In this episode, Benjamin Derman, MD, discusses his work on addressing disparities in hematology and oncology, the impact the pandemic has had on these issues and much more.

• Welcome to another exciting episode of Oncology Overdrive :13
• About Derman :17
• The interview 1:33
• The field you're in is super, super specialized … can you tell me a little bit about your journey into how you went into medicine, how you went into this field and then how you started working on some disparities work as well? 1:46
• Do you feel like you're now in a place where you have to explain things to people where it sounds like science fiction, but it actually is really a powerful way to treat a lot of cancers? 8:36
• How did you start working in the disparities space and why do you think it's so important that we really focus on this as a topic that we address within oncology and hematology? 12:53
• How do we change how we are treating patients from a system level? A national level? An institutional level? 18:52
• Do you think, in the last year and a half, COVID has helped or hurt this mission? 21:21
• We talk about informed decision making and patients think they are making an informed decision, although the information they have is from a bunk source. 27:04
• A discussion on how to guide patients, risk levels/factors and navigating life 27:53
• What are your thoughts on testing for spike antibodies? 33:12
• The impact of telehealth and telemedicine on patients during the pandemic 39:36
• Derman's one pearl 40:59
• How to contact Derman 41:58

Benjamin Derman, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine in the University of Chicago Department of Medicine's section of Hematology/Oncology.

We'd love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to Dr. Jain at [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter @HemOncToday and @ShikhaJainMD. Derman can be reached on Twitter @BDermanMD.

Disclosures: Derman reports no relevant financial disclosures. Jain reports she is a paid freelance writer for Lippincott.