The CAIRO Journal Club: A Decade of Impact

Area of Science:

• Oncology Education
• Medical Professional Development
• Health Equity

Background:

• The CAIRO Journal Club (CJC) has been a key platform for oncology education and collaboration in Egypt and the MENA region since 2013.
• It operates under the Egyptian Foundation of Medical Sciences (EFMS), offering diverse educational formats focused on major cancer types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evolution and educational impact of the CJC.
• To outline strategies for democratizing high-quality cancer care through professional development.
• To present CJC as a model for bridging educational disparities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Main Methods:

• The review synthesizes data from over 120 CJC events, including masterclasses, workshops, and simulation forums.
• Educational impact was assessed via independent evaluations and post-event surveys focusing on knowledge, confidence, and skills.
• Digital engagement metrics (livestreams, social media) and cumulative virtual attendances were analyzed.

Main Results:

• CJC activities significantly improved participants' knowledge retention, clinical confidence, and treatment-planning skills, especially in resource-constrained settings.
• Digital platforms reached over 30,000 virtual attendees, reducing geographic barriers to cancer care education.
• The initiative demonstrated success in fostering evidence-based, resource-adapted oncology protocols.

Conclusions:

• The CJC model effectively bridges oncology education disparities through blended, scalable learning.
• Planned innovations like international virtual tumor boards and AI-learning modules aim to further strengthen cancer care capacity.
• CJC provides a replicable blueprint for LMICs to enhance professional development and digital inclusion in oncology.