The International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) has introduced the candidates running for Vice President in the 2026 Board of Directors Election, highlighting two internationally recognized leaders in gynecologic oncology: Angelica Nogueira Rodrigues from Brazil and Dilyara Kaidarova from Kazakhstan.
IGCS members are encouraged to review the candidate profiles and participate in this year’s election process, which officially opened on May 4, 2026, and will continue through June 5, 2026. The election is conducted online through Simply Voting Inc., an independent third-party election provider.
Eligible voting members of IGCS receive personalized ballot links via email from vote@simplyvoting.com. The Society has also advised members using strict spam filters to add the email address to their contact lists to ensure ballot delivery.
A Global Election Reflecting the Future of Gynecologic Oncology
The 2026 IGCS election includes leadership positions across the Board of Directors and the Young Professionals Executive Committee. The elected President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Medical Oncologist representative will be selected by all active IGCS members. Regional Council positions will be elected by members residing within their corresponding geographic regions.
In parallel, three positions within the Young Professionals Executive Committee will be filled by elected members of the Young Professionals Network, reinforcing the Society’s focus on cultivating future leaders in gynecologic oncology worldwide.
This year’s Vice President race brings together two experienced oncology leaders whose careers have focused on international collaboration, academic leadership, education, and improving access to cancer care across diverse healthcare systems.
Dilyara Kaidarova: Expanding Capacity Across Emerging Regions
Representing the Kazakhstan Oncology Society, Professor Dilyara Kaidarova enters the election with more than three decades of experience dedicated to advancing cancer care across Central Asia and the former Soviet region.
A professor, Doctor of Medical Sciences, member of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan, and current Vice Rector of the National Medical University in Almaty, Kaidarova previously served as Director of the Kazakhstan Institute of Oncology and Radiology from 2017 to 2025.
Her candidacy emphasizes strengthening gynecologic oncology infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries through education, mentorship, and international cooperation. Drawing from her experience leading healthcare reforms and institutional partnerships, she outlined a vision centered on reducing disparities in women’s cancer care across underserved regions.
Kaidarova also highlighted the importance of building stronger professional connections throughout Asia, Oceania, and Eastern Europe while promoting access to modern surgical and systemic therapies.
Her previous service on the IGCS Board for Asia and Oceania between 2022 and 2024 shaped much of her leadership vision, reinforcing her commitment to connecting global expertise with regional healthcare realities.
In her statement, Kaidarova also referenced her involvement with international organizations including ASCO’s International Affairs Committee, the Lancet Commission, and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), emphasizing the role of global partnerships in improving gynecologic oncology care worldwide.
Angelica Nogueira Rodrigues: Building Collaborative Networks Across Latin America
Representing both the Brazilian Group of Gynecologic Tumors and the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group, Dr. Angelica Nogueira Rodrigues brings a strong background in medical oncology, academic leadership, and regional collaboration.
Rodrigues described the current moment in gynecologic oncology as one of rapid scientific progress, while also acknowledging the persistent global inequities in prevention, diagnosis, treatment access, and patient outcomes.
A former president of the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology, she also founded EVA, the Brazilian Gynecologic Tumor Group, which has grown into a national collaborative network with more than 1,100 members. In addition, she serves as Chair of the Presidents Council of the Latin American Alliance of Clinical Oncology Societies, where she has worked to strengthen cooperation among oncology societies throughout Latin America.
Her academic and professional background includes a doctorate in oncology, postdoctoral training in global oncology at Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital, and executive leadership training at Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Rodrigues currently serves as Associate Professor and Researcher at the Federal University of Minas Gerais and remains actively involved in collaborative clinical research through her leadership within LACOG’s gynecologic oncology division.
Throughout her candidacy statement, Rodrigues emphasized the importance of integrating science, education, research, and patient care while strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration within IGCS. She also pointed to the growing role of medical oncology within gynecologic cancer care and the importance of translating scientific advances into measurable improvements for women worldwide.
Her vision for IGCS includes expanding engagement in regions with rapidly developing scientific capacity, strengthening ties between regional and global initiatives, and ensuring that innovation reaches patients across different healthcare systems.
A Leadership Election With Global Significance
The 2026 IGCS Vice President election reflects the increasingly international nature of gynecologic oncology leadership. Both candidates bring extensive experience in academic medicine, international partnerships, professional society leadership, and healthcare system development.
As IGCS continues to expand its global footprint, the election arrives at a time when collaboration across regions, disciplines, and healthcare environments remains central to improving outcomes for women with gynecologic cancers worldwide.
Voting remains open through June 5, 2026. Members with questions regarding the election process or voting access may contact IGCS directly at igcs@igcs.org.
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Written by Nare Hovhannisyan, MD