History

Helen McKinnon Chair, Organising Committee, first ISOPP Symposium 1988; Chair, ISOPP Advisory Board 1993-1995; Chair, ISOPP (Society) Interim Secretariat 1995-1997; Inaugural President ISOPP (Society) 1997-1998

The International Symposium of Oncology Pharmacy Practice and The International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners

1986 Helen McKinnon took leave from her work as an Oncology Pharmacist at Waikato Hospital in New Zealand, to study the work of Oncology Pharmacists in USA and UK. She was humbled by the very sincere welcome and help that she was given by pharmacists at each institution she visited. On the flight home she dreamed of bringing those pharmacists together to share their knowledge and expertise with others.

1988  That vision became a reality when the first International Symposium on Oncology Pharmacy Practice was held in Rotorua, New Zealand. One hundred and fifty people attended the symposium, some of whom have subsequently attended all eight ISOPP symposia. At the closing ceremony of this first meeting, which had proved so successful and valuable, Helen McKinnon (Chair, Organizing Committee)issued a challenge to overseas attendees to continue the concept of international oncology pharmacy meetings.

1990 It was Graham Sewell who responded to that challenge and organised the second symposium in Exeter, UK. Graham also devised the name "ISOPP II" for that meeting and our ISOPP acronym has been used with pride ever since.

1993The third Symposium, organised by Larry Broadfield was held in Toronto, Canada, and it was at this meeting that the ISOPP Advisory Board was formed. This Board (Helen McKinnon (Chair), with Rosemary Bacovsky, Larry Broadfield, Bill Dana, Mel Davis, Rebecca Finley, Jim Koeller, Terry Maunsell, Klaus Meier and Graham Sewell) initiated and developed the notion of ISOPP becoming an incorporated Society, with a Constitution and Rules being formulated over the next two years.

1995  At ISOPP IV, in Hamburg, Germany, ISOPP was launched as the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners. Helen McKinnon was appointed Chair of the Interim Secretariat.

1996 ISOPP was incorporated under German law by Klaus Meier

1997 First elections were held. At ISOPP V in Sydney, Australia, organised by Terry Maunsell, Helen McKinnon was inaugurated as President.

Involving the international community is an ISOPP goal, reflected in the meeting sites for ISOPPs VI to IX :

1998 Washington DC, USA organised by Jim Koeller;
2000 Prague, Czech Republic organised by Martin Benes;
2002 Vancouver, Canada organised by Jeff Barnett and Kim Stefaniuk ;
2004 Turin, Italy organised by Franca Goffredo
2006 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia organised by Saad Othman & Helen Leather

Several hundred registrants have attended these meetings, and support from the pharmaceutical industry has been invaluable. Regional Symposia have also been held in Europe, Australia, and the USA.

ISOPP means many things to many professionals: sharing knowledge, meeting international colleagues, fun, paper/poster presentation, innovation, increasing knowledge, more fun. ISOPP has a rosy future for its members, the best reward ever for its founder.