In this reflective and wide-ranging conversation, ASCO President Robin Zon, MD, FACP, FASCO, looks back on the formative moments that led her to oncology and the grit required to build a thriving community-based research program while balancing the demands of leadership, motherhood, and clinical practice. She shares the path that took her from ASCO member and fellow in 1997 to the presidency, unpacking the three-pillar theme she crafted for her term and the accomplishments she’s most proud of, especially those rooted in her identity as a community oncologist connecting with colleagues nationwide. Dr. Zon also weighs in on emerging innovations like AI, the evolving realities of community practice, and the broader challenges she believes oncology and the healthcare system must confront in the years ahead.

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Chadi sits down with Dr. Sairah Ahmed just ahead of the ASH Annual Meeting for a comprehensive deep dive into the state of Hodgkin Lymphoma management in 2026. Dr. Ahmed walks through how clinicians should interpret the newest data releases, revisits whether histologic subtyping still influences decision-making in an era increasingly shaped by biomarkers, and details her practical framework for approaching patients with stage I/II disease—including when and how radiation therapy still plays a meaningful role. She further explores the strength and limitations of interim PET, whether treatment should truly pivot based on those scans, and how nivolumab is now being deployed across frontline, relapsed/refractory, and post-transplant settings. Rounding out the discussion, Dr. Ahmed outlines how she manages advanced-stage disease with particular attention to insights and implications from SWOG S1826, highlights immune-related toxicities clinicians must watch for, clarifies the evolving role of autologous transplant and the preferred sequence of prior therapies, and offers an inside look at the most important agents and strategies moving through the Hodgkin Lymphoma pipeline.

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Journalist Erin O’Hearn joins Chadi to share her deeply personal story as both a patient and a caregiver navigating the healthcare system for more than two decades. Drawing from her lived experiences, Erin reflects on how today’s advances in artificial intelligence could have supported her journey—easing the emotional and logistical burdens of care while improving communication and empathy between patients and providers. She offers a thoughtful and forward-looking take on the MAHA movement, as well as explores how AI should be used to enhance time spent with patients, foster genuine human-to-human connection, and help clinicians care for themselves as well as those they serve.

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Chadi sits down with Dr. Debra Patt, Executive Vice President of Texas Oncology and President of the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), for an in-depth conversation about the evolving landscape of community oncology. Dr. Patt outlines her vision for bringing innovation and artificial intelligence into routine cancer care—addressing challenges from clinical decision-making to physician burnout—while ensuring equitable access to cutting-edge treatments across all practice settings. She also discusses her leadership role on the ASCO Board, her efforts to expand clinical research opportunities to smaller community sites, and how these initiatives collectively aim to advance the global standard of oncology care.

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Chadi resumes his WCLC review with Dr. Eric Singhi of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, exploring the most significant updates in mutation-driven lung cancer presented at this year’s meeting. The discussion dives into advances in sequencing and molecular profiling to identify actionable genomic alterations (AGAs) and how these findings are transforming both early- and late-stage treatment strategies. Dr. Singhi highlights key data from the ADAURA, TARGET, and NAUTIKA1 studies, as well as the expanding role of EGFR-, ALK-, BRAF-, and KRAS-targeted therapies in neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings. The conversation also examines the challenges of financial toxicity, decisions around adjuvant treatment cessation, and the nuanced management of locally advanced and stage IV EGFR-positive disease in the era of precision oncology.

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Dr. Estelamari Rodriguez, thoracic oncologist at the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, joins the show to break down the latest advances in non-mutation driven and small cell lung cancer presented at the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) and how they translate into everyday clinical practice. She discusses pivotal studies including the ALCHEMIST trial exploring adjuvant therapy in ALK-fusion–positive early-stage lung cancer, PACIFIC-2 assessing concurrent immunotherapy and radiation, and the FLAURA2 and MARIPOSA trials redefining targeted approaches for advanced disease. The conversation also delves into next-generation drugs transforming outcomes in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, updates in mesothelioma, and the expanding use of liquid biopsy—now a cornerstone for diagnosis, monitoring, and guiding precision therapy for all patients.

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Returning guest Dr. Amer Zeidan of Yale Medicine and Smilow Cancer Hospital joins to discuss how clinicians should approach low-risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), which is most often managed in community settings. He breaks down how to risk-stratify patients using molecular and prognostic markers, when to treat versus observe, and his preferred first-line therapies in today’s landscape. Dr. Zeidan also delves into the COMMANDS trial and the role of luspatercept, emerging questions shaping the future of low-risk MDS management, and offers a preview of high-risk MDS developments, including insights from the VERONA study.

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Returning guest Jill Feldman, a prominent lung cancer survivor and patient advocate, shares her reflections on the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) from a patient’s point of view. She discusses how patients and advocates interpret complex scientific data, why attending conferences like WCLC is vital for bridging the gap between research and real-world experience, and how the dialogue between scientists and patients continues to evolve. Jill also highlights key takeaways from the meeting, including the growing focus on survivorship and the need for a more patient-centered lexicon when communicating about side effects and treatment outcomes.

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Investigative journalist and New York Times bestselling author Gardiner Harris joins the podcast to dive deep into his groundbreaking book, “No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson.” Harris recounts the extensive research and challenges behind uncovering how J&J—long regarded as a trusted “goliath” of American healthcare—played a far greater role in fueling the opioid epidemic than Purdue Pharma, a contribution he argues led to more than two million American deaths yet received a fraction of the public scrutiny. He discusses the pushback he faced while exposing the company’s practices, critiques how the FDA failed to act more decisively, and examines the intersection of profit, policy, and patient safety. The conversation also touches on the modern science and marketing of Tylenol, revealing how deep the influence of corporate power runs in shaping public health narratives.

View more about the book.
https://gardinerharris.com/

Check out Chadi’s website for all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes and other content. www.chadinabhan.com/

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Returning guest Anthony DiGiorgio, DO, a practicing neurosurgeon at UCSF and noted health policy commentator, takes a deep dive into the 340B Drug Pricing Program—one of the most consequential yet misunderstood mechanisms in US healthcare. He traces the program’s origins in the early 1990s, designed to help safety net hospitals stretch scarce federal resources to better serve vulnerable patients. Dr. DiGiorgio examines how, over time, many institutions have leveraged 340B as an ancillary revenue stream rather than a patient-centered support system, detailing when and how these practices emerged, the financial incentives at play, and the consequences for both physicians and patients. He also discusses current policy debates and potential reforms aimed at restoring 340B to its original mission.

Check out Chadi’s website for all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes and other content. www.chadinabhan.com/

Watch all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes on YouTube. www.youtube.com/channel/UCjiJPTpIJdIiukcq0UaMFsA