The Accelerators Podcast

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The Accelerators (Dr. Anna Laucis, Dr. Matt Spraker, and Dr. Simul Parikh) host a very special episode on the Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model.

We are joined by expert guests Anne Hubbard (Director of Health Policy, ASTRO), Dr. Constantine Mantz (Chief Policy Officer, GenesisCare), Dave Adler (Vice President of Advocacy, ASTRO), Join Luh (Providence Health and CARROS, president)  and Dr. Tomas Dvorak (Orlando Health Cancer Institute) as we chat about the past, present, and future of payment for radiotherapy services in the US. 

We close with a call to action and share how you can help advocate for our small but mighty field! 

Here are some important links mentioned in the show:

• ASTRO's excellent educational materials on the RO model
• Join's editorial about the RO model's impact on rural and small practices (its amazing)
• Donate to ASTRO PAC!
• Contact your representatives, it really works!

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In part 3 of our Builders series, Dr. Matt Spraker interviews radiation oncologist and implementation scientist Dr. Erin Gillespie (@ErinGillespieMD). 

Dr. Gillespie is an Assistant Attending Radiation Oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor at University of California San Diego. She is the co-creator of the popular, open-access contouring resource for radiation oncology, eContour. In this episode, she shares how eContour was built and the exciting future of the platform, including the Contouring Collaborative for Consensus in Radiation Oncology (C3RO). 

Later, we discuss Dr. Gillespie’s career as a grant funded implementation scientist. 

We close by sharing things we love.

Check out eContour and the C3RO! If you haven’t joined yet, there is no better time to start than now. It's sarcoma month! See C3RO's YouTube page for all the details.

Here are some things mentioned in the show:
The ABR online longitudinal assessment (OLA)
ROECSG structure, including the mentioned GME working group
Biostatistics and Evidence Appraisal for Radiation Oncologists by ROECSG
Maine Island Trail Association
Acadia National Park
#MedLasso by Explore The Space Podcast

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In part 2 of our Builders series, Dr. Simul Parikh interviews the infamous Dr. Emma Holliday (@DrEmmaHolliday). 

Dr. Holliday is an Assistant Professor in the Gastrointestinal Radiation Oncology Section at MD Anderson, but she is also well known for her famous self exam review videos. They discuss how the videos were initially recorded as a favor to a classmate, but now have been viewed over 300,000 times! 

Later, they ask important questions about medical education. Dr. Holliday shares how she uses brutal transparency to fight imposter syndrome and create a safe learning environment.

In the cone down, Drs. Parikh and Holliday discuss how "time is a finite resource". Dr. Holliday gives excellent advice for work-life - and work-work - balance. 

Check out Dr. Holliday's shelf review videos:

• Surgery 
• Internal Medicine
• Psychiatry

Here is another link mentioned during the show:

• The Accelerators love ROVER

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In part 1 of our Builders series, Dr. Laucis interviews one of our field's rising stars, Dr. Danielle Cunningham. She is a PGY4 radiation oncology resident physician at Mayo Clinic in Rochester and creates stunning medical illustrations on the side.

Dr. Cunningham shares how she used peer review of her early illustrations to overcome fear of sharing her creations with the world. She also discusses some of her current past and current projects, including creating illustrations for patient and resident education.  

See Dr. Cunningham's art on Twitter and at RadOncQuestions!

Here are some of the things mentioned in the show:

• Dr. Cunningham recommends Palm Springs - a movie with Andy Samburg
• Picmonic, a study resource mentioned by Dr. Laucis
• An illustration used in a patient-facing presentation 
• Dr. Cunningham's favorite illustrations:
  • Multiple Myeloma
  • Neuroblastoma
  • Orbital Malt Lymphoma

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It’s September and we’ve got Application Fever! 

On Episode 3 of The Accelerators Podcast, Matt is joined by Dr. Ilana Rosman and Dr. Bryan Carmody for a deep dive on the medical residency application and selection process. Bryan, the self-proclaimed “Sheriff of Sodium” is a prolific blogger, raises awareness about conflicts of interest and other issues that poison The Match. Ilana serves as chair of the program director section of the Association of Professors of Dermatology. She’s working on enhanced ERAS application questions to improve applicant and educator experience and improve equity. 

Here are some of Dr. Carmody’s articles that I mentioned on the show:

1. https://thesheriffofsodium.com/2021/08/27/recommendations-from-the-coalition-for-physician-accountabilitys-ume-to-gme-review-committee-winners-losers-edition/
2. https://thesheriffofsodium.com/2019/03/03/symbiosis-the-usmle-eras-and-medical-education
3. https://thesheriffofsodium.com/2019/04/20/what-can-the-nfl-draft-teach-us-about-residency-selection/
4. https://thesheriffofsodium.com/2019/06/01/whats-the-antipyretic-for-application-fever/

Here are some great tweetorials by Dr. Rosman:

1. On virtual interviews for 2022: https://twitter.com/ilanarosman/status/1430211123391893506?s=20
2. On the ERAS supplemental application: https://twitter.com/ilanarosman/status/1423639958502445058?s=20

Technical Note: there was some glitchy audio for this one, but we still think its pretty good! We appreciate your support as we continue to improve the quality of our show.

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The Accelerators (Drs. Laucis, Parikh, and Spraker) welcome Dr. Toby Chapman and Dr. Jerry Jaboin to discuss practical tips for getting started as a #RadOnc attending. We explore how to meet referring clinicians, being affable while maintaining work-life balance, and how to be your tumor board’s favorite oncologist - or not. 

At the end, Jerry serves up the introductory wellness module that every oncologist needs to hear. 

Here are all the books that were recommended during the show:

• BIFF Conflict Communication Series
• Blink
• Bobiverse Series (Audiobooks)
• Boom Town
• Gold Diggers
• The Investor’s Manifesto

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The Accelerators (Drs. Laucis, Parikh, and Spraker) welcome radiation oncology program directors Dr. Christina Henson (University of Oklahoma) and Dr. Sarah McAvoy (University of Maryland) to discuss practical tips for succeeding in residency. 

We explore how to reflect and accept feedback, balance your life while training in an apprenticeship model, shaping your career, and share resources essential for training. 

Here is a helpful list of some great educational resources for #RadOnc:

• Radiation Oncology Education Collaborative Study Group (ROECSG)
• ROVER | virtual radiation oncology for medical students
• Rad Onc Tables | quick reference tables of studies
• QuadShot News | witty science #RadOnc news
• The MedNet | Q&A message board discussing clinical topics
• eContour | learn how to contour
• RadOncQuestions | just like that question bank you loved in med school
• eAnatomy | an anatomy text, but electronic
• RadOncReview.org | The Great Encyclopedia of Radiation Oncology
• CBCHOP | that’s an acronym for systematic plan review
• “The Osler Course” | a well-regarded boards review course