On behalf of the International Society of Ocular Oncology, we are delighted to welcome you to the very First Meeting of the International Society of Ocular Oncology in Africa. This unique event is scheduled to take place in Mombasa, Kenya, from August 21 to 23, 2023. ISOO Africa will precede the Annual College of Ophthalmology of Eastern Central and Southern Africa (COECSA) Conference scheduled on August 23-25, 2023 at the same location. With the loosening of the world’s COVID restrictions we are now able to bring you this unique, fully physical Meeting. A chance to connect with colleagues from around the region as well as peers from other continents. For those that are not able to attend this meeting in person we are working on a virtual option for the sessions.
Africa presents unique challenges in the field of ocular oncology; this inaugural event will have an exciting program with distinguished speakers both from the region and the rest of the world. ISOO Africa will cover the most pressing topics in Ocular Oncology facing the African Continent. In this region Uveal melanoma is considered somewhat rare, but Retinoblastoma is found to be relatively common due to high birth rates and large populations. Conjunctival tumors are also common, especially ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) and, like retinoblastoma, many cases are diagnosed late posing difficulties in management and resulting in a poor prognosis. These topics will be discussed in detail during ISOO AFRICA 2023 with lectures from international and regional speakers, case study presentations, and oral presentations from abstract submissions.
Join us to discuss and learn about these specific challenges in the field of ocular oncology in the African continent!
Israel
France
Kenya
August 21st
August 21st
August 22nd
August 23rd
August 21st
Africa will level the playing field for children with retinoblastoma
August 22nd
Retinoblastoma: past, present, future
August 22nd
Eye care in Africa
August 23rd
Advances in the diagnosis and management of ocular surface squamous neoplasia
Mombasa and its Coast is Kenya’s main tourist destination. The city is located on the Eastern coastline of Kenya bordering the Indian Ocean which has made it a popular destination for its beaches. Mombasa offers diverse marine life, world-class hotels, and a friendly atmosphere with a tropical climate all year round.
CANADA
Dr. Brenda Louise Gallie currently directs the Retinoblastoma Program at the Hospital for Sick Children. After completing her medical training, Dr. Gallie joined Sick Kids Hospital where she set up a Retinoblastoma Group and laboratory in Toronto, which led to the discovery of new therapies for retinoblastoma, as well as novel discoveries in cancer research. By 2006, she led a National Strategy to develop the world’s first guidelines for care for retinoblastoma. Furthermore, to address the global disparity of cancer care and outcomes, she developed point-of-care cancer site-specific databases, now supporting global collaboration and treatment guidelines. Dr. Gallie has been named member of the Order of Canada in recognition of her pioneering research, as well as achieved the Helen Keller Prize for Vision Research.
Dr. Wilson is the Barrett G Haik Endowed Chair and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, and Director of the Hamilton Eye Institute. He is also Chief of Ophthalmology at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital and holds their Endowed Chair in Pediatric Ophthalmology. Dr. Wilson has active clinical and translational research programs; he has published over 140 peer-reviewed manuscripts. He has also chaired multiple education committees for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Wilson has worked extensively with the Department of Pediatric Global at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to build retinoblastoma centers of excellence in Central America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Wilson has trained numerous Fellows in both ocular oncology and oculoplastics.
USA
Dr. Carol Shields completed her ophthalmology training at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia and fellowship training in ocular oncology and ophthalmic pathology. She is Director of the Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, and Professor of Ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA USA.
She has authored/coauthored 12 textbooks, 341 chapters in edited textbooks, over 2000 articles in major peer-reviewed journals, and given nearly 1000 lectureships with 74 named lectures. The 7 most prestigious awards that have honored her include:
Each year the Oncology Service manages over 500 patients with uveal melanoma or retinoblastoma, and hundreds of other intraocular, orbital, and conjunctival tumors from the United States and abroad. She and her husband are the proud parents of 7 children, ranging in age from 22 to 34 years.
RWANDA
After undergraduate and ophthalmology studies at the University of Nairobi, Ciku worked as a Provincial Ophthalmologist in Nakuru, Kenya before relocating to Rwanda. She is the Co-Founder of the Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO). She has an MSc in Community Ophthalmology from University College London and studied retinal diseases in African eyes for her PHD at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Ciku is the Medical Advisor for Africa at Orbis International (previously Fred Hollows Foundation). She sat on the Board of the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) from 2013 to 2021 and currently sits on the board of Ophthalmology Foundation and Fred Hollows Foundation, Kenya. She is a professor of ophthalmology and consultant ophthalmologist with medical retina subspecialty. She has also worked extensively on WHO Technical Committees notably in developing the Primary Eye Care curriculum for the African region. In 2021 she was awarded the IAPB Vision Excellence award and was on the Ophthalmology Power List of the 100 most influential women in Ophthalmology. In January 2023 Ciku became the President of the African Ophthalmology Council.
USA
Dr. Carol Karp is a renowned ophthalmologist and a leader in ocular surface oncology, known for her pioneering work in the use of interferon and ultra-high-resolution OCT for the treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia. She completed her medical education at Brown University and ophthalmology residency at the Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan, followed by a fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Dr. Karp is a recipient of many awards and honors, including receiving the 2022 Castroviejo Medal, as well as recognition on the 2021 and 2019 Power Lists as a top ophthalmologist. Dr. Karp’s innovative research has dramatically changed the standard of care for ocular surface tumors, and has published in over 150 peer-reviewed articles and 25 book chapters.
