From online teaching to international masterclasses: how the new generation of oncologists is born. In our country
Founded in 1982 on the initiative of Umberto Veronesi, the European School of Oncology today represents one of the pillars of oncology training in Europe. Its birth responded to a specific need: to create a shared culture in cancer carecapable of overcoming national borders and reducing inequalities in access to medical expertise. In over forty years of activity, the School has built a solid educational model, based on a key principle: quality of care depends on the quality of training. To summarize the deepest identity of the institution is the director of the European School of Oncology, Alberto Costa: «The European School of Oncology is now a flagship of the Italian tradition of teaching medicine. On the threshold of its 50th birthday and with over 15 thousand former students across Europe, it regularly appears in the CVs of many doctors and nurses who treat cancer patients from Lisbon to Yerevan and from Gdansk to Malta. The School has two strong points, the multidisciplinarity in oncology and the teaching of one empathetic care of the cancer patient. The first serves to get doctors, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists and nurses to work together, because no one can cure cancer alone anymore; the second to never forget that the sick person is a person and that it is not enough to treat their body.”
This is not a simple declaration of intent, but a strategy that has led ESO to involve some of the most authoritative European experts from the beginning, helping to define common standards in oncology practice. One of the distinctive elements of the institution is its independence from the pharmaceutical industrya choice that guarantees impartiality in content and teaching priorities. This aspect, often underestimated, represents a crucial guarantee of scientific rigor and credibility in oncologyespecially in a complex and constantly evolving field. The numbers confirm the solidity and impact of the model. In 2025 alone, ESO has delivered 107,000 euros in scholarshipswith 21 assignments, organized 22 training events in oncologyinvolved 618 teachers and trained 2,710 students including doctors and nurses. Data that is part of an equally significant long-term overall budget: since 1982 the School has awarded more than that 1,507,000 euros in scholarships and formed more than 40,395 healthcare professionals in oncology.
In 2024, the School reached a significant milestone, exceeding forty years of activity and strengthening its role also within the European plan to fight cancer. A recognition that certifies not only its educational but also strategic impact on continental healthcare.
From traditional to digital training: the ESO model between innovation and accessibility
The heart of the European School of Oncology’s training offer is represented by the ESO Pathway, a multi-level structured path that accompanies doctors and healthcare workers from basic training to more advanced updates. A system meant to be accessible and inclusive in medical educationeven for those who work in contexts with fewer resources, reducing educational inequalities between countries. Over the years, ESO has been able to adapt to changes in medicine and technology. A crucial step occurred in 2008 with the birth of the ESO Distance Learning platform, which effectively anticipated the revolution of digital training in oncology. During the Covid-19 pandemic, this tool proved essential to guarantee teaching continuity, responding to a growing demand for updating.
A European oncology community: young talents, research and the future
In addition to teaching, the European School of Oncology has progressively built a real one international community of oncologists and healthcare professionalsencouraging networking and the growth of young talents. The birth, in 2020, of the ESO College is part of this direction, a space dedicated to career development and the exchange of skills. Also particularly significant is the introduction of the ESO Ambassadors, a network that has expanded the School’s presence in less represented areas, especially in Eastern and Southern Europe. An important step towards the original goal: spread oncology training where it is most needed. In 2024 there was also a return to in-person training, with the reactivation of historic locations such as that of San Servolo, symbol of a model that does not give up the value of direct encounters. At the same time, the organization has strengthened relationships with foundations and institutions, improving governance and planning for the future in view of the fiftieth anniversary. The result is a reality that continues to grow, remaining faithful to its mission: train more competent doctors to improve cancer care. In an era where research runs fast, the challenge is not only to discover new therapies, but to ensure that they get into the right hands, with the necessary preparation to use them best. And it is here that training once again becomes the first and most decisive form of treatment.
