Interviews

Improving relationships between pharmaceutical makers, health systems, patients, and insurers can help to lower the price of health care for patients, according to John Michael O'Brien, PharmD, MPH.

Duke Appiah, PhD, MPH, discusses maternal health disparities, emphasizing the impact of racial and ethnic factors on pregnancy outcomes for women with cancer.

Lalan Wilfong, MD, of Thyme Care and Texas Oncology, discusses a session on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and shares insight as chair of the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) Payer Reform Committee.

Kate Baker, MD, MMHC, medical director of value-based care at Tennessee Oncology, talks about innovations in cancer care highlighted at the Community Oncology Conference.

Kimlin Tam Ashing, PhD, explores how strengthening community engagement can enhance cancer research and inform more effective policy development.

At the 2025 Community Oncology Conference, Nini Wu, MD, Navista, shares how AI can transform community oncology.

Duke Appiah, PhD, MPH, explores racial disparities in maternal health outcomes for pregnant women with cancer, revealing critical insights for informed decision-making.

Because clinical trials do not mimic the real-world application of multiple myeloma treatments, Ajai Chari, MD, discussed the variety of patient factors clinicians should consider in their practice.

Improving health equity is part of the core of quality improvement and requires data collection and community engagement strategies for underserved populations, said Shawn Griffin, MD, president and CEO of URAC.

Christine Funke, MD, spoke about the role of doctors in making sure their patients are receiving proper care after being diagnosed with glaucoma.

Strategic relationships and feedback can enhance specialty pharmacy operations, said Natalie Bedford, senior vice president of US pharmaceutical distribution services at McKesson.

Addressing the issues surrounding pharmacy benefit managers and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) would help to curb health care costs for patients, said John M. O'Brien, PharmD, MPH, president and CEO of the National Pharmaceutical Council.

Balancing technology and patient care can enhance communication and data collection, improving adherence and outcomes in specialty pharmacy, said Kathi Henson, MBA, of Orsini.

Mike Fazio, director of value-based care at Navista, Cardinal Health, discusses a trending topic at the 2025 Community Oncology Conference: optimizing oncology care with technology.

Mingyang Song, MBBS, ScD, discusses the link between ultraprocessed foods and cancer risk, emphasizing nutrition's role in prevention.

As the number of cell and gene therapies expands, it's increasingly important for long-term patient data, explained Fran Gregory, PharmD, MBA, vice president of emerging therapies at Cardinal Health.

New treatments for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) enhance patient care with gene therapies and new mechanisms of action on the horizon, explained Casey Koch, PharmD, from Select Health.

K. "Vish" Viswanath, PhD, explores the evolution of health misinformation, its sources, and the role of technology in shaping public understanding.

Evaluating the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will require real-time data and effective therapy metrics, explained H. John Beardsley, MBA, of CoverMyMeds; and Fauzea Hussain, MPH, of McKesson.

Raymond Osarogiagbon, MD, discusses the challenges of implementing lung cancer screening guidelines and the need for increased awareness and access.

Kimlin Tam Ashing, PhD, of City of Hope National Medical Center, emphasizes the vital role of community engagement in cancer research, enhancing trust and communication between scientists and communities.

Zongertinib shows promise for treating HER2-mutant non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with significant activity against brain metastases and low interstitial lung disease risk, explains John Heymach, MD, PhD.

Managed care will continue to evolve and employers and policy makers have a responsibility to understand how to best serve their patients, according to John Michael O'Brien, PharmD, MPH.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to deliver personalized nutrition; however, there is a need for professional oversight, emphasized Julia Logan, BS.

John Heymach, MD, PhD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the promising results of zongertinib for HER2-mutated non–small cell lung cancer, showcasing high response rates and improved patient quality of life.

Julia Logan, BS, discusses the vital role of nutrition in cancer care, highlighting how artificial intelligence can enhance dietary recommendations for patients.

Luis Carvajal-Carmona, PhD, stresses the importance of global collaboration in cancer research to enhance understanding and treatment across diverse populations.

Ravindra Uppaluri, MD, PhD, lead investigator of the phase 3 KEYNOTE-689 trial (NCT03765918), highlights the need for a multidisciplinary approach to translate the study's findings into real-world care for patients with resectable head and neck cancer.

Ravindra Uppaluri, MD, PhD, lead investigator of the phase 3 KEYNOTE-689 trial (NCT03765918), highlights the potential of pembrolizumab (Keytruda; Merck) to improve outcomes following head and neck cancer treatment.

Andrew Kuykendall, MD, is an investigator on the phase 3 VERIFY trial (NCT05210790), findings from which demonstrate the safety, reliability, and effectiveness of rusfertide to treat polycythemia vera.