The first Management Committee meeting of COST Action CA24158 – Disparities In Surgical Specialisation and Education in Cancer Training (DISSECT) took place on Thursday, 25 September 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. Representatives from across Europe gathered to officially launch the Action, formally elect its leadership team, define its working structures, and discuss the roadmap for upcoming activities. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for members to connect, exchange ideas, and lay the foundations for future collaboration.
Action Chair, Prof. Wim Ceelen, ESSO Board Member and Professor of Surgical Oncology at Ghent University, Belgium, highlighted the importance of international collaboration in advancing surgical oncology education and fostering innovation for the benefit of patients.
Prof. Ceelen will be joined by Vice-Chair Dr. Mariela Vasileva-Slaveva (Bulgaria) and Grant Holder Scientific Representative Dr. Marija Rankovic, ESSO Educational Programme Manager, ensuring strong alignment with ESSO’s educational mission. Dr. Miroslava Chortova (Bulgaria) was elected as Science Communication Coordinator, and Dr. Sarah Cosyns (Belgium) as Grant Awarding Coordinator.
This kick-off marks the beginning of a four-year collaboration that will bring together experts from different disciplines and countries to advance surgical oncology education, foster innovation, and build lasting European research and training networks.
