CANCER BUZZ

Association of Cancer Care Centers
  • 5.0 (30)
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  • 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. 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

  2. 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
  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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
  6. 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

  7. 12/09/2025

    CAR T-Cell Therapy Insights from the Field

    CAR T-cell therapy is a potentially life-saving treatment for patients with certain hematologic malignancies. Yet, the logistical challenges and the need for specialized management of adverse events have limited its availability in community settings. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Jeremy M. Pantin, MD, FACP, clinical director of the Adult Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program at TriStar Centennial Medical Center, part of the Sarah Cannon Transplant and Cellular Therapy Network. Dr. Pantin discusses the cancer center's community-based, outpatient model, impact on outcomes for patients with hematologic malignancies, and shares his perspective on future changes needed to help further expand access to CAR T-cell therapy.     "Education of community oncology staff at their offices—coordinators, nurses, physicians, advanced practice providers—also goes a long way in helping facilitate patients to be recognized when they are candidates for cell therapy." - Jeremy M. Pantin, MD, FACP "It did not matter the distance to the center; did not matter the socioeconomic background. Many of the other factors one would think would lead to decreased access, we did not find among our centers. It was really the delay from consult to treatment." - Jeremy M. Pantin, MD, FACP    Guest:                  Jeremy M. Pantin, MD, FACP Clinical Director, Adult Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program Sarah Cannon Transplant and Cellular Therapy Network At TriStar Centennial Medical Center Nashville, TN   Resources: Bringing CAR T-Cell Therapies to Community Oncology   Outpatient Administration of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy Using Remote Patient Monitoring   FDA Eliminates Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) for Autologous Chimeric Antigen Receptor CAR T cell Immunotherapies

    6 min

  8. 12/04/2025

    Claudin 18.2 Reshaping Gastric Cancer Treatment

    Claudin 18.2 is a novel biomarker for advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer. Patients who test positive for claudin 18.2 may be candidates for the monoclonal antibody, zolbetuximab, which directly targets this biomarker. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Manish A. Shah, MD, FASCO, director of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program at Weill Cornell Medicine, about how claudin 18.2 is shaping treatment decisions and some of the clinical trials pursuing more information about the potential for this biomarker. CANCER BUZZ also speaks with Sasha Watson, PharmD, outpatient medical oncology clinical pharmacist at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, about the importance of engaging the whole multidisciplinary team in biomarker testing for optimal patient outcomes.   "I often talk to my gastroenterologist and ask them to get more than 1 biopsy to make sure that we have enough tissue for now and even in the future." - Manish A. Shah, MD, FASCO Instead of lumping all gastric cancers into one group, we use these biomarkers to split them out... We have more refined and tailored treatments for patients with gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma based on these biomarkers." - Manish A. Shah, MD, FASCO "Nurses in the infusion center are a huge help that we absolutely need, and administering this treatment would be very difficult if we didn't have scaled and experienced nurses here." - Aleksandra (Sasha) Watson, PharmD "What I see is just a lot of patients having hope—some new part of their cancer that we can target with a drug that we previously didn't have any options for." - Aleksandra (Sasha) Watson, PharmD   Guests:               Manish A. Shah, MD, FASCO  Director, Gastrointestinal Oncology Program Weill Cornell Medicine New York, NY Aleksandra (Sasha) Watson, PharmD  Outpatient Medical Oncology Clinical Pharmacist (GI + Sarcoma) Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Miami, FL Resources ACCC Biomarkers Webpage ACCCBuzz Blog: Importance of Biomarker Testing, Patient Goals and Education When Treating Gastric Cancer

    15 min
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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