About Our Editorial Series

Exploring Topics That Matter to AACI Cancer Centers

AACI Commentary is a monthly editorial series focusing on major issues of common interest to North American cancer centers. Each AACI Commentary is written by a cancer center leader or subject matter expert and distributed by email to more than 5,000 subscribers of the AACI Update newsletter.

The publication is designed to cover a specific topic in 750-1,000 words. Recommendations for topics and authors are encouraged.

Please submit suggestions to:

Chris Zurawsky
412-802-6775

Emily Stimmel
412-647-0504

October 2024

Changing Needs for a Growing Population: Shared Decision Making for People Living With Cancer as a Chronic Disease

A growing number of people with cancer in the United States are living with their cancers or are at high risk for recurrence and remain under treatment, sometimes for years. These patients understand that they have options for their treatment and care and want to participate actively, as partners, with their doctors and providers in making those decisions. They are fully capable of making rational choices in favor of quality of life over quantity of life.

In the last two years, the Patient Advocate Foundation has worked with three partners: VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center in Richmond, Virginia; the Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation in Ruleville, Mississippi; and the Los Angeles Alliance for Community Health and Aging in South Central Los Angeles, to understand how patients living with cancer as a chronic disease make shared decisions about their treatment.

Read the October 2024 Commentary

2024 Commentary

Changing Needs for a Growing Population: Shared Decision Making for People Living With Cancer as a Chronic Disease
By Gwen Darien and Christine Wilson, MA, MS
October 2024

Tracking National and State Cancer Policy
By Jaren Love and Omasan Richardson
September 2024

Transcending Language and Other Barriers to Boost Clinical Trial Participation
By Eneida Nemecek, MD, MS, MBA
August 2024

Building Patient Partnerships: A Roadmap for Meaningful Collaboration
By Anne Marie Mercurio
July 2024

AACI Initiative at the Forefront of Cellular Therapeutics Revolution
By Peter Riedell, MD, and Joseph McGuirk, DO, FACP
June 2024

How a Robust Strategic Planning Process Can Advance the Mission of Your Cancer Center
By Erin Bank, PhD; Kate Shumate, MPA, CCRP; Eric Small, MD; and Alan Ashworth, PhD, FRS
May 2024

Global Oncology: Shifting From a Transactional Model to Mutually Beneficial Partnerships
By Patrick J. Loehrer, Sr., MD; Satish Gopal, MD, MPH; Stephen Kimani, MD, MSc; Martin Lajous, MD; and Elias Melly, MD
April 2024

The Urgency of Now: Improving Cancer Outcomes Through Professional and Reimbursable Oncology Navigation
By Arif Kamal, MD, MBA, MHS, and Karen Knudsen, MBA, PhD
March 2024

Advancing the Discourse Around Cancer Center Catchment Areas
By Katherine Tossas, PhD, MS, and Robert A. Winn, MD
February 202

Joining Forces to Drive Progress Against Pediatric Cancer
By Charles W.M. Roberts, MD, PhD, Kimberly Stegmaier, MD, and Francisca Vazquez, PhD
January 2024

2023 Commentary

A Professional Development Initiative for Clinical Research Professionals
By Terease S. Waite, PhD, RN, JD, MBE, and Dan T. Vogl, MD, MSCE
December 2023

Collaborating to Reduce Disparities in Cervical Cancer
By Deanna Kepka, PhD, MPH, and B.J. Rimel, MD
November 2023

From Community Outreach to Global Oncology: Perspectives on the 2023 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting
By Primo N. Lara Jr., MD
October 2023

No Time to Waste: Now is the Time to Advocate for Federal Funding to Support Cancer Research
By Jennifer W. Pegher, MA
September 2023

Aging in Cancer: Preparing for the Silver Oncologic Tsunami
By Andrew Chapman, DO, FACP, FCPP
August 2023

Taking Cancer Clinical Research From Abstract to Reality: Reflections on the 15th Annual AACI CRI Meeting
By Thomas J. George, MD, FACP
July 2023

Beyond the Rainbow Flag: Topics and Outcomes From the First National LGBTQ+ Cancer Symposium
By B.J. Rimel, MD, and Zul Surani
June 2023

A Call for Engagement: AACI Cancer Centers and the National Cancer Plan
By Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD
May 2023

Collaborating to Improve Clinical Trial Activation Timelines
By Tara L. Lin, MD, and Theresa L. Werner, MD
April 2023

Fostering DEI, Providing Culturally Competent Care, and Eliminating the "Minority Tax" at AACI Cancer Centers
By Yolanda Sanchez, PhD
March 2023

Time to Step Outside the Box, Look Back, and PAUSE
By George J. Weiner, MD
February 2023

Best Practices for Maximizing the Value Added By External Advisory Boards
By Anita L. Harrison, MPA
January 2023

2022 Commentary

Low NCI Paylines and Grant Success Rates Compromise Research Potential
By Roy A. Jensen, MD; Steven K. Libutti, MD, FACS; Thomas J. Lynch, Jr., MD; and Leonidas
C. Platanias, MD, PhD
December 2022

Collaboration is Key to Advancing Precision Medicine in Prostate Cancer Treatment
By Heather Cheng, MD, PhD, and Channing Paller, MD
November 2022

The 2022 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting: Cancer Center Collaboration Meets Federal Cancer Policy
By Cornelia Ulrich, MS, PhD
October 2022

CTO Staff Retention Task Force Recommendations: Retaining and Recruiting Top Talent Amid the Great Resignation
By Leonidas C. Platanias, MD, PhD
September 2022

Democratizing Artificial Intelligence: Bringing Automated Machine Learning Technologies to Basic, Translational, and Clinical Cancer Researchers
By Dan Theodorescu, MD, PhD, and Jason H. Moore, PhD
August 2022

Enhancing the Diversity of the Cancer Leadership Pipeline
By Caryn Lerman, PhD
July 2022

2022 AACI/AACR Hill Day Highlights Importance of Strong Funding, Continued Advocacy
By Jaren Love
June 2022

Driving Change in Lung Cancer: Cancer Centers Must Ensure That Lung Screening Reaches Those Who Can Benefit Most
By Candace S. Johnson, PhD
May 2022

Marketing and the Physician Outreach Team
By Erin McElwain, MHA, and Heidi Findlay
April 2022

Repairing Damage to Clinical Trials Office Staffing
By Kristie Moffett
March 2022

Our Best Defense Against Cancer: Robust Funding is Essential to Continued Research Progress
By Roy A. Jensen, MD
February 2022

Promoting Equity by Design in Cancer Trials
By Barbara E. Bierer, MD, and Timothy Rebbeck, PhD
January 2022

2021 Commentary