European Breast Surgical Oncology Certification (BRESO)
Currently, training across Europe in Breast Surgery is very heterogeneous. Many certified surgeons may have limited exposure to breast surgery. BRESO is determined to enhance breast surgery training, harmonising standards and elevating them from their current variable levels.
FYI: BRESO Educational grants application is open until 31st October 2026 (please see the tab Educational Grants below).
The objectives
- Strengthen and harmonise breast surgery training standards across Europe
- Certify candidates’ proficiency in both the scientific basis and clinical application of breast cancer surgery
What we offer
- Short-term observership for breast surgeons providing intensive, topic-specific exposure in breast surgical oncology
- Comprehensive BRESO Training Programme and European-wide certification for breast cancer surgeons
- Retrospective certification of experienced breast surgeons, recognising proven expertise and professional competence
- Approval of breast units that meet BRESO standards to deliver high-quality standardised surgical training
Short-Term Observership (BOOST)
A 1-3 months topic-focused observership at selected BRESO-approved units
Admin Fee
Duration
- 1-3 months
Programme
The overall aim of BRESO Observerships Opportunities for Short-term Training (BOOST) is to provide intensive, topic-specific exposure in breast surgical oncology, integrating clinical decision-making, multidisciplinary care, and evidence-based practice, without hands-on responsibility. Depending on the hosting unit, the programme may offer different focus. In general, participants are expected to:
- Observe without direct responsibilities on patients
- Attend theatre sessions- MDT- pre-op planning sessions
- Get involved in role play sessions
- Participate in teaching sessions on phantoms
Hosting units
- Breast Unit, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, IT
Funding
Currently, individuals are expected to arrange their own funding (e.g., institutional or industry support, foundations, personal resources, etc).
Application
- Open call based application. Next calls coming soon.
Training Programme
A 2-year BRESO Training Programme at a BRESO-approved unit
Administration fee
Programme
During their BRESO Training Programme, participants should fulfill the below requirements within the 24 months period:
• Complete the Modules of the Logbook (Diagnostic, Surgery, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Research, Communication Skills)
• Attend at least 1 international breast cancer meeting/conference
• Attend the annual ESSO Congress
• Attend at least 2 ESSO breast-specific courses
The timeline to complete the practical training programme is 2 years that can be distributed as needed and agreed by the fellows and the Institutions.
Hosting institutions
The list of all BRESO-approved units is available here. Please note that not all units may be open for hosting BRESO Training Programme fellows at the moment.
Important: Please reach out to the contact person of your unit of interest to inquire about the possibilities prior to applying for BRESO Training Programme.
Funding
Currently, individuals are expected to arrange their own funding (e.g., institutional or industry support, foundations, personal resources, etc). Some units may provide remuneration for the trainee.
Application
Download the application form below and send it back together with the required documents to breso@essoweb.org
Retrospective Certification
Certification for practicing surgeons with more than 5 years experience at consultant/attending level
Admin Fee
Retrospective Certification Application
BRESO aims to promote accredited specialist breast surgical care for breast cancer patients and women at high risk of breast cancer by offering a dedicated certification programme in breast cancer surgery.
BRESO Retrospective Certification Requires:
- Full medical qualification and active licence to practice in good standing
- Working as a senior/attending/consultant surgeon (for at least 5 years) in a specialist breast unit treating a minimum of 150 cases per year for at least 2 of these 5 years and personally treating a minimum of 50 cases per year for each of the previous 5 years. Practice may be in a public or private hospital or a combination of the two. Practice must be breast focused for at least 50% of your working hours
- Minimum of 3 pubmed listed publications over the entire career and documentary evidence of engagement with service improvement (e.g. one completed audit or service evaluation of local unit practice, academic presentation (oral or poster) either one pubmed cited publication per year for the past 5 years to demonstrate engagement with service improvement and a good understanding or evidence based practice)
- Ongoing professional training/education: Attendance of at least 1 breast congress or course per year of which 2 must be international (such as EBCC, St Gallen, San Antonio, Senaturk), in the previous 5 years. Congress may be virtual.
- Weekly attendance at a properly constituted breast MDT (with attendance of a medical and radiation oncologist, pathologist and imaging consultant). At least 50% attendance is required
- Summary log book for the past 5 years to confirm minimum of 50 cases treated per year, of which the following must be included: 30 ANCs, 100 SLNB, 50 Mx, 150 BCS and 20 oncoplastic cases (including involvement in post-mastectomy reconstruction and oncoplastic conservation surgery either as lead surgeon or collaborating surgeon within an oncoplastic team)
- An examination to certify your expertise in breast surgery (honorary certification is acceptable) OR provide evidence of advanced level competency in the management of breast cancer, including oncoplastic techniques (BRESO acknowledges that breast examinations are a recent development)
Documents to be provided (compiled in ONE single pdf document and only in English)
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Medical Qualification
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Completion of surgical training in general, gynaecology or plastic surgery
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Active licence to practice EG GMC
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Specialist breast qualification (national/international) or equivalent (testimonial Head of Department/Hospital director)
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CV (in English)
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A testimonial Head of Department/Hospital director or Operation logbook/print out from hospital computerised system (anonymised)
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Research: Minimum 3 pubmed listed publications over career
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Quality improvement: Minimum 1 presentation (oral/poster) OR pubmed listed publication every year for previous 5 years
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Proof of attendance or faculty of minimum 1 breast congress/course every year for previous 5 years – 2 must be international (EG. EBCC, St Gallen, San Antonio, Senaturk)
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Hospital digital MDM certificate or attendance and/or testimonial from Head of Department/Hospital director
Application
Download the application form below and send it back together with the required documents* to breso@essoweb.org
*The required documents are listed in red below each section in the Application Form
Candidates will be permitted to use the post nominals: CEBS, Certificate of European Breast Surgery.
Educational Grants
Funding opportunities for BRESO trainees
ESSO Educational Grants for BRESO
ESSO offers two educational grants of €1000 each to ESSO members who are attending the BRESO Training Programme.
The aim of these grants is to help participants to complete the clinical training requirement included in the School programme.
50% of the amount of the grant will be transferred to the selected candidates once the clinical training has started. The remaining amount will be transferred to the participant at the end of the programme.
Eligibility criteria
- Candidates whose application to join the BRESO Training Programme has been approved by the Reviewing Committee but who have not yet started the programme.
- Current BRESO participants who have started but not yet completed the clinical training requirement
- Candidates should have already paid the School administration fee.
- Candidates should be ESSO members at the time they submit their grant application.
- The trainee should start the clinical training within one year following notification of the grant.
- The clinical training requirement must take place in one of BRESO-approved units.
Please note that previous recipients of an ESSO educational grant are not eligible to apply.
Documents to be provided (in a single PDF document and only in English):
- A letter of confirmation from the Head of Department where the training is taking place
Additional requirements for selected candidates at the end of the programme:
- Acknowledge the grant received from ESSO in the mandatory BRESO research requirement (congress presentation and/or published manuscript)
- Produce a complete report on their clinical training including pictures that ESSO will use in its newsletter, website and social media
BRESO-approved Units
Application for approval and a list of BRESO-approved units
Breast units requirements
The institution must provide an appropriate educational environment, ensuring appropriate trainee supervision and responsibility to deliver quality care. It can be EUSOMA accredited or fulfill “The requirements of a specialist breast center” (Biganzoli L, et al. Breast. 2020;51:65-84).
Apply for BRESO-approval
Unit can apply for the approval to host training by submitting the filled in application form and biosketch of core faculty. Each breast unit should have a core team made up of health professionals who have undergone specialist training in breast cancer.
Participating Institutions have to accredit a breast surgery unit with at least 150 new primary breast cancer cases a year and carry at least a weekly multidisciplinary team meeting.
Breast units for training
The following units are BRESO approved and deliver training to an approved standard. Some of these units may offer fellowships to external candidates, either salaried or unsalaried and others are closed units which only offer training to existing local or National trainees.
Our Executive Board
Giuseppe Catanuto
Riccardo Audisio
Isabel-Teresa Rubio
Tibor Kovacs
Lynda Wyld
Thorsten Kuehn
Susanna Polotto
Giuseppe Curigliano
Marjolein Smidt
