CANCER BUZZ

Association of Cancer Care Centers
  • 5.0 (30)
  • Science
  • Updated Weekly

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. 13h ago ·  Video

    The Real Cost of Cancer: Financial Toxicity, Transportation Challenges, and Access Gaps

    In this episode of Oncology Unscripted, hosts Mark Liu and Deirdre Saulet speak with Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD, a radiation oncologist and Associate Director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, about her decades-long passion for community outreach and engagement to bring curative cancer treatment to underserved populations. Dr. Winkfield discusses the heavy financial burden of cancer and the need for policymakers and institutions to truly care for and prioritize the health of the American people. She also emphasizes the importance of "asset mapping" for healthcare administrators to take stock of the resources at their disposal and going out into the community to speak directly with people about what needs are not being met. "Policy is important for thinking about how we move the needle forward in cancer care. But it's not just policy on the national level or at the state level; it's actually institutional policy as well. And that's where access to care becomes personal for providers...What are the things that we can do as oncologists or...healthcare administrators to really ensure that we're taking good care of the communities we say we're there for?" – Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD Guest: Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD Radiation Oncologist Associate Director Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Nashville, Tennessee To submit a topic of discussion to the podcast, please email mark.liu@mountsinai.org and deirdre.saulet@hellojasper.com.   The 2026 Oncology Unscripted series is exclusively sponsored by Advarra. Resources A Call to Reimagine Community Engagement and Equity in Cancer Shared Solutions for Rural Oncology: Insights Across the Americas Spirituality and Cultural Humility: Core Components of Comprehensive Palliative Care 2026 ACCC Innovator Award Winner: Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

    The Real Cost of Cancer: Financial Toxicity, Transportation Challenges, and Access Gaps

  2. 1d ago

    Closing the Gap in Medical Necessity Review With a Clinical Documentation Integrity Registered Nurse

    Revenue cycle operations teams are responsible for maintaining reimbursement integrity and regulatory compliance across a rapidly expanding oncology service line. Increasing payer scrutiny—particularly for high-cost oncology therapies—has created significant operational strain, treatment delays, and administrative burden for providers. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with 2026 ACCC Innovator Award winner Lacy Sheets, MBA, Director of Patient Financial Navigation at St. Luke's Cancer Institute, about her program's development and implementation of a Clinical Documentation Integrity Registered Nurse role. Embedded within revenue cycle operations, this role partners directly with physicians, financial navigators, pharmacists, and others to ensure medical necessity documentation is accurate and compliant with payer requirements.  "The whole goal of this [position] is for our patients to be treated...in a more timely fashion...and not have to worry about all of that authorization work, as well as try to eliminate that [burden for] our providers." – Lacy Sheets, MBA Guest: Lacy Sheets, MBA Director of Patient Financial Navigation, St. Luke's Revenue Cycle Operations St. Luke's Regional Medical Center / St. Luke's Cancer Institute  Boise, Idaho Resources: ACCC 43rd National Oncology Conference 2026 ACCC Innovator St. Luke's Cancer Institute Transforming Oncology Authorization Through Clinical and Revenue Cycle Collaboration Optimizing Revenue Cycle Management in Oncology Due Diligence in Limiting Payer Denials

  3. Aug 7

    Utilizing APPs to Deliver Bispecific Antibodies in the Outpatient Setting

    Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) continue to garner the interest of both academic and community cancer centers due to their rapid growth in FDA approvals and increasing use in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. However, practical considerations such as treatment-related toxicities, choosing the right delivery model, and staffing constraints deter many programs from attempting to implement BsAbs. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with 2026 ACCC Innovator Award winner Kate Kennedy, MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC, AOCNP, an Outpatient Hematology Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Team Lead at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, about her program's APP-led BsAb step-up dosing clinic. With APPs at the helm, this model enables efficient and specialty-expert management of therapies while optimizing physician resources. In addition, its adherence to step-up dosing protocols prioritizes patient safety and convenience while reducing inpatient resource utilization. "[It's important to look] at what you need to spend money on, [make] sure that you're spending money on the right things, and then [look] for areas like space and staff that maybe have capacity that you can utilize in a little bit of a different way to deliver this care." – Kathryn Kennedy, MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC, AOCNP Guest: Kathryn Kennedy, MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC, AOCNP Outpatient Hematology APP Team Lead Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Nashville, Tennessee Resources: ACCC 43rd National Oncology Conference 2026 ACCC Innovator Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Blog: An APP-Led Outpatient Bispecific Antibody Clinic Podcast: APPs Paving the Way in Leadership Blog: Maximizing the Role of APPs in Oncology Care Blog: Bispecific Antibodies Are Moving Forward; So Are the Implementation Questions

  4. Aug 4

    Between the Orders and the Infusion: The Patient Experience of Bispecific Antibodies

    As bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) become more integrated into oncology care, much of the focus has been placed on clinical protocols and operational readiness. However, less attention has been paid to the patient and caregiver experience. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ explores how it feels physically and emotionally for patients to begin and continue BsAb therapy. Grounded in real-world insights, this discussion highlights the logistical and emotional challenges that arise during the step-up period and early treatment phases and identifies opportunities for care teams to better support patients throughout their journey.  In partnership with HOPA and APSHO. This program was made possible with support from Johnson & Johnson and Genentech. Guest:  Leslie Mader, RN, BSN, OCN  Patient Care Coordinator, Bispecific Drug Therapy and IEC Therapy, Hematology/Stem Cell Transplant  Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center "It decreased the amount of time they had to be in the clinic, you know, because a lot of these people we're getting them back to their regular lives where they can work, they can go to you know continue on with life. So anything that we can give that's in an injection, and anything that's targeted to decrease systemic reactions is better for the patient."  - Leslie Mader "They think, oh, this is great. I'm going to get through it with no problems. And then they get dose three or dose four, and they're like crap. You know, they get discouraged. But usually, you know, we have emergency drugs that we give them dexamethasone, and it usually resolves quickly."  - Lesie Mader Resources: A Blueprint for Successful Integration of Bispecific Antibodies   Delivery Models for Administering T-Cell-Engaging Bispecific Antibodies  Delivering T-Cell-Engaging Bispecific Antibodies: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ACCC Office Hours Recording - Bispecific Antibodies: One BiTE at a Time     Bispecific Antibodies Checklist for Community Providers Using Bispecific Antibodies in Community Practice: Challenge and Opportunities Expanding Access to Cellular and Bispecific Therapies: Considerations and Recommendations

  5. Jul 29 ·  Video

    Centering Compassion in Cancer Care

    In this episode of Oncology Unscripted, hosts Mark Liu and Deirdre Saulet speak with Arif Kamal, MD, Chief Patient Officer at the American Cancer Society (ACS). Dr. Kamal discusses his recent appointment to this inaugural role at ACS, leading into a conversation about how he expects the cancer care field to evolve. Namely, a shift for providers toward building a skillset for compassionate patient conversations, a shift toward self-administered treatment modalities whenever possible, and new payment models for multi-cancer early detection tests. Dr. Kamal also shares how ACS's recently launched Access to Clinical Trials and Support program—an education-forward initiative designed is helping to reduce the challenges and barriers patients face when enrolling in clinical trials. "When you think about...the goal of cancer care...it's about more and better days. It is a false choice to choose between one or the other...As we're getting people to the other side [of treatment], are we leaving them financially devastated, significantly lonely, without support around them?" – Arif Kamal, MD Arif Kamal, MD Chief Patient Officer American Cancer Society To submit a topic of discussion to the podcast, please email mark.liu@mountsinai.org and deirdre.saulet@hellojasper.com. The 2026 Oncology Unscripted series is exclusively sponsored by Advarra. Resources Spirituality and Cultural Humility: Core Components of Comprehensive Palliative Care Together As One: Advancing Joy, Resilience, and Peer Support in Oncology Care Oncology Unscripted: Transforming Palliative Care in Oncology

    Centering Compassion in Cancer Care

  6. Jul 23

    A Pharmacist-Led Care Model for Oncolytic Virus Treatment Delivery

    Oncolytic viruses are a novel and effective way to treat cancers by infecting and destroying cancer cells, but clinical delivery necessitates creative strategies to account for the required safety protocols, deep-freeze storage, and rigorous clinical oversight. The University of North Carolina (UNC) Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center is a referral center for the only currently FDA-approved oncolytic virus therapy for cancer, talimogene laherparepvec, and its staff noticed that a common pain point for patients receiving this treatment is the extensive time spent in appointments. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with 2026 ACCC Innovator Award winner Morgan Gwynn, PharmD, BCOP, CPP, an Oncology Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner at UNC Lineberger, about her program's development of a pharmacist-led care model to make oncolytic virus treatments more efficient for patients and providers. By moving toxicity assessment, clinical review, and dose planning to pre-treatment telemedicine visits, the program reduced treatment time by more than 2 hours per session and helped decrease unnecessary clinic visits and drug waste. "Just because there's one way that things are done, [that] doesn't mean that's the only way things can be done...Finding creative solutions that benefit...the patient, the physician, and our pharmacy...was key." – Morgan Gwynn, PharmD, BCOP, CPP Guest: Morgan Gwynn, PharmD, BCOP, CPP Oncology Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner University of North Carolina Medical Center
 UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Chapel Hill, North Carolina Resources: ACCC 43rd National Oncology Conference 2026 ACCC Innovator UNC Lineberger A Pharmacist-Led Strategy to Improve Care With Oncolytic Virus Treatments Heart and Healing: Embedding Pharmacists in Cardio-Oncology Clinics Oncology Pharmacy Virtual Office Hours Highlight Emerging Strategies for Implementing Bispecific Antibodies

  7. Jul 15 ·  Video

    The Urology-Oncology Partnership in ADCs

    In 2025, the FDA approved the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) enfortumab vedotin combined with pembrolizumab for patients with cisplatin-ineligible muscle-invasive bladder cancer, unlocking a new perioperative treatment option. To administer this ADC-based therapy alongside surgical intervention, multidisciplinary teams must prioritize collaborative workflows at all points of the treatment journey. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, President of Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, about how ADCs are reshaping the care model toward earlier, structured collaboration between urology and medical oncology. Guests: Manojkumar Bupathi, MD President Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers Co-Chair, GU Executive Committee Sarah Cannon Research Institute Denver, CO "The challenge wasn't learning the drug itself. The challenge was how you integrate the regimen into your treatment paradigm." —Manojkumar Bupathi, MD "There's always this relationship that happens from the beginning and is maintained throughout the entire process." —Manojkumar Bupathi, MD Resources: ACCC Bladder Cancer Resources ACCC Antibody-Drug Conjugate Resources

  8. Jul 8 ·  Video

    A Team Approach to ADCs in Bladder Cancer

    At the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the team treating patients with bladder cancer and other genitourinary malignancies utilizes a multidisciplinary team approach to ensure care is coordinated, personalized, and patient-centered. This is particularly important when administering antibody-drug conjugates, a promising tool for some patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer that comes with a high risk of adverse events (AEs). In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Terence Friedlander, MD, and Iva Petrovchich Colón, NP, both part of the team treating bladder cancer at UCSF, about how their cancer program manages the toxicity profile of ADCs in order to prioritize patient outcomes and quality of life. Guests: Terence Friedlander, MD  Robert and Virginia O'Reilly Family Professor of Medicine Chief of Hematology-Oncology, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center  San Francisco, CA Iva Colón, NP Nurse Practitioner, Genitourinary Medical Oncology UCSF Health Genitourinary Medical Oncology Mission Bay San Francisco, CA "The median onset is in the mid 60s, and folks who are in their 60s are more mature, they may have more comorbidities, more medical problems, and we have to be really sensitive to that." —Terence Friedlander, MD "It takes a village and having that having open and direct communication is key." —Iva Colón, NP Resources: ACCC Bladder Cancer Resources ACCC Antibody-Drug Conjugate Resources

See All (300)

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