ST. JOHN’S, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA - Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) recently concluded its 2026 Multidisciplinary Cancer Symposium, continuing an initiative that has evolved from a breast cancer-focused event into a broader platform for professional education and community engagement around cancer care.
Building on the evolution of the Symposium into a multidisciplinary platform in 2025, this year’s event took another step forward by adding a second day focused specifically on the community. The expansion reflects the Symposium’s continued growth beyond professional education to include broader conversations around cancer care and the experience of living with cancer.
“Dr. Duncan saw where this could go,” said Dr. Shivon Belle-Jarvis, Medical Director of SLBMC. “He understood that cancer care is bigger than any one specialty. It involves the people who diagnose and treat cancer, the professionals who support patients and families, and the families and community that live with the impact of the disease. It is meaningful to see the Symposium continuing to grow in the direction he envisioned.”
Day 1: Professional Education and Clinical Innovation
The first day of the 2026 Symposium, held under the theme “Beyond Boundaries: Integrating Innovation, Evidence, and Empathy in Cancer Care,” was designed for healthcare professionals. It provided opportunities for continuing medical education, featuring presentations and discussions covering current approaches and perspectives in cancer care.
Day 1 Faculty & Presenters:
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Moderator: Dr. Eldean Eudelle
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Dr. Vonetta George – Consultant Surgeon
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Dr. Petra Miller-Nanton – Senior Registrar
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Dr. Keisha Allen-Dugan – Pharmacist (Access Dr. Keisha Allen-Dugan's Presentation Here)
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Dr. Veena Vignarajah – Palliative Care
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Dr. Kern Pemberton – Radiation / Clinical Oncologist
Day 2: Community Engagement and Action
The second day, “Beyond Boundaries: From Awareness to Action: Making Cancer Care Everyone’s Conversation,” opened the discussion to the wider community. The goal was to make conversations about cancer more accessible and encourage people to become more informed and engaged in their own health and the health of those around them.
Day 2 Faculty & Presenters:
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Moderator: Dr. Shivon Belle-Jarvis
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Ms. Nicole Joseph Chin – Patient Education and Advocacy
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Sister Emelda Benjamin – Nurse Practitioner & Survivor
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Dr. Andre Bovell – Pharmacist, Epidemiologist & Researcher
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Dr. Hanybal Yazigi – Medical Oncologist
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Dr. Vonetta George – Consultant Surgeon
For those who missed the live event or wish to revisit the sessions, the complete Day 2 Community Engagement session is available to watch online: Watch the Day 2 Community Engagement Recording on YouTube.
Expanding the Conversation
For Christine Joseph, Chair of the Symposium Organizing Committee, that expansion was an important part of the event’s continued development.
“Healthcare professionals continue to make the time to attend this Symposium because they see the value in staying current, sharing knowledge and learning from one another,” said Joseph. “But we also know that cancer care does not happen in isolation. It affects patients, families, caregivers and entire communities. Bringing the public into the Symposium gives us a chance to have conversations that are just as important as the clinical ones.”
Joseph added that community engagement will remain an important part of the Symposium going forward. “We want to keep building on this,” she said. “We want people to feel comfortable asking questions, seeking information and having conversations about cancer before they or someone they love is faced with a diagnosis. If we can make those conversations easier to have, we are doing something worthwhile.”
Regional Knowledge and Shared Expertise
This year's Symposium booklet also featured scholarly contributions from healthcare professionals across Antigua and Barbuda and the wider region, including abstracts and an article exploring important aspects of cancer care and palliative medicine. These contributions reflect the growing body of local and regional knowledge and expertise being shared through the Symposium. SLBMC encourages healthcare professionals to continue contributing their research, clinical experiences, and perspectives as the Symposium evolves.
Acknowledgments & Looking Ahead
The Symposium’s continued success would not be possible without the support of its partners and sponsors, many of whom have supported the initiative since its inception. SLBMC extends its sincere thanks to all organizations, businesses, and individuals who continue to invest in the Symposium and in the broader goal of strengthening cancer care in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Medical Centre also recognizes the healthcare professionals who continue to register and participate each year. Their commitment to professional development and their willingness to keep learning, sharing, and improving their practice are an important part of advancing cancer care locally.
As SLBMC looks ahead, the Medical Centre plans to continue developing the Symposium as both a professional education platform and a space for meaningful community engagement. The 2027 SLBMC Multidisciplinary Cancer Symposium is planned for the first weekend of October 2027, with further details to be announced.
“Cancer care is always evolving, and so must the way we respond to it,” said Dr. Belle-Jarvis. “We want this Symposium to keep evolving too. We want our healthcare professionals to have access to knowledge and expertise, while making sure our community has opportunities to understand cancer, ask questions and be part of the conversation. That is how we move from awareness to action.”
Media & Multimedia Resources:
- To access the official programme for the symposium, please visit the SLBMC 2026 Cancer Symposium Programme
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To view photographs, event highlights, and complete event videography coverage, please visit the SLBMC Symposium Media and Gallery Archive Here.