The organization La Voz de los Pacientes and Clínica Inmunocel, in collaboration with the DKMS Foundation and the Nursing program at Santo Tomás Concepción, held the discussion “Challenges of blood cancers,” which featured a panel of experts who spoke about diseases such as leukemia, myeloma, and lymphoma.
The speakers included: Samuel Riffo, Nursing professor at UST, cancer nurse in Concepción and head of the Management Department of the SSC Oncology Network; Dr. Alejandro Berkovits, medical director of the Inmunocel clinic and medical director of the La Voz de los Pacientes Oncology Foundation; Dr. Mónica Romero, hematologist, head of the Research Unit at the Guillermo Grant Regional Hospital, Concepción; Miguel Jimenez, city manager of Concepción at the City Cancer Challenge Foundation; and Dr. Francisco Barriga, pediatric hematologist-oncologist and director of the DKMS Collection Center.
Víctor Hugo Flores, president of the Oncology Foundation La Voz de los Pacientes Chile, thanked the Universidad Santo Tomás for its support in carrying out this space: “Making visible the gaps we have in the challenges of blood cancer is important. I think that doing this at the university is key to opening doors. Talking about the large gaps we have in leukemia, both in adults and children, and the great needs in treatment lines, is essential today to be able to move forward.”
Among the topics discussed at the meeting were the presentation of statistics, the differences between the private and public systems, and how to move forward in creating adequate spaces in hospitals.
“We need competent personnel. That is why the presence of students is important. They will be the next professionals who will help us. I believe that humanizing health, bringing health closer to students is crucial, so that they know the reality we are living today, especially with the number of waiting lists we have,” said Victor Hugo Flores.
Pamela Micheas, director of the Nursing program, said that “it is a tremendous honor to host this important discussion on the challenges of blood cancers. This space for dialogue and reflection calls on us to join forces, from the medical team, civil societies, academics and the entire community. Together, we can build bridges between science and humanity, between knowledge and experience.”
She added that the recent approval of the Oncology specialty for Nursing is a clear example of what can be achieved thanks to efforts to advance and prepare future professionals in the field.
“However, the challenges in the field of haematological cancers are numerous and complex. Resistance to treatments, side effects of therapies, inequalities in access to health and the psychosocial impact of these diseases are just some of them, and universities play a fundamental role, promoting academic development in these areas,” he said.
Carolina Parra, a third-year nursing student, was one of the attendees at this discussion and positively valued the academic space.
“It was a useful opportunity, where it was interesting to learn more about an area such as oncology in Chile. In the career I am studying, this type of information is extremely important,” said the student.
