AOLS – Acute Oncology Life Support®
A certification course that prepares healthcare professionals
to deliver high-quality care to cancer patients in acute clinical situations
Created for who demands excellence in acute oncologic care
Why AOLS® Matters
Every day, professionals across healthcare settings encounter patients living with cancer. These patients may present with complex emergencies — some subtle, some life-threatening — that require more than general training.
AOLS® was created to bridge this gap, offering practical, focused training to help clinicians act fast and appropriately in oncologic emergencies.
What You’ll Learn
- Structured approach using the C-A-N-C-E-R® mnemonic to evaluate any cancer patient in distress.
- When and how to communicate with oncology teams, even without knowing the full treatment history.
- How to make safer, faster decisions in high-pressure situations, including ERs, ICUs, wards, and outpatient settings.
- How to manage oncologic emergencies such as febrile neutropenia, spinal cord compression, tumor lysis syndrome, and airway obstruction.
How AOLS Complements Other Emergency Protocols
AOLS® is designed to work alongside ACLS® and ATLS® — not replace them.
While ATLS® focuses on trauma stabilization and ACLS® on cardiac life support, neither addresses the unique needs of cancer patients in emergency settings. That’s where AOLS® comes in. Built around the C-A-N-C-E-R® mnemonic, AOLS® equips healthcare teams to handle oncologic emergencies, initiate cancer-specific interventions, and integrate palliative care when appropriate. Together, these three frameworks provide a more complete, responsive approach to managing critically ill patients — especially in hospitals, emergency departments, and ICUs.
Who Should Enroll
AOLS® is designed for physicians and registered nurses from all areas of healthcare who may need to care for a patient with cancer in an acute situation.
It’s particularly valuable for professionals working in emergency departments, ICUs, hospital wards, or ambulatory settings where cancer-related complications may arise unexpectedly.
Whether you are in internal medicine, oncology, palliative care, or urgent care — AOLS® helps you respond with confidence, safety, and clinical clarity.
Course Format and Methodology
The AOLS® course was designed to deliver real impact through a hybrid learning model:
• Four pre-recorded online classes (30 min each), available 1 week before the course
• Two full days of in-person training with practical case discussions, live review, Q&A, and the final assessment
The methodology focuses on case-based learning, team collaboration, and a structured approach using the exclusive C-A-N-C-E-R® mnemonic. Rather than traditional lectures, participants engage in guided discussions, real-world scenarios, and assessments designed to reinforce clinical reasoning in high-pressure situations.
This blended format allows flexibility for busy professionals while maintaining rigorous training standards. Participants who complete the program and pass the final test will be officially certified and eligible for future instructor training.
Course Curriculum
The AOLS® curriculum offers a comprehensive approach to the urgent care of cancer patients. See below the key topics covered throughout the program:
Meet the Course Coordinators
Gustavo Jacob, MD
Surgeon at the oncology department from Oncoclinicas&Co and rede D’Or Belo Horizonte and Nova Lima (Brazil).
Dr. Jacob holds a Master’s degree in Oncology from A.C. Camargo Cancer Center and is currently a PhD candidate in Surgery at UFMG. He is a full member of the Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology (SBCO) and the Brazilian College of Surgeons (CBC), and an associate member of ESSO and ESMO. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).
Maria Helena Rangel, MD
Medical Oncologist at the Oncoclinicas&Co.
Dr. Rangel graduated from UFMG and completed her medical and oncology residencies at FHEMIG and Hospital Felício Rocho. She holds an MBA in Health Management from FGV. Currently, she is the Medical Director at Cancer Center Oncoclinicas Dana Farber in Nova Lima (Brazil) and also serves as Technical Director at Oncoclínicas Santa Efigênia in Belo Horizonte. She is a member of SBOC and ASCO.
Fabrício Rezende Dias, MD
Internal Medicine and Critical Care Physician.
Dr. Dias graduated from UFMG and is a specialist in Internal Medicine and Intensive Care. He leads Internal Medicine and Emergency Services at Oncoclínicas hospitals in Nova Lima (Brazil), including the Cancer Center and Hospital Vila da Serra. His practice is centered on managing high-complexity oncologic emergencies.
Ready to become an AOLS®-Certified Professional?
Join a growing community of professionals committed to delivering high-quality care in acute oncologic situations.
Training that transforms how you act — when it matters most.