Outspoken Oncology

Peter Antevy, MD, EMS medical director and founder of Handtevy, describes his bout with COVID-19 as a medical professional, breaks down some of the latest tests being used with rapid turnaround times, projects the coming reality of a national mechanism for instant testing in public places, and more.

Niesha Griffith, RPh, MS, FASHP, interim chief pharmacy officer and executive director at a freestanding cancer center on the West Coast, and Michael Ganio, PharmD, MS, BCPS, FASHP, director of pharmacy practice and quality, American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP), provide varying perspectives on the potential of drug shortages (eg, pain medications, cancer therapies, and hydroxychloroquine) emerging during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how the supply chain functions through the ASHP when a shortage is identified.

Cam Harvey, PhD, professor of finance, Duke University, shares how his June 2019 prediction of a recession in 2020 is being further fueled by COVID-19, compares the pandemic to the likes of the Spanish Flu and SARS in terms of "systemic risk," breaks down the finances of the recently enacted CARES Act, floats the idea of a federal strategic medical equipment reserve, and more.

Emily Landon, MD, executive medical director of infection prevention and control, University of Chicago, returns to share valuable information on COVID-19 testing, ethical dilemmas regarding treatment decisions, proper N95 mask reuse and disposal, potential of durable immunity to the virus, and more.

Stefano Luminari, MD, associate professor of oncology, University of Modena (Italy), provides an update on the COVID-19 situation in Italy, including operational measures undertaken when there was an increase in demand for ICU hospital beds, the country's underestimation of the serious of the disease at the beginning of the outbreak, how hospital staff are protecting themselves from the virus, and more.

Priya Sampathkumar, MD, infectious disease specialist and hospital epidemiologist, Mayo Clinic, breaks down truths and misconceptions of which types of individuals should wear masks in public, proper gown and mask use for health care providers treating and not treating COVID-19, when N95 masks are truly needed and reasons for the potential shortage, and more in this provocative discussion.

Chadi welcomes back Rafael Fonseca, MD, interim executive director, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, to discuss the steps that large cancer centers should take to protect their patients as well as staff from COVID-19 infection, specific measures that Mayo Clinic has taken for developing in-house testing, and more.

Chadi welcomes back Emily Landon, MD, executive medical director of infection prevention and control, University of Chicago, to provide updates on issues of state-funded COVID-19 testing and laboratory resources, management considerations for immuno-compromised patients in oncology clinics, importance of social distancing and isolation to limit the strain on local health systems, and more.

David Mitchell, president and founder of Patients for Affordable Drugs, discusses the importance of reducing out-of-pocket costs and premiums for patients, the need for an entity to recommend costs for novel therapies to payers, pieces of legislation that address drug patent "abuse" on the part of manufacturers, and more.

Emily Landon, MD, executive medical director of infection prevention and control, University of Chicago, breaks down current exposure risk and mortality rates of COVID-19, preventative steps to avoid exposure, and promising therapies on the horizon.

Rafael Fonseca, MD, and Saurabh Jha, MD, debate the benefits and disadvantages of a third-party vs single payer system, whether Medicare has been a successful program for qualifying patients. and the fairness of judging the health care system based on life expectancy. To read more about our host Chadi Nabhan and access exclusive materials and information about guests, visit journalofclinicalpathways.com/podcasts/outspoken-oncology. Journal of Clinical Pathways is the exclusive producer of the Outspoken Oncology podcast.

Sayeh Nikpay, PhD, MPH, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, explains the origins of 340B, how safety net clinics as well as large hospitals became participants in the program, and the possibility of getting rid of the program altogether.

Neeraj Agarwal, MD, professor of medicine, University of Utah, discusses management decisions for patients with advanced or metastatic prostate cancer, including weariness in using ADT for many patients with comorbidities and how clinicians are currently weighing existing regimens.

Daniel Goldstein, MD, discusses the ability of interventional pharmacoeconomics to lower drug costs and increase access around the world, as well as the dilemma physicians face for treating patients with a person-centered vs a population health approach.

John Mandrola, MD, cardiac electrophysiologist at Baptist Health (Louisville, KY), explains how all medical evidence is flawed and a critical mistake HCPs can make with overgeneralizing the results of clinical trials.