CANCER BUZZ

Association of Cancer Care Centers
  • 5.0 (30)
  • SCIENCE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

CANCER BUZZ features fresh perspectives on hot topics in oncology care delivery. CANCER BUZZ is where stakeholders from the front lines of care to the C-suite, from research to the registry, from chairside to benchside, talk about top-of-mind questions and real-world impact.

  1. Streamlining Access to TIL Cell Therapy for Melanoma

    1D AGO

    Streamlining Access to TIL Cell Therapy for Melanoma

    Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapy is a promising option for patients with advanced melanoma, but logistical and referral challenges can be a barrier to care. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Lilit Karapetyan, MD, MS, FACP, medical oncologist at Moffit Cancer Center and Research Institute, an authorized treatment center (ATC) for TIL cell therapy, and Raju Vaddepally, MD, hematologist-oncologist at Florida Cancer Specialists, a non-ATC, about the referral process. Both guests discuss the relationship between their cancer programs, offering actionable tips on how to streamline the identification and referral of melanoma patients for TIL therapy across institutions. Guests:  Lilit Karapetyan, MD, MS, FACP Medical Oncologist Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute Tampa, FL Raju Vaddepally, MD   Hematologist-Oncologist Florida Cancer Specialists Naples, FL  "It is extremely important that providers think about this earlier, because the huge issue that we have with TIL therapy is that we get a lot of patients referred but unfortunately, they are no longer fit to proceed with the therapy." - Lilit Karapetyan, MD, MS, FACP "Cancer care can be so fragmented and always requires multidisciplinary input, whether it be within the town or going to an academic center, so we do have a specialized department in which they handle all these referrals." - Raju Vaddepally, MD Resources ACCC TIL Therapy Resources ACCCBuzz Blog: Streamlining TIL Cell Therapy: ACCC Resources to Improve Referral Pathways and Academic–Community Coordination CANCER BUZZ: Developments in TIL Cell Therapy

    13 min

  2. FEB 17

    Policy in Practice: Change Hits the Clinic

    Changing regulations are reshaping the practice of oncology. Issues such as prior authorization, shifting coverage policies, reporting mandates, and reimbursement certainty all affect how clinics must operate to provide the best care. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with 3 oncology professionals, representing different roles and regions of the country, about their experiences of how policy impacts care delivery. Martin Palmeri, MD, MBA, FASCO, medical oncologist at Messino Cancer Centers, Patricia Serna, MHS, PA-C, CGRA, APP area manager at Texas Oncology, and Gretchen Van Dyck, financial counselor at Green Bay Oncology, connect the dots between legislative intents and clinical realities. "When my patients see that their options for clinical trials are diminishing, or some of these clinical trials are shutting down, they lose hope." - Martin Palmeri, MD, MBA, FASCO "Being able to work with the Texas Society of Clinical Oncology has given me that behind-the-scenes background of if we don't speak up, our patients are going to suffer." Patricia Serna, MHS, PA-C, CGRA Guests: Patricia Serna, MHS, PA-C, CGRA  APP Area Manager – APP Services Texas Oncology Dallas, TX Gretchen Van Dyck Financial Counselor II Green Bay Oncology Green Bay, WI  Martin Palmeri, MD, MBA, FASCO  Medical Oncologist Messino Cancer Centers Asheville, NC This podcast is part of the Oncology State Societies (OSS) Advocacy Engagement program, made possible with support from Johnson & Johnson. Resources: ACCC Advocacy Resources Access, Payment & Reimbursement Reform ACCC Community Oncology Research Institute (ACORI)

    20 min

  3. FEB 5

    Addressing Psychosocial Distress With Psychedelic-Inspired Therapies

    As the number of patients and survivors of cancer grows each year, awareness of the disease's emotional toll—including depression, anxiety, and deep existential distress—is increasingly recognized as a critical aspect of cancer care. In response, psychedelic-assisted therapy is gaining attention as a promising alternative to traditional mental health interventions, providing relief for some patients. To shed light on the patient experience with this treatment, CANCER BUZZ spoke with breast cancer survivor Judy Wight; Jennifer Bires, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, FACCC, executive director of Life with Cancer and Patient Experience at Inova Health System; and Manish Agrawal, MD, cofounder and CEO of Sunstone Therapies, about the human side of psychedelic-assisted therapy, promising existing research, and how it can shape the future of psychosocial care. "It's not that I'm a different person. It's more like I'm becoming the person I was meant to be. And all those layers of trauma and sadness...I've been able to shed a lot of that." – Judy Wight "When I started to learn about psychedelic-assisted therapy, read some of the patient accounts, and see some of the research, I said, 'I've got to learn about this. I think that this could be another tool that would be useful for people in this space where we don't have the perfect answer, and we don't have the perfect treatments.'" – Jennifer Bires, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, FACCC "When I give talks around this, I have an iceberg. Above the iceberg I have chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, and underneath the iceberg I have what's called psychosocial, psycho-spiritual, psychological care. And I think true cancer care is treating everything in the iceberg, not just what's above the water." – Manish Agrawal, MD   Guests: Jennifer Bires, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, FACCC  Executive Director, Life with Cancer and Patient Experience Inova Health System Fairfax, VA   Judy Wight Breast Cancer Survivor   Manish Agrawal, MD Cofounder and CEO Sunstone Therapies REKINDLE Investigator   This podcast is sponsored by Reunion Neuroscience.   Resources: The REKINDLE Study ClinicalTrials (NCT07002034) REKINDLE Brochure Reunion Neuroscience Adjustment Disorder Associated With Medical Illness: Unmet Needs and Rationale for RE104 as a Novel Psychedelic Therapy Exploring Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Oncology Addressing the Psychological Burdens of Cancer on World Mental Health Day Psychosocial Care in Oncology: Advocating for Policy Changes that Improve the Culture of Care Collaborative Care: A Model for Embedding Counseling in Oncology and Palliative Care Spirituality and Cultural Humility: Core Components of Comprehensive Palliative Care Psychosocial Care in Oncology Collaborative Care: A Solution for Increasing Access to Psychosocial Care in Cancer Programs and Practices Scan to learn more about the REKINDLE study:

    29 min

  4. JAN 29

    Set Goals in Today's Health Care Reality

    Of the barriers to innovation and adopting new strategies, human hesitation is one of the greatest. Health care is a rapidly evolving field by nature, which is compounded by near constant technological advancement. For insight into overcoming hesitation while navigating frequent change in a burnout-oriented industry, CANCER BUZZ spoke with Michelle Rozen, PhD, behavioral scientist, bestselling author, and keynote speaker at the upcoming 2026 ACCC Leadership Summit. Dr. Rozen shares concrete strategies that oncology leaders can implement in their programs to not just survive, but thrive in an unprecedented era of change. "You can't control change around you. You can't control change in [your] organization. You can't control change in the health care industry. You can't control change in the world...but you are not helpless. There is a way to set goals and actually follow through that gives you a sense of control in this fast-paced, rapidly changing world that we live in." – Michelle Rozen, PhD   Guest: Michelle Rozen, PhD Behavioral scientist and bestselling author  Resources: Lessons in Leadership: Thriving as Women at the Top Developing Effective Cancer Program Leadership Spring Into Action- Essential Leadership Tools to Help the Team Win Together Effective Leadership Strategies: Defining + Helping Others with Their Purpose

    9 min
  5. Plans for 2026: A Dialogue With ACCC's Executive Director

    JAN 28 · VIDEO

    Plans for 2026: A Dialogue With ACCC's Executive Director

    In the second installment of Oncology Unscripted, an unfiltered, honest dialogue about the state of cancer care today, hosts Mark Liu and Deirdre Saulet invite Meagan O'Neill, MS, Executive Director of ACCC, to discuss the Association's plans for the upcoming year, honing in on challenges and opportunities within its membership. O'Neill shares the vision behind expanding the CANCER BUZZ podcast, the continued development of ACCC's 2030 vision, and how she views crisis as a path forward for innovation. "When I look at 2026, [I look] at crisis as an opportunity...How can we use this time to try something new and solve some of these problems?" – Meagan O'Neill, MS "Unfortunately, [with] cancer care in this country, the outcomes and experience you [have] are too dependent on who you are, your zip code—even down to the door that you enter and the provider you see...There's no shortage of opportunities to help programs start chipping away at that." – Meagan O'Neill, MS Meagan O'Neill, MS Executive Director Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) To submit a topic of discussion to the podcast, please email mark.liu@mountsinai.org and deirdre.saulet@hellojasper.com.   Resources ACCC 2025 Impact Report Introducing Oncology Unscripted

    22 min

  6. JAN 20

    APPs Paving the Way in Leadership

    Advanced practice providers (APPs) are both an integral part of the care team and a driving force behind innovation in oncology. This special state society episode of CANCER BUZZ will explore how oncology APPs are stepping into leadership roles—formally and informally—to advocate for role clarity and equitable compensation, improve mentorship, and elevate the value of APPs within the multidisciplinary cancer care team. Jessica Leibelt, AGNP-C, AOCNP, from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Carlin Callaway, DMP, RN, ACNP-BC, ACNS-BC, AOCNP, from the University of Colorado Cancer Center, and Rachel M Stevenson, PA-C, from ECU Health, will share their real-world experiences of driving systemic change while paving the way for the next generation of APPs. Guests: Jessica Leibelt, AGNP-C, AOCNP   Manager, Community Advanced Practice Providers Nurse Practitioner, Hematology Oncology + Oncosexology Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center at UW Medical Center – Northwest Seattle, WA Carlin Callaway, DNP, RN, ACNP-BC, ACNS-BC, AOCNP Assistant Professor, School of Medicine Lead Advanced Practice Provider, Medical Oncology University of Colorado Cancer Center – Anschutz Medical Campus Aurora, CO Rachel M Stevenson,  PA-C Physician Assistant ECU Health Greenville, NC "We have a huge role in educating and doing symptom management, but also really creative things like doing APP-led clinics." - Jessica Leibelt, AGNP-C, AOCNP "It takes a heck of a lot of work to hire people, and it takes even more work to let somebody go when it's not a good fit. So much of what I do is trying to help find [APPs] who will be a good fit for the organization" - Carlin Callaway, DNP, RN, ACNP-BC, AOCNP "Our main goal is the same [as doctors]: to make sure there is excellent health care for all individuals that come to our door. As long as we can work together, I think we can provide great health care." - Rachel M Stevenson, PA-C This podcast is part of the Optimizing the Role of the APP in Oncology Care program, made possible through the support from the Colorado Oncology Society, Iowa Oncology Society, Empire State Hematology & Oncology Society, Nevada Oncology Society, North Carolina Oncology Association, and Washington State Medical Oncology Society. Resources: Blog: A Day in the Life of an Oncology APP Across Various Practice Settings Blog: Maximizing the Role of APPs in Oncology Care CANCER BUZZ Podcast: Real World Models for APP Onboarding Colorado Oncology Society APP Resources Iowa Oncology Society APP Resources Empire State Hematology & Oncology Society APP Resources Nevada Oncology Society APP Resources North Carolina Oncology Association APP Resources Washington State Medical Oncology Society APP Resources

    16 min

  7. 12/16/2025

    Training the Next Generation of Oncology Leaders

    Cancer cases, cancer-related deaths, and survivorship are projected to rise exponentially—yet oncology faces critical workforce shortages. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Tristan Blanco, a biology major and fellow in VCU Massey's Cancer-focused Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Program, who shares his experience as part of a program designed to scale oncology education and meet the evolving needs of cancer care nationwide. Get behind the scenes of an innovative training model that's preparing the next generation of oncology leaders. "It's one of the smartest ways to address the workforce shortage. We're making sure more students get the chance to discover oncology and have that opportunity." — Tristan Blanco Tristan Blanco Biology major and fellow in the Cancer-focused Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Program VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Richmond, VA  Resources:   Building a Scalable Model to Train the Next Generation of Oncology Leaders   Pipeline Partners: Developing Training and Recruitment Programs for the Oncology Workforce   Pipeline Partners - [mini podcast] Ep 183   Combatting Healthcare Workforce Issues with Proven Leadership Skills   Onboarding Experienced Non-Oncology Nurses to Address Staffing Shortages   (Re)Building the Oncology Workforce: ACCC President Dr. Ajayi's 2023-2024 Theme   VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Spotlight   Addressing Social Determinants of Health through a Medical-Legal Partnership

    5 min
  8. Introducing Oncology Unscripted

    12/10/2025 · VIDEO

    Introducing Oncology Unscripted

    Introducing a brand new podcast from ACCC: Oncology Unscripted. In this inaugural episode, hosts Mark Liu and Deirdre Saulet lay out what listeners can expect from the show, including unfiltered, honest dialogue about the state of cancer care today, the most pressing challenges providers are facing, and how they can move forward with hope amid unpredictable headwinds. Liu and Saulet will approach a variety of topics, from operational to financial to clinical, as they explore how providers can help one another, continue to hold important conversations, and act as agents of change in oncology. "I think about my grandmother who spoke Spanish, Chinese, and English...If she was here, and needed to navigate our health care system with a serious illness or diagnosis of cancer, what would that look like for her? I often put my family members in these scenarios...What would they do? What would I do if I was on the other side?...How can we make a complicated health care system work for everyone?" -- Mark Liu, MHA "We can have all the innovations in the world, but if the people who need them most can't access them, what's the point? What are we doing this for?" -- Deirdre Saulet, PhD Mark Liu, MHA Senior Director of Oncology Strategy Transformation & Analytics Mount Sinai Health System Deirdre Saulet, PhD Chief Strategy Officer Jasper Health

    29 min
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5
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

CANCER BUZZ features fresh perspectives on hot topics in oncology care delivery. CANCER BUZZ is where stakeholders from the front lines of care to the C-suite, from research to the registry, from chairside to benchside, talk about top-of-mind questions and real-world impact.

Information

  • Creator
    Association of Cancer Care Centers
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    CANCER BUZZ

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