Conferences & Events

The Surgical Oncology department offers a wide variety of department-based and institution-wide events, and educational opportunities. 

Department of Surgical Oncology Distinguished Alumnus Grand Rounds
Wednesday, April 16
Hybrid & Zoom 
Department of Surgical Oncology Distinguished Alumnus Grand Rounds featuring Chandrajit Premanand Raut, M.D., Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Surgeon-in-Chief and Chair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology, Brigham and Women’s Hospita
Contact: Trina Baker 

5th Surgical Oncology Advanced Practitioner (SOAP) Conference 
April 24-26, 2025 
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Duncan Building (CPB)
Floor 8, Conference Center 
The SOAP Conference aims to foster collaboration and share best practices among Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) in surgical oncology. The 2.5-day program is dedicated to presenting the latest evidence on the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of solid tumor malignancies and enhancing multi-disciplinary management for medical professionals involved in patient care and clinical research. Highlights include several hands-on interactive workshops, such as beginner and intermediate suturing, wound care, dermoscopy and robotic and laparoscopic skills training. 

Target Audience: Advanced Practice Providers (APPs), including Physician Assistants (PA), Nurse Practitioners (NP), Pharmacists, Physicians, Nurses, Trainees (fellows, students) and other Allied Health Professionals

More information coming soon.

1st NASOG MD Anderson Surgical Oncology Alumni Academic Symposium
September 19-20, 2025
Houston, TX 
An invitation to former Surgical Oncology trainees to attend a dynamic and fun-filled academic and social two-day event at the MD Anderson campus. More details and registration information will be shared soon.

• Scientific sessions showcasing alumni's outstanding contributions to the field of oncology
• Engagement opportunities for trainees
• Opportunities to connect and network at social events (spouses welcome)
• Tour and see what’s new on the MD Anderson campus
• Alumni, share your feats and achievements with Katie Tyler at KETyler@mdanderson.org so we can include them in our future communications. If you haven't already, complete the alumni database survey.
  
  

2025 Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Alumni Reception
March 27, 2025
Columbia Restaurant, Tampa FL 
An annual event for current Department of Surgical Oncology members and alumni in conjunction with the SSO Annual Meeting.

21st Oncology Update: Advances and Controversies
January 17-20, 2025
Steamboat Grand Hotel, Steamboat Springs, CO
This educational conference is designed to address the current challenges, updates, and innovative therapies for multiple tumor types through interactive sessions. It brings together experts from various disciplines involved in the treatment of solid tumors.

American College of Surgeons (ACS) Annual Alumni Reception
October 20, 2024
Hilton San Francisco Union Square
San Francisco, CA 94102

Distinguished Alumnus Grand Rounds
May 29, 2024
7 a.m.
The Surgical Oncology department is hosting the 2nd Annual Distinguished Alumni Rounds featuring Dr. Elizabeth Mittendorf. Dr. Mittendorf is the Rob and Karen Hale Distinguished Chair in Surgical Oncology and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Surgery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She is a Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and the co-leader of the Breast Program for the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, which is the seven-member consortium that holds the Cancer Center Support Grant. Zoom and Hybrid.

SSO Alumni Reception
March 21, 2024
6:45-11 p.m.
Atlanta Fish Market
Cocktail reception and dinner for current Surgical Oncology members and alumni in conjunction with the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Annual Meeting. Event contact: Cynthia Scott

Joint Cancer Symposium
20th Oncology Update: Advances and Controversies MD Anderson Cancer Center – Aichi Cancer Center Basic science, translational and clinical research lectures; case-based interactive learning and discussion.
March 8, 2024, 5-8 p.m. CST
March 9, 2024, 8-11 a.m. JST

Partial Program
MD Anderson Cancer Center President, Peter WT Pisters, M.D.
Evolution of Texas Medical Center and MD Anderson – What the Future Holds 
Aichi Cancer Center President Kazuhito Yamamoto, M.D. Aichi Cancer Center

20th Oncology Update: Advances and Controversies
Steamboat Grand Hotel, Steamboat Springs, CO
This year’s program will cover a variety of topics including New Targeted Therapies, Gastrointestinal Malignancies, Melanoma, Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Genitourinary, Malignancies and Cancer Screening/Prevention.

American College of Surgeons (ACS) Annual Alumni Reception
October 23, 2024
6-8 p.m.

2023 Fall TRANSCEND Cancer Initiative Symposium
October 13, 2023
Keynote speakers: Peter WT Pisters, M.D., MHCM, President,
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Nathalie D. McKenzie, MD, Advent Health Cancer Institute
Contact: Laura Gibson, lagibson@mdanderson.org

Distinguished Alumnus Grand Rounds
May 3, 2023
The Surgical Oncology department hosted the 1st Annual Distinguished Alumni Rounds featuring Dr. Syed Ahmad. Dr. Ahmad is an alumni of the MD Anderson Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship and is currently the Chief of Surgical Oncology, Vice Chair for Faculty Development, and the Hayden Family Endowed Chair for Cancer Research at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

4th Surgical Oncology Advanced Practitioner (SOAP) Conference
April 20-22, 2023
The goal of the SOAP conference is to foster collaboration and share best practices among APPs working in surgical oncology. The 3-day program brings the latest evidence regarding the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of solid tumor malignancies and multi-disciplinary management to medical professionals involved in patient care and clinical research. The inaugural SOAP conference took place in April 2018 and was co-sponsored by the Association of Physician Assistants in Oncology and the MD Anderson Division of Surgery.