Gynecologic oncology physicians and nurses with the University of Minnesota, its Cancer Center, and Poriya Government Hospital in Israel have built a dynamic exchange program of medical and nursing education, mentorship, and outreach that enriches everyone involved.

Ilan Atlas, M.D., gynecologic oncologist at Poriya Government Hospital near Tiberias Israel, cares for the underserved population in northern Israel. "My goal is to treat people at the periphery with the same service as those in larger cities," says Atlas. "But it is difficult without ample resources and without a multidisciplinary team of doctors to discuss cases."

Several years ago, a search for collaboration took Dr. Atlas to Skip Granai, M.D., director of gynecologic oncology at Atlas' alma mater, Brown University in Rhode Island. That connection led him to James Gaviser, M.D., a former surgeon at the University of Minnesota, and to learning about the gynecologic oncology research and treatment programs at the University of Minnesota. With assistance from Gaviser and the encouragement of Jacob Farbstein, M.D., general director at Poriya Hospital, Atlas and the University's gynecologic oncology physicians and nurses began an exchange program that includes bimonthly teleconferences as a forum to present patient cases from both Israel and the United States.

"I have become a better surgeon and doctor because of these sessions. I am able to give my patients better care," says Atlas. "These conversations are also powerful in alleviating the stress of patients. It gives them greater peace of mind to know their case is being discussed with doctors in the United States."

The teleconferences led to Atlas making several visits to the University of Minnesota to observe gynecologic oncology surgery, hear about new research, and learn how to perform new treatments, such as the use of intravenous (IV) and intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer.

Then in 2005, a delegation from the University traveled to Israel to participate in an international gynecologic oncology conference and spend two weeks working with Atlas and his colleagues at Poriya Hospital. The University group included Gaviser, Peter Argenta, M.D., Linda Carson, M.D., Alexander Truskinovsky, M.D., and Suann Mitchell, R.N. In addition to giving presentations at the all-day conference, they performed surgeries and read pathology reports.

"The distance makes no difference in the fight against cancer. Our relationship with the University of Minnesota and its Cancer Center provides mutual benefits as we look at ourselves through the lens of another culture."
— Ilan Atlas, M.D., gynecologic oncologist

The University group also brought a gift to help alleviate Poriya's equipment shortage—a retractor for use in gynecologic surgery. The retractor was presented to Atlas at the conference.

"I had been waiting six years for a retractor," says Atlas. "This equipment is such a huge benefit. It is like an extra pair of hands in the operating room."

The University's Linda Carson, M.D., describes the trip to Israel as a wonderful experience. "It is beneficial to see the way another country practices medicine. There are a few differences in equipment, technology, and system of education that were interesting to witness."

Mitchell says the trip opened her eyes. "It gave me ideas for additional collaboration. I'm currently organizing a delegation of University nurses to travel to Israel to help set up a chemotherapy unit and participate in another educational conference."

After the visit to Poriya, Mitchell hosted an Israeli nurse, Levana Bernstein, R.N., for three weeks. Bernstein learned about chemotherapy techniques and the method of gynecologic oncology care at the University.

The relationship between the University of Minnesota, its Cancer Center, and Poriya Government Hospital continues to grow. Plans for the future include a second international conference, continued exchange of medical students, continuation of teleconferences, collaborative research, and possibly international clinical trials.

"The distance makes no difference in the fight against cancer," says Atlas. "Our relationship with the University of Minnesota and its Cancer Center provides mutual benefits as we look at ourselves through the lens of another culture."

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This article was originally published in the University of Minnesota Cancer Center 2006 Annual Report (PDF).