Dr. Are named first CEO of global cancer forum

Chandra Are, MBBS, the Jerald L. and Carolynn J. Varner Professor of Surgical Oncology & Global Health and dean for graduate medical education, has been named the first chief executive officer of the Global Forum of Cancer Surgeons.

The mission of the GFCS, which Dr. Are helped create in 2017, is to address the inequities in access to cancer surgery on the global stage, including the United States. The forum was formed under the auspices of the Society of Surgical Oncology, the largest single-country surgical oncology society in the world, to promote surgical care for cancer patients through a multidisciplinary approach for patients here and across the world. Formerly the founding director, Dr. Are said his new role is part of the evolution of the organization as it looks to broaden its impact.

“Of all the inequities we are held responsible to address as health professionals, the most important one is to address inequities in access to care, including cancer care,” Dr. Are said. “Our hope is that the GFCS will play a key role in that endeavor, here and globally, through optimizing clinical care, streamlining education, promoting research, enhancing the workforce and addressing inequities.”

The GFCS consists of 15 reputable surgical oncology societies from across the world and the leaders of these societies. Through these 15 societies, the GFCS represents about 75% of the global cancer burden by incidence and mortality.

“Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in many countries,” Dr. Are said. “Studies show that over the next 20 years, we are going to see the number of new cancer cases increase from 20 million to about 40 million. Of those patients with solid tumors, about 80% will require surgery — many more than once. But sadly, about 75% of them do not have access to safe, timely or affordable cancer surgery, including some in the United States.”

As the first CEO of the GFCS, Dr. Are, who holds a Master’s of Business Administration, will be working with cancer surgery leaders from the U.S. and around the world to address the inequities in access to cancer surgical care within an multidisciplinary construct. Establishing the leadership structure was essential to catalyze the development of the vision and strategies to accomplish the mission of the GFCS.

As a faculty member of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Dr. Are said that leadership positions such as these demonstrate the growing impact of UNMC and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. “As a campus, we are reaching across the world,” he said. “The influence of our campus and cancer center is global.”