Institut Curie’s expertise goes global
Institut Curie’s International Relations Division is often called upon to provide training abroad, and is currently focusing on Lebanon and Kazakhstan.
In the words of Dr. Juliette Assy, a Lebanese pediatrician who came to study at Institut Curie for a year, “the Curie experience has been one of the most impactful of my career.” Since last year’s dramatic events, Institut Curie has funneled €500,000 into a partnership that provides six Lebanese doctors with this kind of training.
From a medical perspective, I learnt so much during my time at Curie, in particular with respect to European chemotherapy protocols
Adds Dr. Assy.
Extensive hands-on training
In response to Institut Curie’s efforts, Expertise France, an agency attached to the Agence Française du Développement (AFD) released an €80,000 budget to fund a complementary scheme. Five two-day masterclasses were consequently held in Beirut, run by a dozen doctors and experts from Institut Curie and covering topics chosen in line with Lebanese professionals’ needs: palliative care, running an oncology department, drug reviews and clinical research. Each session had space for up to 20 participants. Psychiatrist Dr. Sylvie Dolbeault, head of the psycho-oncology and social department, travelled to Beirut in September along with radiotherapist Dr. Alain Fourquet.
We were able to outline the overarching principles in place at France’s cancer centers, such as an emphasis on multi-disciplinary approaches and collaboration between medical and paramedical staff. Because the country is experiencing a crisis, not all these principles are directly applicable, but they have served as a major source of inspiration for the professionals who took part, and who generally work in a much more segregated fashion
She explains.
This allowed them to reflect on the future.
An online library of classes
In the far-flung reaches of Central Asia, professionals in Kazakhstan have also recently been able to tap into Curie’s expertise in a bid to hone their skills in oncology. Thanks to the country’s French embassy and the innovation solidarity fund, €700,000 was injected into providing training and consultancy services. Following three exploratory trips and a series of cooperation agreements, Institut Curie developed a program both in France and Kazakhstan, as well as a library of international classes available online, as travel between the two countries is time-consuming, costly, and complex. “The classes were filmed and have been translated into Russian to start with. They might next be translated into other languages, too. Institut Curie has demonstrated its creativity and its ability to adapt in the teaching formats it provides,” explains Institut Curie director of international relations Dr. Anhoury, who is heading up the scheme. “These partnerships are in the process of changing the face of oncology in these countries, and embody Institut Curie’s huge impact and influence around the world.”
