ISOPP Celebrates 20 Years
Rowena Schwartz, PharmD BCOP
Associate Professor of Pharmacy
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
The International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (ISOPP) began celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2016. Helen McKinnon, founder and first president of ISOPP, said ISOPP brings together dedicated professionals to “share their knowledge, support clinical research and improve cancer treatment for patients around the world.” After visiting oncology pharmacists in the United States and the United Kingdom in 1986, McKinnon hosted the first International Symposium on Oncology Pharmacy Practice in New Zealand in 1988. After a successful meeting, a group of dedicated oncology pharmacists from around the globe decided to continue the meetings and ultimately formed an international society for oncology pharmacy. ISOPP was incorporated as an organization in 1986. Many changes have occurred over the last 20 years, but ISOPP continues to be the forum for oncology pharmacists from around the world to work together to advance cancer care.
As ISOPP began its 20th anniversary celebration, it also took a close look at the organization and developed a plan for the future. ISOPP reached out to members, partners, and past leaders for thoughts on its mission and a strategic plan. The strategic plan presented to members at the annual meeting in Santiago, Chile, in April 2016 confirmed ISOPP’s vision to advance oncology pharmacy care for patients throughout the world. ISOPP aims to improve the lives of those touched by cancer by advancing oncology pharmacy care throughout the world through engagement and mobilization of the oncology pharmacy community. The strategic plan for ISOPP focuses on efforts to increase engagement and mobilization of the world’s oncology pharmacy community to advance cancer care.
Many ISOPP members live in countries or areas of the world with flourishing communities of oncology pharmacists. ISOPP provides a forum for these communities to collaborate and advance oncology pharmacy services throughout the world. ISOPP continues to reach out globally to areas where oncology pharmacy is new or facing challenges, and uses the expertise of oncology pharmacists around the globe to help develop oncology pharmacy where needed.
I was introduced to ISOPP when a friend invited me to attend an oncology pharmacy meeting in Hamburg, Germany. I had never attended an International Symposium on Oncology Pharmacy Practice meeting and was unaware of the efforts to form an international oncology pharmacy organization. The ISOPP meeting in Germany changed my approach to oncology pharmacy. I realized that my worldview was relatively small. There were, and still are, incredible individuals throughout the world who are working to advance oncology pharmacy and cancer care. ISOPP introduced me to these individuals.
ISOPP thrives on the contributions of individual members. The most fulfilling benefit of ISOPP membership is the opportunity to contribute to its mission. ISOPP has provided me with both a broader understanding of oncology pharmacy and the chance to collaborate with practitioners in other countries. Through my work with ISOPP, I have met people who both inspire and teach me.
I also attended the oncology pharmacy meeting in the United States where the idea of a Hematology and Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) was first introduced. I was excited to see a forum for oncology pharmacy practitioners from the United States. Working with ISOPP, I knew many countries had strong national oncology pharmacy organizations and was excited to see an organization dedicated to the unique needs of oncology pharmacy in the United States. I am also optimistic about the many opportunities for HOPA to work with ISOPP and oncology pharmacists from around the world to advance cancer care.
One of the best ways to learn about ISOPP is to attend an ISOPP meeting. In 2016 ISOPP held its symposium in South America for the first time. This celebration of oncology pharmacy was hosted by dedicated and committed oncology pharmacists from Chile. In 2017 we head to Europe for ISOPP XVI in Budapest, Hungary, on April 26–29. Visit www.isopp2017.org to learn more about the program, and visit www.isopp.org to learn more about the available opportunities to contribute to oncology pharmacy globally.