Supporting professional excellence
By surveying our area medical professionals, we uncover their needs and wants that will help them in their fight against cancer in southwest Georgia. The Cancer Coalition works to answer those needs effectively by providing expert-led lectures, both in person and through electronic means such as webinars and videoconferencing, and by partnering with other organizations in their education efforts.
For example, our most recent survey directed to oncology professionals across the region revealed their desire to learn more about clinical trials. With Georgia Cancer Coalition and state funding, we provided lectures by nationally recognized scholar Joseph Lipscomb, PhD, and other research specialists.
Recoginzing that cancer care does not begin with oncologists, we strive to meet the education needs of other healthcare professionals, as well. For example, oncology nursing consultant Dr. Jane Clark, PhD, RN, AOCN, APRN-BC, traveled the region and presented on the roles of nurses in clinical trials to over 75 nurses last spring.
In partnership with Healthcare Georgia and Southwest Georgia Area Health Education Center (AHEC), we provide webinars to nurses and physicians, such as our recent presentation by Dr. Clark concerning cancer screening, and a look at "Teams Managing Cancer Patients - Role of Surgical Oncology in Southwest Georgia" with GCC Distinguished Scholar Dr. Troy Kimsey, surgical oncologist at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. We also provide continuing education credits to those who participate.Professional organizations
Finally, research professionals and evaluators throughout southwest Georgia now have the benefit of two national organizations represented in our area by local chapters.
Through our efforts, the South Georgia Chapter of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals has been created and is one of only three in the state of Georgia. Quarterly meetings allow research professionals throughout the area to gain continuing education, network and foster medical research in our area.
Consistently evaluating our programs and projects to find out if what we are doing is making a difference, the Cancer Coalition and others throughout the region recognized the need for an ongoing network focused on evaluation. We facilitated the establishment of the Southern Georgia Evaluation Association (SGEA), the only affiliate chapter outside of Atlanta of the American Evaluation Association. The second annual SGEA Conference was held in Tifton in January.
