CANCER BUZZ

The George Washington Cancer Center serves a racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse population across Washington, D.C., northern Virginia, and southern Maryland. Their Breast Cancer Program has found that a community-informed model is most successful for managing care and adverse events related to CDK4/6 inhibitors. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Pavani Chalasani, MD, MPH, director of the division of hematology/oncology at the George Washington University Cancer Center about the flexible and collaborative team design that allows for culturally responsive and comprehensive care for their patients with breast cancer.

Pavani Chalasani, MD, MPH Director, Division of Hematology/Oncology George Washington University Cancer Center Washington, DC

"I think adapting and knowing what the barriers are and how we can divide and support and come up with roles for our team members is essential."

"[Navigators] give us an understanding of where the hesitancy is coming from, or where the concerns are coming from, so that we can do a better job explaining and overcoming those barriers."

Resources

· Spotlight on George Washington (GW) Cancer Center: Managing Adverse Effects of CDK4/6 Inhibitors With a Patient-Centered, Team-Based Approach

· ACCC Resource: CDK4/6 Inhibitors Management

· ACCC CDK4/6 Inhibitors Infographic

It is essential for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) to have a foundation of care prior to discharge after their cancer treatment, and the multidisciplinary care team, including primary care providers (PCPs), must be equipped to support these patients. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Scott J. Capozza, PT, MSPT, on his journey navigating care after cancer treatment as a young adult and his ASCO JCO Oncology Practice article, "Patient is Otherwise Healthy." CANCER BUZZ then speaks with Melody Griffith, MSW, LMSW, Outpatient Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology social worker at Mayo Clinic Arizona, on her role in patient navigation and how her department supports AYAs through their entire cancer continuum. CANCER BUZZ concludes with Cathy Lee-Miller, MD, director of AYA Oncology Clinic at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, on their cohort training program preparing PCPs for managing AYA survivorship care.

"The late effects for young adults are very real and a lot of times they are not recognized because we look otherwise healthy on the outside, but that belies what's going on internally." - Scott J. Capozza, PT, MSPT

"We talk about post-traumatic stress, but also post-traumatic growth and what they bring with them and what they've learned through their process. It's not just the treatment, right? After treatment, there's a lot of years left to live." - Melody Griffith, MSW, LMSW

"We really try and help empower these patients, particularly AYAs who maybe relied on their parents for their medical care before... We really try to spell that out for people so they can take responsibility and take charge of their own long-term health." - Cathy Lee-Miller, MD

Scott J. Capozza, PT, MSPT

Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Oncologic Physical Therapy

YNHH Outpatient Oncology Rehabilitation Services

Smilow Cancer Hospital Adult Cancer Survivorship Clinic

New Haven, CT

Melody Griffith, MSW, LMSW

Outpatient Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Social Worker

Mayo Clinic Arizona

Phoenix, AZ

Cathy Lee-Miller, MD

Director, AYA Oncology Clinic

Associate Professor, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Transplant & Cellular Therapy

University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center

Madison, WI

This podcast is part of the AYA Oncology Screening and Survivorship Services program, made possible through the support from The Arizona Clinical Oncology Society, Indiana Oncology Society, and Wisconsin Association of Hematology and Oncology.

Resources:

• The Arizona Clinical Oncology Society: https://tacos.accc-cancer.org/resources/adolescent-and-young-adult-cancer-resources
• Indiana Oncology Society: https://inos.accc-cancer.org/resources/aya-cancer-resources
• Wisconsin Association of Hematology and Oncology: https://waho.accc-cancer.org/resources/adolescent-and-young-adult-cancer-resources

Advanced practice providers (APPs) play an increasingly vital role in delivering high-quality, team-based care. APPs need the right support and structure when stepping into the complex world of oncology, through thoughtful onboarding programs. It is essential to spotlight effective APP onboarding models across various practice settings, including academic, comprehensive, and community settings. Multidisciplinary oncology teams in all settings for APP programs highlight structure, support, and sustainability as key aspects of successful integration. This podcast, supported by state society oncology programs, discusses different approaches to onboarding, mentorship, and role optimization tailored to each institution's unique needs and resources. CANCER BUZZ speaks with Jennifer Gray, DNP, ACNP-BC, AOCNP, assistant director of advanced practice at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute on her experience onboarding APPs with different experience levels in a comprehensive setting and onboarding APPs in clinical research. CANCER BUZZ then speaks with Glen Peterson, DNP, ACNP, RN, APP education & quality director and hematology quality director at the University of Colorado Cancer about effective strategies in a large academic environment. The podcast concludes with Jonathan Catrona, MS, PA-C, advanced practice clinical education specialist at New York Cancer & Blood Specialists on retaining APPs in a community setting.

"We do believe that mentorship is key to building a resilient workforce and for retaining APPs, and it's really an investment in supporting APP development and helping create the environment and workforce that you want in the future" – Jennifer Gray, DNP, ACNP-BC, AOCNP

"I think one of the most important things in onboarding APPs in a complicated academic medical center environment is that we have a very clear system and a clear structure to how we orient and onboard our APPs." – Glen Peterson, DNP, ACNP, RN, APP

"My goal is to help you learn… [and] my goal is to make sure that you're able to help patients and help people." – Jonathan Catrona, MS, PA-C

Glen Peterson, DNP, ACNP, RN, APP

Education & Quality Director, Hematology Director

University of Colorado Cancer Center

Aurora, CO

Jennifer Gray, DNP, ACNP-BC, AOCNP

Assistant Director of Advanced Practice

Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute

Charlotte, NC

Jonathan Catrona, MS, PA-C

Advanced Practice Clinical Education Specialist

New York Cancer & Blood Specialist

New York, NY

This program is part of the Optimizing the Role of the APP in Oncology Care initiative, made possible with support from the Rocky Mountain Oncology Society, Empire State Hematology & Oncology Society, North Carolina Oncology Association, Iowa Oncology Society, Nevada Oncology Society, and Washington State Medical Oncology Society.

Resources:

Rocky Mountain Oncology Society: https://rmos.accc-cancer.org/resources/advanced-practice-provider-resources

Iowa Oncology Society: https://ios.accc-cancer.org/resources/advanced-practice-provider-resources

Empire State Hematology & Oncology Society: https://eshos.accc-cancer.org/resources/advanced-practice-provider-resources

Nevada Oncology Society: https://nos.accc-cancer.org/resources/advanced-practice-provider-resources

North Carolina Oncology Association: https://ncoa.accc-cancer.org/resources/advanced-practice-provider-resources

Washington State Medical Oncology Society: https://wsmos.accc-cancer.org/resources/advanced-practice-provider-resources

According to Blood Cancer United (formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society), approximately every 3 minutes, 1 person in the United States is diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma. AML is a heterogeneous hematologic malignancy; despite advances in treatment, AML remains challenging to cure. Integrating new treatment options for patients with refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), including menin inhibitors, into routine oncology care can help bring novel therapies to patients with relapsed or refractory AML. ACCC is committed to providing information on the latest research and treatment options for blood cancer. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Keri Halsema, NP, MSN, RN, nurse practitioner in the Blood Disorders Center at the University of Colorado Anschutz about the factors that influence treatment choices and the use of menin inhibitors to treat relapsed or refractory AML.

"We, as clinicians, are really excited that we have another treatment choice with respect to targeted therapy in these patients that have either the KMT2A rearrangement or the NPM1 mutation…Having outreach and making sure that community oncologists are aware that these medications are available, that various academic centers have various clinical trials that patients may qualify for and may be enrolled in, that's something that's very important in moving care forward for these patients with AML." – Keri Halsema, NP, MSN, RN

Keri Halsema, NP, MSN, RN

Nurse Practitioner

Blood Disorders Center

University of Colorado Anschutz

Aurora, CO

This podcast is made possible by funding and support provided by Kura Oncology.

Resources:

Menin Matters

ACCC Hematologic Malignancies

ACCC AML Resource Page

ACCC Educational Video: Best Practices and Solutions for Performing Bone Marrow Biopsies in AML Care

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Facts and Statistics

Menin inhibitors in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia

In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Susan Salgado, PhD, keynote speaker at the upcoming 42nd National Oncology Conference, about her approach to organizational culture and leadership. With over 2 decades of experience in consulting spanning more than 20 industries, Dr. Salgado is adept at transferring hospitality skills to the field of health care. She discusses the importance of zeroing in on the employee experience first, and the downstream impacts this has on the patient or customer experience, as well as the key role leadership plays in reinforcing a human-centered culture.

Susan Salgado, PhD Founder Grason Consulting

"If you create a culture where people are thriving—where they feel valued and appreciated, they want to come to work every day, they love their colleagues, they love the work that they do, they feel that sense of purpose—that's when you're going to get the best out of your teams."

– Susan Salgado

For a deeper dive into this topic and other content that will help your team reimagine how care is delivered at your cancer program or practice, register today for the ACCC 42nd National Oncology Conference, October 15-17 in Denver, Colorado.

Resources:

Getting to Know the 2025 NOC Keynote

Attend the 42nd National Oncology Conference

Seven Steps to Achieve a Culture of Happiness at Work

Clinical research is critical to the development of life saving treatments. And ACCC has long supported equitable access to clinical trials, including efforts to ensure that these trials reflect the diversity of the populations they serve. ACCC has made the Just ASK™ Training Program and Site Self-Assessment available free-of-charge to help research sites address barriers to participation in cancer clinical trials among racial and ethnic populations. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ facilities a candid conversation with Glyniss Redman, who received treatment at Gibbs Cancer Center and Research Institute for multiple myeloma, and 2 members of her cancer treatment team: clinical research coordinator Audrianna Carrington and oncologist hematologist Dr. Tondre Buck, about overcoming barriers, ensuring shared decision-making, and improving the inclusion of historically underrepresented groups in clinical trials.

"If you look at cancers in general, treatments have gotten better over the years in almost every category, and we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for clinical trials." – Tondre Buck, MD

"We're playing the long game here. Some of the information or this research may not be about me. This is about our future generation…so this is a legacy game for me…This is what I'm doing with my [one] wild and precious life. I want to be here as long as I possibly can, but I also want my offspring: my children, my grandchildren, and my great grandchildren to be here as well and [to] have a better experience as far as health care and cancer." – Glyniss Redman

"We do have to talk about past unethical experimentation and research in order for us to better prepare how we're going to go forward…[transportation] is one barrier that we are tackling. You know, we don't want to put that stress on the patients who have to choose between gas, their physician visit, their food, or their medicine for the day. So that is a huge barrier, and you really want that population to be represented on the trial, because rural populations tend to have higher cancer rates." – Audrianna Carrington

Tondre Buck, MD

Oncologist Hematologist

Gibbs Cancer Center and Research Institute

Spartanburg, SC

Audrianna Carrington

Clinical Research Coordinator

Gibbs Cancer Center and Research Institute

Spartanburg, SC

Glyniss Redman

Poet and Patient with Multiple Myeloma

Reference:

Unger JM, Shulman LN, Facktor MA, et al. National estimates of the participation of patients with cancer in clinical research studies based on Commission on Cancer accreditation data. J Clin Oncol. 2024;42(18):2139-2148. doi:10.1200/JCO.23.01030

Resources:

The Just ASK™ Training Program, Site Self-Assessment, and Training Facilitation Guide

ACORI Call to Action Summit

Clinical Research Terms Glossary

Increasing Clinical Trial Accrual Through the Implementation of a Clinical Trials Navigator

Gibbs Cancer Center and Research Institute

Cancer Moonshot Biobank

National Estimates of the Participation of Patients With Cancer in Clinical Research Studies Based on Commission on Cancer Accreditation Data

TalkAboutTrials.com

The high cost associated with cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship makes the burden of financial toxicity an unavoidable reality for many patients—and makes financial navigators central to the delivery of high-quality cancer care. In this vodcast episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Heather Simpson, BCPA, patient financial navigator lead, who shares her experience using the ACCC Financial Advocacy Network's financial advocacy services guidelines assessment tool to pinpoint financial navigation challenges within her cancer program.

Heather Simpson, BCPA Patient Financial Navigator Lead

Allina Health Cancer Institute

River Falls, WI

"When [ACCC] came out with a gap assessment tool in 2024...it allowed us to see where we had hit the mark with our program and where we had some gaps we could take care of to really be in line with the [Financial Advocacy Network's] guidelines."

Resources:

• Financial Advocacy Guidelines
• Financial Advocacy Services Assessment Tool
• Financial Advocacy Services Guidelines Assessment Tool User Guide
• In the Field: Practical Financial Advocacy Strategies for Supporting Cancer Patients
• Oncology Reimbursement Meetings

This podcast is made possible by funding and support provided by Genentech, Eisai, Pfizer, and Regeneron and in partnership with AONN+, NPAF, Triage Cancer, and CancerCare.

Effective management of adverse events and addressing barriers to care are critical to optimizing outcomes and maintaining quality of life for patients receiving CDK4/6 inhibitors. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Julia Lea Ziegengeist, PharmD, BCOP, clinical pharmacist coordinator in solid tumor oncology at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute about proactive, team-based strategies to identify, monitor, and manage treatment-related toxicities in patients with early-stage and metastatic HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. Dr. Ziegengeist sheds light on the patient journey, the roles of various multidisciplinary care team members, and useful resources for language and literacy barriers.

"I think the biggest thing that is specific to CDK4/6 inhibitors is... eligibility criteria and when we're using the drugs in what setting, having those monitoring protocols and getting that multidisciplinary collaboration is really key." – Julia Lea Ziegengeist, PharmD, BCOP

Julia Lea Ziegengeist, PharmD, BCOP

Clinical Pharmacist Coordinator, Solid Tumor Oncology

Levine Cancer Institute

Atrium Health

Charlotte, NC

Resources:

ACCC Resource: CDK4/6 Inhibitors Management

ACCC CDK4/6 Inhibitors Infographic

Clinical trials are vital to offering and developing the most effective treatment options. However, there are large disparities in enrollment across race, ethnicity, geography, and type of cancer care center. Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Baton Rouge, LA uses local partnerships, culturally tailored outreach, and workforce innovation to drive sustainable and equitable participation in clinical trials. Minorities now make up 21% of their clinical trial participation, surpassing the national average. Following these meaningful gains in attracting local minority populations and underserved communities to take part in clinical trials, the Mary Bird Perkins research team received a grant to further support this work. In this episode of CANCER BUZZ, Victor Lin, MD, PhD, research medical director at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, shares strategies for success in their community, including awareness campaigns and partnerships. CANCER BUZZ also speaks with TaeJeanne "TJ" Taylor-Lawrence, RN, registered nurse and patient navigator, about building relationships and supporting patients in clinical trials.

"We really, really have to be thinking, from a trial design standpoint, about the barriers that we're throwing up in the name of trying to keep the science and the data clean." - Victor Lin, MD, PhD

"There's been this long-standing perception that cancer clinical trials are really the domain of only academic cancer centers. But I think increasingly we're finding that ... community cancer centers can be more nimble and are perfectly capable of running the same trials and seeing these patients where they live." - Victor Lin, MD, PhD

"I think that representation builds trust. If people don't see themselves in this process, whether it's in the data, whether it's in the staff, or any of the outreach programs that we have, they're just less likely to believe that this is for them. In my community, black and brown communities especially, I think there's a deep need to feel seen, respected, and understood. When a patient sees someone that looks like them or shares their background talking about clinical trials, I think that that shifts the energy." - TaeJeanne "TJ" Taylor-Lawrence, RN

"If the research does not reflect all of us, the solutions won't either." - TaeJeanne "TJ" Taylor-Lawrence, RN

Victor Lin, MD, PhD

Research Medical Director

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center

Baton Rouge, LA

TaeJeanne "TJ" Taylor-Lawrence, RN

Registered Nurse

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center

Baton Rouge, LA

Resources:

ACCC Community Oncology Research Institute (ACORI)

Bringing Cancer Research to the Community: Strategic Approaches to Representative Oncology Clinical Trial Design

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Receives $400,000 Grant to Continue Expansion of Nationally-Recognized Clinical Trials Program

Anticipating and managing CDK4/6 inhibitor toxicities in HR+ HER2- breast cancer is essential to improving patient quality of life and optimizing clinical outcomes. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Diana Van Ostran, PharmD, BCOP, clinical pharmacy specialist – breast clinic at Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, about strategies to monitor and manage treatment-related adverse events in patients with early-stage and metastatic breast cancer receiving CDK4/6 inhibitors. She discusses the importance of individualized care and robust patient education around lifestyle and dietary techniques to improve tolerance of this treatment.

Diana Van Ostran, PharmD, BCOP

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Breast Clinic

Miami Cancer Institute

Baptist Health South Florida

Miami, FL

"Clinical pharmacists play a vital role in managing the patient's treatment. Because, as we know, if you're having excessive side effects, patients are going to be less likely to take their medications."

Resources:

ACCC Adverse Event Management for CDK Inhibitors in HR+ Breast Cancer

ACCC CDK Inhibitors Management

Miami Cancer Institute

ACCC Spotlight on Miami Cancer Institute: The Role of a Breast Cancer Clinical Pharmacy Specialist for CDK4/6 Inhibitor Management