Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) and Palm Beach–Promise Fund of Florida organised an international virtual breast and cervical cancer symposium on the challenges and opportunities in the current oncology delivery system in both countries to learn more and discuss the impact of efficient, cost-effective and high-quality cancer care.

Several competent authorities in Qatar and the US participated in the virtual symposium, the first collaboration in a two-year partnership between the two non-profit organisations. The charity’s goal is to develop a long-term strategic connection between the organisations. Both non-profits will seek to collectively improve health education, training and delivery of cancer care charity services in their respective countries. They also strive to improve prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship related to women’s cancer.

HE Nancy Brinker, head of the Promise Fund of Florida team, former ambassador of US, former Chief of Protocol of the US, the World Health Organization’s Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control and founding member of Promise Fund; Dr Michael Zinner, chief executive officer and Executive Medical Director at Miami Cancer Institute; and Dr Lillie D Shockney, professor of Breast Cancer and professor of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, attended the event.

Qatar Cancer Society team was headed by Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor Al-Thani as the chairman, with members Mona Ashkanani, general manager; Dr Hadi Mohamad Abu Rasheed, head of professional development and scientific research department, Qatar Cancer Society; and Dr Artefaa Al-Shamari, oncoplastic breast surgeon, Hamad Medical Corporation and honorary ambassador of QCS.

HE Nancy Brinker welcomed the cooperation between the two institutions and the qualitative efforts led by the State of Qatar, represented by QCS, in the field of caring for people living with cancer and providing the best quality and efficient services.

Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor Al Thani welcomed the cooperation with the Promise Fund of Florida, which would leave a lasting impact on people living with cancer, physically and psychologically, and its implications for spreading awareness of cancer and ways to prevent it.
He affirmed QCS’ keenness on cooperation between various parties locally and internationally and keeping pace with the international experiences and expertise to develop its programmes and plans to provide best services to patients. He noted that the charity spares no effort to achieve its vision of the community partnership platform for making Qatar a leader in cancer prevention and its burden control.
“I am proud that the Promise Fund and the Qatar Cancer Society are about to embark on this transformative global partnership.

Both organisations have been leaders in research breakthroughs leading to the eventual curing of breast and cervical cancers. Given the events of the last two years, partnerships like this highlight the importance of global collaboration to achieve public health milestones. As the former US Treasury Attaché to Qatar, I am excited to visit Doha and my Promise Fund colleagues in January 2022 to once again partner with my Qatari friends on issues of global significance,” said Michael Greenwald, Promise Fund of Florida Vice-Chair.