Partnership will expand Society’s experiential education portfolio, with multiple hands-on courses planned for 2027 at IRCAD North America’s world-class facility in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C., October 15, 2026 — The Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) and IRCAD North America (IRCAD NA) are pleased to announce an official partnership to expand advanced hands-on educational opportunities for surgical oncologists and other members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team.
Through this partnership, IRCAD NA will serve as SSO’s headquarters for Advanced Experiential Education Training and Medical Device Rapid Cycle Research and Development, providing SSO with access to the state-of-the-art environment at IRCAD NA, designed for hands-on surgical training, innovation and emerging technology. IRCAD NA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Advocate Health, is a leading destination for experiential surgical education, medical device innovation and collaborative research.
“We are proud to host and enable this new SSO initiative at IRCAD North America,” said Dr. Dionisios Vrochides, executive director of IRCAD NA, chief of transplant oncology at Atrium Health and professor of transplant surgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. “Our organizations share a mission to improve healthcare globally, and bringing together the institutional excellence of SSO with the innovative capabilities we have here at IRCAD North America will improve the lives of cancer patients worldwide.”
Beginning in 2027, SSO plans to host several advanced experiential education courses at IRCAD NA’s facility, located at The Pearl innovation district in Charlotte, N.C. Among the first programs in development is a Robotic Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy Course, designed to provide surgeons with practical, hands-on training in the newest approaches to this important procedure.
“This partnership represents an important step forward in how SSO delivers education to the surgical oncology community,” said Patti Stella, CAE, CHCP, chief executive officer of the Society of Surgical Oncology. “Our members need opportunities not only to learn about new techniques and technologies, but also to experience them in a high-quality, hands-on environment. IRCAD North America provides the infrastructure and innovation ecosystem that will allow SSO to expand experiential education across disease sites and respond to the evolving needs of surgical oncologists.”
SSO’s hands-on education portfolio, built at IRCAD NA, will be integrated into the Society’s broader educational strategy. Individual courses at the facility will be led by surgeons with expertise specific to the disease site, procedure and technologies being taught, ensuring that each program combines relevant clinical expertise with consistent standards for educational design and quality.
The partnership will create opportunities beyond traditional surgical education. Through IRCAD NA’s rapid-cycle R&D capabilities, SSO will explore opportunities for surgical oncologists to engage in the evaluation and advancement of emerging technologies and medical devices, helping connect innovation with the real-world needs of cancer surgeons and their patients.
“SSO is committed to preparing surgical oncologists for the future of cancer care,” said Kenneth K. Tanabe, MD, FSSO, president of the Society of Surgical Oncology. “By bringing together SSO’s clinical and educational expertise with IRCAD North America’s exceptional training and innovation environment, we have an opportunity to create meaningful educational experiences that help surgeons safely incorporate new techniques and technologies into practice.”
Additional information about SSO’s 2027 hands-on courses at IRCAD NA, including course dates, faculty, eligibility and registration, will be announced as programming is finalized.
About IRCAD North America
IRCAD North America is a state-of-the-art surgical training and research center dedicated to advancing minimally invasive and robotic surgery. As the newest branch of the globally renowned IRCAD network, IRCAD North America brings world-class expertise, innovative technology and hands-on training to surgeons and health care professionals across the world. Its strategic collaborations with leading industry partners, institutions and professional societies drive meaningful advancements in health care, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. IRCAD North America is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and wholly owned subsidiary of Atrium Health, a part of Advocate Health. The institute is located at The Pearl innovation district in Charlotte, North Carolina. IRCAD North America empowers local, national and international investigators to perform and excel in rapid cycle research and development, minimizing the time medical innovation takes to move from bench to bedside. Patient outcomes will improve worldwide as attendees take their experiences back to their home institutions.
About the Society of Surgical Oncology
The Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) is the premier organization for surgeons and healthcare professionals dedicated to advancing the science and practice of surgical oncology. SSO supports its members through education, research, quality initiatives, advocacy and opportunities for collaboration, with the goal of improving multidisciplinary cancer care and outcomes for patients worldwide.