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European School of Soft Tissue Sarcoma Surgery (ESSTSS)

The European School of Soft Tissue Sarcoma Surgery is a joint venture of ESSO, CTOS (Connective Tissue Oncology Society) and the following European reference centers specialised in the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) :
Milan, Italy

Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori

Dr. Alessandro Gronchi, Dr. Marco Fiore
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Paris, France

Institut Curie

Dr. Sylvie Bonvalot, Dr. Dimitri Tzanis
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London, United Kingdom

Royal Marsden Hospital

Dr. Dirk Strauss, Dr. Andrew Hayes, Dr. Myles Smith
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Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Nederlands Kanker Instituut

Dr. Yvonne Schrage
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Birmingham, United Kingdom

University Hospital Birmingham

Dr. Anant Desai, Dr. Max Almond, Dr. Samuel Ford
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Objectives of this joint venture

Provide high quality, structured, basic and advanced training in surgical approach to STS.
Certify proficient knowledge of applying candidates in the scientific basis and clinical practice of STS care, specifically multidisciplinary decision making and surgical management

Clinical training at least 2 of the 4 participating reference centers

The stay in each center must last between 2 and 6 months, and in case one of the stays lasts less than 3 months a third clinical training in a different center will be required. The clinical training must include:
  • Direct participation in the execution of retroperitoneal sarcoma surgical procedures (at least 4 procedures at each center)
  • Direct participation in the execution of limb and truncal STS surgical procedures (at least 10 procedures at each center).
  • Direct participation in the execution of GIST surgical procedures (at least 2 procedures at each center)
  • Participation and attendance to ad hoc multidisciplinary conferences (“tumor board”) for presentation, discussion, regarding patient selection and therapeutic decision-making (at least 3 meetings at each center)
  • Presence in in-hospital postoperative follow up

Attendance to

  • At least one CTOS Annual Meeting
  • Esurge
  • ESMO Sarcoma & GIST Conference
  • At least one ESSO Congress, sarcoma track

Formulation and elaboration of 2 research projects

Under the supervision of one of the reference centers to be presented at a congress and sumbmitted for publication at a peer-reviewed journal. One of the projects will become the final thesis.
A tutor/mentor recognised by the School as proficient to carry out this task will be assigned to each candidate for guidance, tutoring and planning of the participant's training activity.

You can apply if you :

  • Are an active surgical oncologist with a preferential interest in STS, seeking advanced, structured training in the field

  • Are a surgical oncology fellow with a preferential interest in STS with opportunity of basic and clinical research

  • Have completed a general surgery residency and basic surgical oncology training and/or show a continued dedication to surgical oncology in their clinical practice

  • Have a medical license from one of the countries of the EU

  • Are involved or have solid plans to get involved in an established or new sarcoma program

  • Have a proficient level of English and/or of the language spoken in the visited centers

Download Application Form
Candidates will be selected by the European School of Soft Tissue Sarcoma Surgery Board after evaluation of the application and the CV and after an interview with one of the Board members.

Administration fee for selected candidates

ESSO Members

€ 1000

Non-ESSO Members

€ 1200

ESSO Educational Grants for ESSTSS

The European Society of Surgical Oncology offers two educational grants of 1.000€ each to ESSO members who are attending or planning to attend the ESSTSS Training Programme.

The aim of these grants is to help participants to complete the mandatory clinical rotations included in the School programme.

50% of the educational grant willl be transferred once the candidate has started the first rotation; 50% will be transferred once the candidate has finished the programme

Applications that do not meet all criteria or applications from non-ESSO members will be automatically rejected.

Eligibility criteria

  • Candidates whose application to join the Training Programme has been approved by the School Board but who have not yet started the program
  • Candidates who have not joined the Training Programme yet but who are planning to apply for it 
  • Candidates should have already paid the administration fee
  • The clinical training requirement must take place in one of the ESSTS referral centers (listed above).
  • Candidates should be ESSO members at the time they submit their application
  • The training should start within one year following notification of the grant
  • Previous recipients of an ESSO educational grant are not eligible

Documents to be provided (in a single pdf document and only in English) ​

  • If the candidate has already been accepted by the School : proof of acceptance from the institution where the clinical rotation is (or will be) carried out (including dates)
  • If the candidate has not joined the School Training Programme yet : letter of motivation, letter of recommendation of the head of department and short CV (maximum 2 pages)

 Additional requirements for selected candidates at the end of the programme

  • Acknowledge the grant received from ESSO in the mandatory ESSTSS research requirement (congress presentation and/or published manuscript)
  • Produce a complete report including pictures that ESSO can use in its Newsletter, website and social media
Apply for grant

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