ICYMI: Highlights From Patient-Centered Oncology Care®

The American Journal of Managed Care^® (AJMC^®) hosted its annual event, Patient Centered-Oncology Care (PCOC), on September 25-26, 2025, at the JW Marriott in Nashville, Tennessee. With the theme “Finding Our Rhythm: Embracing Change in Oncology Care,” the event drew more than 60 faculty for panel discussions on clinical and policy topics.

AJMC provided live coverage of select sessions from PCOC, as well as interviews with participating faculty. In addition to coverage highlights provided here, see our full recap issue of Evidence-Based Oncology™.

5. Oncology Experts Spotlight Breakthrough Therapies, AI-Driven Care at PCOC 2025

Progress in bispecifics, cell and gene therapy, and clinical decision support were among the breakthroughs that our experts cited during a wrap-up interview when they were asked what advances in oncology excited them. Experts interviewed included Vishnukamal Golla, MD, MPH, vice president of clinical technology and performance at Evolent; Ryan Haumschild, PharmD, MS, MBA, CPEL, vice president of ambulatory pharmacy at Emory University and Winship Cancer Institute; and Scott Soefje, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, director of pharmacy cancer care at Mayo Clinic.

View the interviews here.

4. Trust and Transparency Are Key For Leveraging AI to Expand Access in Precision Oncology

Experts on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in science and how it will impact health care policy took part in a panel discussion of the specific impact of emerging technology on precision medicine, featuring moderator Davey Daniel, MD, of OneOncology, as well as Vivek Subbiah, MD, of Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Stephen Speicher, MD, MS, of Flatiron Health; John L. Villano, MD, PhD, of the University of Kentucky; and Alyssa Schatz, DrPH, MSW, of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Read the article.

3. Oncology Pharmacists in the Spotlight Amid Rising Drug Costs and Workforce Pressures

Time was when the oncology pharmacist could offer relief to the oncologist as drugs became more complex and the physician’s time became more challenging to manage. But now it’s the oncology pharmacists who are also in short supply. This expert panel addressed the many demands in this increasingly complex field along with the challenges of finding new talent as demand for care increases.

Read the article.

2. Experts Highlight AI, Innovation, and Collaboration as Key PCOC Takeaways

How can oncology care facilitate payer-provider-manufacturer relationships? How do we drive innovation and care around precision medicine and pathway development? Those were the main takeaways from PCOC for Emory’s Ryan Haumschild, PharmD, MS, MBA, CPEL, and he’s just one of the faculty interviewed for a round-up of key lessons from the 2-day conference. Several experts cited the focus on AI, both its possibilities and where cancer care providers should be wary. And there was a big focus on the proliferation of innovative therapies to new groups of patients—and how to deliver them safely and effectively.

View the interviews.

1. In Primary Care-Oncology Collaboration, the Baton Goes Both Ways

A new panel at PCOC proved popular with our readers: AJMC co–editor in chief A. Mark Fendrick, MD, helmed a panel on how primary care physicians and oncologists can ensure better handoffs for patients, to avoid disruptions in care and to improve the overall experience. From screening to diagnosis to the need for patients to have help with navigation, both the complexities and the possibilities of cancer care today came through.

Read the article here.