UICC selects eight aspiring young cancer professionals to become successful leaders in cancer control

An outstanding 145 applications were submitted from all over the world for a chance to participate in this year’s intake of the Young Leaders Programme, with the selected eight announced today.

This year’s chosen Young Leaders represent six different countries and diverse areas of focus, from tobacco control to women’s health:

• Ishtar Espejo Castellá, Fundacion Aladina, Spain
• Alexandra Ioana Tamas, European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention, Romania
• Florence Manjuh, Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services, Cameroon
• Murallitharan Munisamy, National Cancer Society Malaysia, Malaysia
• Kingsley Ndoh, University of Washington, USA
• Felipe Roitberg, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil
• Omolola Salako, Sebleccly Cancer Care and Support Centre, Nigeria
• Ahmed Yehia Abdelbadee Mahmoud Hefnawy, Women Health Hospital, Assiut University, Egypt

The selected eight will commence their journey with an immersive three days at the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit (WCLS) in Kazakhstan this October, with the following 12 months filled with opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, networking with experienced leaders, and the chance to engage and participate in other recognised international events.

“The UICC Young Leaders Programme is a superb opportunity to interact with brilliant minds from all over the world sharing innovative solutions,” says Ahmed Yehia Abdelbadee Mahmoud Hefnawy upon receiving the news that he was one of the selected 2019 Young Leaders. “It is an amazing mentorship programme that will enable me to gain novel perspectives and establish collaborations through a global network.” 

Not only does the programme support the young leaders to develop their own individual leadership potential, but the positive ripple effect of the programme on the wider health community in which they serve can also be far-reaching.

“I aim to bring back to the region and share the invaluable technical expertise and vast knowledge resources of the UICC's global brain-trust in cancer control as we in Southeast Asia grapple with the multiplicity of cancer and the challenges of containing it," says 2019 Young Leader, Murallitharan Munisamy.

UICC is committed to developing today and tomorrow’s leaders to help transform the future of cancer control. Learn more about how you can join our community of leaders, here.

The Young Leaders Programme is proudly supported by Roche, with the additional valued contribution by Cancer Council Australia.