LINC-35. THE ST. JUDE GLOBAL ACADEMY NEURO-ONCOLOGY TRAINING SEMINAR: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY, INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

The success of the treatment of children with central nervous system (CNS) tumors relies on an effective multidisciplinary team, with up-to-date and broad knowledge and skills. The St. Jude Global Academy Neuro-Oncology Training Seminar was launched as course in globally applicable content in pediatric neuro-oncology with a focus on multidisciplinary teams in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To identify the content that is most relevant for the learners, a needs assessment survey that included evaluation of team dynamics, treatment capacity, existing knowledge, and educational goals was designed. Survey questions in 11 domains were answered by 24 sites in LMICs across the world. This information was used to create the course that consists of two components: a 9-week online course and a 10-day workshop at the St. Jude campus. 72 participants from 11 institutions enrolled in the online portion and 20 participants were selected based on grades to attend the workshop. A retrospective post-test evaluation established that learners improved their understanding of the barriers to care, possible solutions to improve care, understanding of diagnosis and treatment, and methodology to implement projects (p<0.01). All participating teams developed projects that are locally implemented. Those present at the workshop formed a multidisciplinary, international collaborative group (Global Alliance in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology). This experience establishes that educational programs with systematically created curricula can not only improved knowledge but be a mechanism to share experiences and create collaborative networks. Ultimately, patient outcomes will be tracked to monitor the true impact of the course.