Thought Leaders of the Future
Program Overview
The Prostate Cancer Foundation and UroToday.com are hosting a fully sponsored 3-day academy called Thought Leaders of the Future. The program will be held at the Luskin Conference Center in Los Angeles, California on August 10, 11, and 12, 2023. This in-depth, intimate opportunity is designed for Fellows and those within four years completion of terminal training in Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology and Urology planning to pursue career opportunities focused on genitourinary cancer research. This program will drive career development through advice, connectivity, and mentorship through presentations by senior “Thought Leaders of the Present”. Our goal is for these select Fellows and recent graduates to learn from and be inspired by these leaders and offer them an opportunity for intensive group and one on one discussions. All costs (travel, lodging, meals, tuition, etc.) will be covered for selected participants.
Program Objectives
The objective of this trainee development workshop is to introduce promising trainees and recent graduates to the field of GU Medical Oncology, Urologic Oncology Surgery and Radiation Oncology, as well as other specialties that contribute to the PCF mission (Bioinformatics, Nuclear Medicine, Pathology, etc.). The Prostate Cancer Foundation funds 25-35 new Young Investigator Awards (YIAs) every year, typically PhDs or MDs who are in postdoctoral training or early faculty positions. In the case of the MD applicants, most have already initiated a career as Junior faculty at an academic medical center and have mentors to guide their careers and applications. Our observation is that many academic medical centers / Cancer Center academic departments seek to recruit additional faculty who are capable of performing clinical research and have the mentorship and rudiments that would prepare them for a faculty position. This, in turn, will enable them to apply for a PCF Young Investigator program to further launch their careers. Those without mentorship and connections to the community of researchers are at a disadvantage. This program will expand the pool from which PCF can attract the brightest minds to help achieve our mission.
Program Faculty
Our esteemed faculty have been carefully selected for their career expertise in the disciplines of medical oncology, urology, and radiation oncology. We are pleased to share the premier faculty listed below who have pledged their commitment to this development opportunity of future leaders.
- Charles Ryan, MD Prostate Cancer Foundation President and CEO, Professor, University of Minnesota
- William Oh, MD Prostate Cancer Foundation CMO, Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Zachary Klaassen, MD Assistant Professor, August University, Medical College of Georgia
- Michael Morris, MD Prostate Cancer Section Head, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Philip Kantoff, MD Chairman and CEO, Convergent Therapeutics
- Nerraj Agarwal, MD Professor, University of Utah Hunstman Cancer Institute
- Lorelei Mucci, ScD Professor, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- Elisabeth Heath, MD Professor, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University
- Oliver Sartor, MD Professor and Medical Director, Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University
- Susan Halabi, MD Professor, Duke University School of Medicine
- Todd Morgan, MD Professor, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan
- Kosj Yamaoh, MD Chair, Department of Urology, Moffitt Cancer Center
- James Gulley, MD Director of the Medical Oncology Service at the National Cancer Institute
- Alicia Morgans, MD Associate Professor, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School
- Dan Lin, MD Professor, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, University of Washington
- Neha Vapiwala, MD Professor, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Application Process – Deadline for Submission is April 20, 2023
Successful applicants will be those planning to enter, or those who have recently entered, a practice environment wherein clinical trial design and participation will be considered factors for success. This prestigious program will be capped at a maximum of 60 chosen participants to ensure optimal engagement between faculty and participants. The application process requires submission of a CV and a letter of recommendation from a mentor, Department Chair, or Cancer Center Director. Additionally, applicants must submit a statement describing their prior research experience, challenges they have faced, the greatest needs for their career success, and what they are looking for in a career mentor and key connections. Applicants must be MDs or PhDs who are soon to graduate, recently graduated, or within four years completion of their terminal training program.
Registration is now closed.