The PQI Podcast

Season 3 Episode 5- Dr. Dawn Mussallem- Personal Survivor Story and Integrative Medicine in Breast Cancer

On today’s episode of The PQI Podcast we welcome Dawn Mussallem, DO, DipABLM. Dr. Mussallem is a consultant in the Department of General Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine. She is a diagnostic breast specialist at The Robert and Monica Jacoby Center for Breast Health and serves as Medical Director for Mayo Clinic Florida Lyndra P. Daniel Center for Humanities in Medicine. Dr. Mussallem is double-board certified, including a board certification in Lifestyle Medicine. 

She has over 25 years of patient-centered clinical wellness experience with national recognition in the field of breast medicine, lifestyle medicine, integrative oncology, cancer prevention, and cancer survivorship, and a unique personal experience as a stage IV cancer patient diagnosed 3 months into medical school, as well as a heart transplant recipient. She shares that her journey as a patient cultivated her boundless energy and deep purpose to help guide patients toward renewed vitality. 

In 2015, she founded the Integrative Medicine and Breast Health Program at Mayo Clinic Florida, a patient-centered program that works with breast cancer patients during and after a breast cancer diagnosis, introducing them early on to the importance of lifestyle optimization and evidence-based mind-body practices alongside conventional cancer treatments with a goal to reframe the cancer diagnosis as a “teacher of life,” leading patients to discover renewed vitality through healthier living. 

Today we discuss Dr. Mussallem’s personal story, lifestyle medicine, and integrative medicine in breast cancer.  

If you are not yet an organ donor – please register. You can register on your iPhone Health app or go to www.registerme.org.

Season 3 Episode 4- Thanatology

On today’s episode of The PQI Podcast we welcome Robert S. Mancini, PharmD, BCOP. He is currently serving as the BMT Pharmacy Program Coordinator and PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency Director at St. Luke’s Cancer Institute in Boise, ID. Dr. Mancini also serves as clinical oncology faculty at Idaho State University College of Pharmacy where he coordinates the oncology module and has started a Special Topics in Oncology elective course. 

He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of California, San Diego and went on to complete a PGY1 residency at St. Luke’s Health System and PGY2 at St. Luke’s Cancer Institute. Dr. Mancini was instrumental in the establishment and development of St. Luke’s Oral Chemotherapy Program, Supportive Care Clinics and Allogeneic Blood and Marrow Transplant Program with numerous publications and presentations within these areas of practice. 

Today we discuss thanatology, the science of death and dying, and how it impacts our oncology teams. The recommended subject matter books that Dr. Mancini mentions on the podcast can be found here.

Season 3 Episode 3- NCCN Pharmacist Role

On today’s episode of The PQI Podcast we welcome Evelyn Handel, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP is an oncology pharmacist based in the Philadelphia, PA area and currently serves as the Director of Drugs & Biologics Programs at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Prior to joining NCCN, Evelyn was an Oncology Clinical Specialist at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and also previously at the University of Virginia.

Evelyn earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ohio Northern University. She completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Oregon Health & Science University followed by a PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. She is currently serving as the vice-chair of the HOPA Patient Education Committee and has just recently started her two-year term as President of the ISOPP Secretariat.

Today we discuss her role with NCCN and the NCCN from a pharmacy perspective.

Season 3 Episode 2- Pharmacy Students and Oncology

On today’s episode of The PQI Podcast we welcome Derek Gyori, PharmD, BCOP and Julianne Darling, PharmD, BCOP to lead a discussion with a group of NCODA pharmacy students. Derek is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Ambulatory Hematology and Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center. Julianne previously worked as an outpatient oncology clinical pharmacist at Indiana University Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Currently, she serves as the Manager of Education for NCODA where she leads the patient education initiatives and helps develop quality continuing education for NCODA membership. Derek and Julianne are joined by

Audrey Simon, P4 Student University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Carter Friedt, P4 Student University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shaina Shah, P4 Student University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Elizabeth Engel, P4 Student University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Allison Burdick, PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Findlay College of Pharmacy Graduate 2022. 

Today we discuss oncology career paths for pharmacy students including residency and fellowship preparation. We also discuss mentorship and our students' involvement with NCODA’s Professional Student Organization (PSO).

Season 3 Episode 1- Survivorship

On today’s episode of The PQI Podcast we welcome Jennifer Klemp, PhD, MPH. Dr. Klemp is a Professor of Medicine, in the Division of Medical Oncology, the Director of Cancer Survivorship, and the Co-Program Leader for Cancer Prevention and Control at the University of Kansas Cancer Center. Her clinical-research practice focuses on cancer genetics and cancer survivorship.

Dr. Klemp serves on several national boards, is a subject matter expert in cancer genetics and survivorship, has peer reviewed funding including an NCI R01, and has presented nationally focusing on cancer genetics, shared decision-making regarding options to manage cancer risk and survivorship issues, and the development and implementation of cancer genetics, survivorship, and navigation programming. In addition to her roles at the University of Kansas Medical Center she has recently taken on a new national position at Caris Life Sciences as the Vice President of Global Biopharma Business Development Lead, Biopharma Trials and Networks

Today we discuss cancer survivorship. You can find information that Dr. Klemp discusses in the podcast here and on the KANSURVIVE website.

On this week’s bonus episode of the NCODA Legislative Interview Series, Kevin sits down with Barbara McAneny, MD with New Mexico Cancer Center. Dr. McAneny is a member of the NCODA Legislative & Policy Advisory Committee and the Immediate Past President of the American Medical Association. She is a trusted and respected voice in the legislative community, a dedicated advocate for patients and a continued supporter of NCODA.

Kevin had that opportunity to discuss with Dr. McAneny about how physicians and pharmacists can advocate for their patients, reforming the PBM system, and understanding how legislation impacts the everyday lives of patients and caregivers.

On today's bonus episode of the PQI Podcast, the Legislative Interview Series, Kevin sits down with Allison Rollins. Allison is the Senior Government Relations Manager at The U.S. Oncology Network. Kevin and Allison discuss the world of oncology and how legislation can positively impact the experience of patients around the country. They dive into how the PBM system can be reformed and where Allison's passion for legislative relations came from.

NCODAs Legislative & Policy Liaison, Kevin Scorsone sits down with Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA from Texas Oncology and member of NCODAs Legislative & Policy Advisory Committee. As an expert in healthcare policy, Dr. Patt has testified before Congress to protect access to care for Medicare beneficiaries. She chairs the Council on Legislation for the Texas Medical Association and works to formulate responsible healthcare policy that improves the health of Texans. She serves as the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Clinical Oncology Clinical Cancer Informatics, and drives engagement in clinical informatics solutions to enhance healthcare. Her research is in clinical decision support, predictive analytics, telemedicine, HEOR, tools for patient symptom management and quality improvement.

NCODA is proud to announce our first episode in a series of legislative discussions with thought leaders in the legislative and advocacy space. On this episode, Kevin Scorsone, NCODA Legislative & Policy Liaison interviews Stephen Schleicher, MD and the Chief Medical Officer from Tennessee Oncology and a member of the NCODA Legislative & Policy Advisory Committee.

Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA, was appointed Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Tennessee Oncology, one of the largest providers of oncology care, in January 2022. In that role, Dr. Schleicher oversees clinical programs to promote the high-quality, innovative and patient-centered care Tennessee Oncology is known for delivering throughout Tennessee and North Georgia. Dr. Schleicher, who joined Tennessee Oncology four years ago, has already served as Medical Director of Value-Based Care across both Tennessee Oncology and OneOncology, a national platform for independent community oncology practices that now includes over 700 oncology providers across the US. Dr. Schleicher received his medical training from Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) in New York before returning to his hometown of Nashville to join Tennessee Oncology. Dr. Schleicher also spent time as a consultant at McKinsey and Company before completing oncology fellowship training at MSK where he focused on understanding the intersection of Accountable Care Organizations and Cancer Care. In addition to his role as CMO for Tennessee Oncology, Dr. Schleicher serves as President of the Tennessee Oncology Practice Society.

Season 2 Episode 20- Treating Radiation Side Effects with the Medically Integrated Team

On today’s episode of The PQI Podcast we welcome Jessica Bahari, MD, DABR, Kaetlyn Parker, PharmD, and Tiffany Lommel MS, RDN, LDN from Cancer Specialists of North Florida (CSNF) in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Jessica Bahari-Kashani is board certified in radiation oncology. Dr. Bahari’s special interests include breast cancer, lung cancer, and gastrointestinal malignancies.
Kaetyn Parker is a licensed pharmacist with the Florida Specialty Pharmacy at CSNF. Many members of her family have received a cancer diagnosis in their lives, so she understands the anger and confusion that can sometimes come along with it. Tiffany is a registered dietician at CSNF. She loves interacting with patients and learning from them, while trying to make a difference during an uncertain time in their life. She feels that we should all try and have a healthy relationship with food.

Today we discuss potential radiation side effects and how the Medically Integrated Team can work together to prevent and manage these effects.