting poster for Caroline Ngimbe on HPV Screening for Cervical Cancer.
Katherine Van Loon presents Tanzania scholarʻs poster at AORTIC 2025
Dr. Katherine Van Loon presents poster on behalf of Tanzanian colleagues at AORTIC 2025.
Dr. Van Loon presenting for Ahlam Nasser, MD, from the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science (MUHAS).
Dr. Van Loon presenting for Ahlam Nasser, MD, from the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science (MUHAS).
Summaiya Haddadi presenting “Understanding Cervical Cancer Patient Navigation Needs to Inform Intervention Development”
Global Cancer Program manager Laura Bubeck presents Summaiya Haddadiʻs research “Understanding Cervical Cancer Patient Navigation Needs to Inform Intervention Development.”

A Memorial Walk 

On Tuesday, November 4th, participants organized a beach walk "in honor of our patients, caregivers, survivors, those we have lost, and the clinicians who deliver care."
 

Beach walk in honor of patients and clinicians at AORTIC 2025 Conference in Tunisia
Beach walk noting absent Tanzanian scholars at AORTIC 2025 Conference in Tunisia
Beach walk noting cancer at AORTIC 2025 Conference in Tunisia

View the schedule of UCSF presentations and participation at the 2025 AORTIC conference in Tunisia. 

AORTIC conference

AORTIC 2025 | 2 – 5 November

AdvancIng Cancer Care Across AfrIca: EquIty Through EmpowerIng Research and EducatIon
HarnessIng AfrIcan PartnershIp to DrIve QualIty of Cancer Care and PatIent Outcomes