Dr. Poly Bunpa, one of only a handful of radiation oncologists in Cambodia, spent the month of November at UCSF in a clinical observership in the Department of Radiation Oncology. Cambodia faces an estimated 15,200 new cancer cases per year with estimated 11,300 deaths per year. Dr. Poly is mentored by Dr. Sheretz in the Department of Radiation Oncology. He came to UCSF to build additional skills which will support his country’s plan to expand patient access to radiation therapy.
 

Dr. Asteria Kimambo, a first-year resident in the Department of Pathology at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, spent the month of November in the Department of Pathology at UCSF. She came to UCSF for intensive exposure to rapid onsite diagnosis procedures using fine needle aspiration (FNA) technique. She studied with several UCSF pathologists, including Dr. Dianna Ng, Dr. Ron Balasannian, and Dr. Britt-Marie Ljung. Dr. Kimambo reflected about her month at UCSF, “It changed me. I am going back different and with new skills that I will share.” She expressed gratitude to her mentor and host, Dr. Dianna Ng, for tireless teaching and support. Drs. Kimambo and Ng are collaborators in a project utilizing FNA to improve breast cancer diagnostics in Tanzania.

Both Dr. Bunpa and Kimbabo spoke with inspiration to UCSF trainees and early career investigators at the November meeting of Future Leaders in Global Cancer.* Each discussed their current and future plans for addressing cancer control in their respective countries.

*Future Leaders in Global Cancer is a a mentoring and career development seminar for trainees and junior faculty with interests in global cancer control. Contact [email protected] for more information including how to attend.