by
Sean Ruck, Contributing Editor | October 16, 2018
From the October 2018 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
PH: Radiation oncology has been among the most competitive specialties for medical students to enter over the last decade. We have plenty of young professionals highly interested in entering radiation oncology. The challenge involves the optimal geographic distribution with urban and suburban centers being very well served, whereas many rural regions have significant challenges attracting radiation oncology practitioners.
HCB News: Are there any recent developments in the field you’re particularly excited about?
PH: The field of radiation oncology continues to become more precise and increasingly team-oriented. Advances in the technological precision of radiation delivery are allowing higher doses to be delivered to tumors with reduced dose to surrounding normal tissues. Cancer specialists are increasingly working more effectively as teams, where minimally-invasive surgery, radiation and drugs are often combined to increase cure rates. Multidisciplinary care that aligns the expertise of dedicated specialists together is very powerful to help shape the most effective cancer treatment approach for each individual patient.
HCB News: How much discussion is there about the role or potential of AI in oncology?
PH: AI is squarely on the radar in virtually every medical specialty. There are fantastic opportunities emerging with AI to further enhance the field of radiation oncology. We have many brilliant medical physicists highly engaged in this space currently. For example, how might we more efficiently and precisely contour all the normal tissue structures adjacent to tumors on hundreds of diagnostic images for each patient? This can be a time-consuming process at radiation treatment centers around the world. New opportunities for advancing these and other AI efforts are increasingly on display at our meetings, including the October 2018 ASTRO Annual Meeting in San Antonio.
HCB News: Can you talk about some of the things you feel are the highlights of the upcoming ASTRO conference?
PH: Discovery Science takes center stage at the 2018 ASTRO Annual Meeting, as highlighted by the Presidential Symposium, where we will explore four major themes that have the potential to dramatically impact cancer care and radiation oncology in the future. These game-changers include Immunotherapy/Radiotherapy Interactions, Viral-Induced Cancers, Artificial Intelligence and Liquid Biopsies. A powerful lineup of exceptionally talented speakers will illuminate the science and potential clinical applications in each of these exciting areas.
