SIOG’s New Board of Directors for 2024-2026

The International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) announced its new Board of Directors for the 2024-2026 term.

The International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG), founded in 2000, is a global organization dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare needs of older adults with cancer. It brings together a diverse group of healthcare professionals, including geriatricians, oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, anesthesiologists, and other specialists, to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for elderly cancer patients.

The SIOG operates in over 80 countries, emphasizing the importance of tailored treatments that consider both cancer and the broader health challenges faced by aging populations. Through education, research, and collaboration, SIOG works to improve cancer care for older adults worldwide.

Grant Williams – President

Grant Williams MD, MSPH, FASCO is the President of SIOG – International Society of Geriatric Oncology. He is a Medical Oncologist at the DCH Health System and an  Associate Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is the Co-Lead of the Geriatric Oncology Community of Practice at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Kwok-Leung Cheung – President-Elect

Kwok-Leung Cheung is a Professor of Breast Surgery and Medical Education at the University of Nottingham. Professor Cheung is currently Honorary Consultant Breast Surgeon at the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton.

He obtained surgical fellowship status from Hong Kong, Edinburgh and America. Furthermore, he is currently a Member of the Executive Committee of EUSOMA, of the Breast Cancer Guidelines Committee of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Barbara Ewals – CEO (Ex-OFFICIO)

Barbara Ewals is the Chief Executive Officer at SIOG – International Society of Geriatric Oncology. Previously, she was the Executive Director at Initiative for Global Resilience. She has also been an Advisory Council Member at AsianNGO.

Andrew Chapman – Member

Andrew Chapman is Enterprise Director and EVP Oncology Services, at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Jefferson Health. He is also the Co-Director of the Jefferson Senior Adult Oncology Centre. He earned his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Enrique Soto Pérez – Member

Dr. Enrique Soto Pérez de Celis is a geriatric oncologist and Editor-in-Chief of ecancer’s journal Ecancermeducalscience. He serves as a liaison to the ASCO Evidence-Based Medicine Committee and is a member of the Society’s Finance Committee. His research focuses on using mobile technology to monitor older adults with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and addressing global disparities in cancer care. He is on the editorial board of the OncoDaily.

Etienne Brain – Member

Etienne Brain is a Medical Oncologist at Institut Curie/Saint-Cloud. He obtained his MD in Medical Oncology (1995) and a PhD (2005) from Paris-Descartes University He is an active member of ASCO, ESMO and SIOG and the Past-President of SIOG.

Martine Extermann – Member

Martine Extermann is the Program Leader in the Senior Adult Oncology Program at Moffitt Cancer Center.  Dr. Extermann is also a Professor of Oncology and Medicine at the University of South Florida. She earned her medical degree and a PhD at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.

Gabor Liposits – Member

Gabor Liposits is a medical oncologist who has served as a Senior Consultant in Clinical Oncology at the Regionshospitalet Gødstrup.

From 2018, he has served the Young SIOG government as a member, presented research proposals, and has been an author/co-author of several Young SIOG publications.

Fabio Gomes – Member

Dr. Fabio Gomes is a Medical Oncology Consultant at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, where he serves as the Clinical Lead for Senior Adult Oncology and Clinical Director of Clinical Outcomes. His work focuses on improving care for older cancer patients, integrating geriatric assessments with oncology to enhance treatment outcomes. In addition to his role at The Christie, Dr. Gomes is an active board member of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) and currently chairs the Young SIOG group.

Melissa Loh – Member

Melissa (Kah Poh) Loh, MBBCh BAO, MS, FACCC, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Rochester/Strong Memorial Hospital, specializing in malignant hematology and geriatric oncology. Dr. Loh’s research focuses on developing and evaluating mobile health interventions to support older adults with cancer. Her additional interests include decision-making in older adults with acute myeloid leukemia, communication and understanding of advanced cancer, and the use of critical care and palliative therapies.

Sophie Pilleron – Member

Dr. Sophie Pilleron, PhD, is an epidemiologist specializing in aging and cancer. She leads the Ageing, Cancer, and Disparities Research Unit at the Luxembourg Institute of Health. Her research focuses on analyzing the cancer burden in older adults and addressing age-related disparities in cancer outcomes. Dr. Pilleron is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) and a former fellow of the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO-IARC).

Kristen Haase – Member

Dr. Kristen Haase is an Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia. Her areas of expertise include self-management, supportive care, caregivers, survivorship, and symptom management in cancer care. Her academic contributions extend to research methodology, academic writing, and report preparation. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG).

Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti – Past-President

Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti is a Consultant Medical Oncologist and Senior Adult Oncology Programme Clinical Lead at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.  He is also an Immediate Past President at SIOG – International Society of Geriatric Oncology.

Nicole Saur – Co-opt Member

Dr. Nicole Saur, a minimally invasive colon and rectal surgeon specializing in advanced laparoscopic techniques and prehabilitation, directs the Geriatric Surgery Program and the PREP Program at Pennsylvania Hospital. An Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery at Penn Medicine, she focuses on improving surgical outcomes for geriatric patients. Dr. Saur chairs the Geriatric Task Force of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, is Vice-Chair of the Surgical Ad-Hoc Committee of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG), and serves on the SIOG Board of Directors.

Ravindran Kanesvaran – Co-opt Member

Dr. Ravindran Kanesvaran is the Chairman of the Division of Medical Oncology at the National Cancer Centre Singapore and a Professor of Geriatric Oncology at Duke-NUS Medical School. He also holds the position of Associate Professor at Duke-NUS, where he is involved in teaching and research. His research interests include genito-urinary oncology and geriatric oncology.

Marcus Vetter – Co-opt Member

Dr. Marcus Vetter is the Head of the Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Immunotherapy at the Cantonal Hospital Baselland, Medical University Clinics. An active member of the Swiss SAKK Network, he collaborates with the University Hospital Basel and ETH Zürich on translational research. His clinical and research focus includes breast and gynecologic cancers, with a particular interest in circulating tumor cells. Dr. Vetter is also a member of the Board of Directors and Administrator of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG).

More posts featuring SIOG on oncodaily.com

Further Reading:

The 2024-2026 Young SIOG Governance Team

Highlights from SIOG 2024