Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network

In consideration of health concerns resulting from COVID-19, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), in collaboration with program organizers, has made the decision to postpone the Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute until 2021. This page will be updated with more details as they become available.

The Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) is a Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) initiative seeking to promote and elevate women in the cancer immunotherapy field. Championed by SITC Past President Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD, the society's first female president, WIN provides a forum for women to discuss important topics relevant to their advancement in the field.

Following a very successful inaugural year, SITC is excited to announce the return of the WIN Leadership Institute, which will be offered in two locations, July 12–13, 2021, in Seattle, and Aug. 2–3, 2021, in Chicago. The programs, free of charge to accepted applicants, are one-and-a-half day education and networking events that seek to empower emerging female leaders in the cancer immunotherapy field. 

PROGRAM ORGANIZERS:

• Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD – Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy/University of California, San Francisco
• Mary L. Disis, MD, FACP – University of Washington
• Olivera J. Finn, PhD – University of Pittsburgh
• Kristen Hege, MD – Bristol Myers Squibb/University of California, San Francisco
• Cornelia L. Trimble, MD – Johns Hopkins University
• Solange Peters, MD, PhD – European Society for Medical Oncology
• Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD – The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
  

The WIN Leadership Institute explores an array of topics relevant to women, including:

• Learning to break through the glass ceiling
• Exploring negotiation techniques
• Mastering the art of saying no
• Surviving in a political world
• Developing leadership skills, including conflict resolution strategies and public speaking

These topics will be addressed through presentations from experienced female leaders, panel discussions that allow participants to ask questions and interact with these leaders, and informal networking opportunities will be present throughout the program.

2019 WIN Leadership Institute Enduring Materials

Enduring materials from the 2019 SITC WIN Leadership Institute are now available! The materials feature presentations from a bevy of female leaders in the cancer immunotherapy field, speaking to attendees on an array of topics focused on the advancement of women in the field.

Inaugural WIN Leadership Institute Participants

Following an overwhelming applicant response (more than three times as many applicants than available spaces), SITC was pleased to announce the participants of the inaugural SITC WIN Leadership Institute, which took place Aug. 19-20, 2019, in Seattle!

Available to SITC members, the WIN is creating a database that can be used to better identify female experts to engage in society activities.

The network is seeking women interested in presenting data, speaking at meetings, serving as subject matter experts, conducting article reviews for the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC), serving as meeting chairs, co-chairs, organizers, and more. Female SITC members are asked to sign up for this opportunity via the SITC Volunteer Pool to indicate your interest and be included in this database. SITC will use this information to better ensure balanced representation in all society activities. Please join now to be a part of this exciting effort within the society.

If you have questions about the database, please contact Program Manager, Jackie Gearhart

SITC Professional Interest Communities are an original series of online communities created exclusively for SITC members. Within these communities, researchers and clinicians in the cancer immunotherapy field expand their network and receive career development support from colleagues.

The Women in SITC Community is open to women who share a common interest in immunology and cancer. Open to professional women, the goal of the community is to increase females in leadership roles within the society, foster connections and working opportunities among members, discuss immunotherapy toxicities (open to other specialties that deal with toxicity of immunotherapy), create mentorship opportunities, discuss gender bias and professional opportunities and contributions to the field of oncology/immunotherapy.

On Thursday, September 24th, 2020 at 5pm, the Women in SITC Community will hold their first SITC PIC Virtual Happy Hour. Interested individuals can find the registration form in the Women in SITC PIC or on the PIC landing page.

Not a member? Join SITC today and gain immediate access to the Women in SITC Community!

On Nov. 7, 2019, SITC hosted its third annual Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Reception during the 34^th Annual Meeting & Pre-Conference Programs (SITC 2019). The perennial event is a continuation of an effort by the society to connect female professionals in the cancer immunotherapy field to network and discuss important issues they are facing.

On Nov. 9, 2018, SITC hosted its second Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Reception.
Held during the society's 33^rd Annual Meeting & Pre-Conference Programs (SITC 2018), the event was a continuation of an effort by the society to connect female professionals in the cancer immunotherapy field to network and discuss important issues they are facing.