Cristiana Sessa, Scientific Clinical Consultant of the Clinical Trial Unit at Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale and Consultant for Gynaecological Cancer at the Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI) in Bellinzona, Switzerland, is to receive the 2019 ESMO Women for Oncology Award for her contributions to supporting the career development of women in oncology and for her role in sensitising organisations to perceive the female oncology workforce as a valuable resource.

A respected clinician and expert in the field of gynaecological cancers, Sessa has worked tirelessly to help the next generation of women climb the professional ladder, be it through direct mentorship or through her many activities aimed at facilitating access to education and development programmes for female oncologists. In an interview, she looked back and shared her vision for helping the next generation of women climb the ladder in oncology.