W4O Sessions and Events

An international platform to share your knowledge, participate and grow your career 

The increasing number of women entering medical school and working in oncology teams has not been met with an increased presence of women in leadership roles. 

Since 2013, our sessions taking place at ESMO Congress and ESMO Asia Congress have showcased findings from our research and given female oncologists the opportunity to discuss career development, meet inspirational women leaders and network with their peer group. Since 2020, we have also offered a series of virtual events and sessions throughout the year.  

The sessions are a valuable means of strengthening our community of fellow oncologists and gain support across gender. 

Upcoming events

ESMO W4O Dedicated space

The ESMO W4O Committee invites you to stop by the Press and Media Centre where there will be a dedicated space open to women and men, to gather and spark a dialogue about gender equity. This is a space to listen, to share, to work together, crafting solutions to the needs and challenges encountered on their professional journeys.

There will be a series of activities including:

• Career tips & mix: one-to-one sessions with experienced professionals and leaders for informal, personalised career advice.
• ESMO meets W4O local groups: features a national W4O group representative who presents the group and discusses local challenges.
• Roundtable discussions on gender equity related topics.

View full programme of activities

Registration is recommended via communication@esmo.org

Opening hours:

Friday, 13 September 2024, 10:00 – 18:00

Saturday, 14 September 2024, 08:00 – 18:00 

Sunday, 15 September 2024, 08:30 – 18:00

Monday, 16 September 2024, 08:00 – 18:00

ESMO W4O Forum at ESMO 2024

ESMO W4O Forum at ESMO 2024 - Empowering women in oncology: Exploring solutions to today's challenges across oncology fields

Date: Saturday, 14 September

Time: 14:45 - 16:15 CEST

Location: Cartagena Auditorium

Chairs: Helena Linardou (Greece), ESMO W4O Committee Chair, Jean-Yves Blay, ESMO Public Policy Director

Speaker: Zulema Altamirano Argudo, Senior Advisor at the cabinet of the Spanish Minister of Equality
Session: Working in gender equality: progress and challenges in research and innovation

Panellists:

• Yonathan Freund (France), Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Emergency Medicine and Professor of emergency medicine at Sorbonne University
• Julie R. Gralow (USA), Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Executive Vice President of the American Association of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
• Matthias Guckenberger (Switzerland), President of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) and Director of the Radiation Oncology Department, University Hospital Zurich
• Cecilia Pompili (UK), Associate Professor and Thoracic Surgeon at University of Hull and ESTS Women in General Thoracic Surgery Committee Co-Chair

View programme

We look forward to seeing you there! In the meantime, get a glimpse of what happened during last year’s Forum:

Past events