Mary Caffrey is the Executive Editor for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®). She joined AJMC® in 2013 and is the primary staff editor for Evidence-Based Oncology, the multistakeholder publication that reaches 22,000+ oncology providers, policy makers and formulary decision makers. She is also part of the team that oversees speaker recruitment and panel preparations for AJMC®'s premier annual oncology meeting, Patient-Centered Oncology Care®. For more than a decade, Mary has covered ASCO, ASH, ACC and other leading scientific meetings for AJMC readers.
Mary has a BA in communications and philosophy from Loyola University New Orleans. You can connect with Mary on LinkedIn.
ASCO Spotlight With Randall A. Oyer, MD: Clinical Trials Must Be Accessible to Everyone
Randall A. Oyer, MD, medical director of the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute, medical director of oncology, and medical director of the Cancer Risk Evaluation Program, Lancaster General Health, discusses recommendations to improve diversity in clinical trials.
Survey Finds Shift in Clinician Views of MRD Status in Treatment Decisions for Multiple Myeloma
Results looking at acceptance of minimal residual disease (MRD) status found that 60% of participants “would change at least one decision based on an MRD result,” and 54% would use both MRD status and disease risk to make decisions.
Lessons Learned in New Orleans Can Be Shared Across the US, Powell Says
This the third installment of a series of interviews on Takeda’s partnership with Xavier University of Louisiana (T-REX), Takeda's Lauren Powell, MPA, PhD, discussed the impact Louisiana's hospital system has had on her work and the need for the pharmaceutical industry to invest in more partnerships like T-REX.
Dr Lauren Powell: Takeda’s Partnership With Xavier Is a Long-term Investment
In the second interview in a series, Takeda’s Lauren Powell, MPA, PhD, vice president, US Health Equity & Community Wellness, discussed how a partnership with Xavier University of Louisiana will unfold over several years.
Researchers From Spain Find Option to Detect FGFR2 Fusion in Plasma
Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, a research group from Barcelona, Spain, has presented a method to detect FGFR2 fusion in plasma, which they say is “especially relevant” since the arrival of pemigatinib to treat patients with recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA).
FCS’ Walcker Outlines His Hopes for Successor Model to OCM
In the second of 2 parts, Nathan H. Walcker, MBA, CEO of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), discusses what he’d like value-based care to look like going forward. CMS ended the Oncology Care Model (OCM) yesterday after 6 years and has invited practices to apply for a successor model, the Enhancing Oncology Model.
FCS’ Walcker Explains Value-Based Cancer Care
In the first of 2 parts, Nathan H. Walcker, MBA, CEO of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), discusses the future of value-based care for the practice as the Oncology Care Model comes to an end today. This week, CMS announced it will launch a successor model.
CMS Announces OCM Successor, but Gap Year Remains for Oncology Practices
Today, CMS unveiled its plan for a successor to the Oncology Care Model (OCM), its ambitious foray into value-based care delivery that has been credited with changing the landscape for patients with cancer, even if it received mixed reviews on achieving savings in its early years.
Thyme Care: A Human Touch in Cancer Care, Guided by Technology
Oncologist and health tech veteran Bobby Green, MD, who practiced for 17 years in Florida and was previously with Flatiron, is now Thyme Care’s president and chief medical officer. He has relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, to launch Thyme Care.
Bringing Innovation to Value-Based Care at Scale, With an Assist From Technology
The Institute of Value-Based Medicine® (IVBM), hosted by Tennessee Oncology, brought health care leaders together on April 21 in Nashville, Tennessee, to discuss oncology care delivery—and to see colleagues in person, some for the first time since 2020.
COTA’s Miruna Sasu on Real-world Evidence: “The Ecosystem Has Changed”
Miruna Sasu, PhD, MBA, became president and CEO of COTA Healthcare in March 2022, not quite a year after joining the company as its chief strategy officer. As the importance of RWD grows, Sasu is ready to take its use in precision oncology to new levels. She spoke with Evidence-Based Oncology™ (EBO) about her new role.
Florida Cancer Specialists’ Walcker: Taking a “Holistic” Approach to Value-Based Care
Nathan H. Walcker, MBA, CEO of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) since August 2020, discusses the future of value-based care for the practice as the Oncology Care Model comes to an end.
Dr Debra Patt: Telemedicine’s Contribution to Cancer Care Robust and Meaningful
Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA, executive vice president of Texas Oncology, discusses how enhancements to telemedicine precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic have made lasting and meaningful changes to oncology care, including that these care improvements will persist post pandemic.
Dr Hope S. Rugo Discusses Clinical Trial Minority Recruitment, PALOMA-2 Findings
Hope S. Rugo, MD, FASCO, is professor of medicine and the director of the Breast Oncology and Clinical Trials Education program at the University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. She discusses her experience with palbociclib and letrozole in advanced breast cancer.
Banner|Aetna Puts More Decisions, and Risk, in Hands of Providers
In a panel discussion, “Banner|Aetna: Collaboration as a Business Imperative,” part of the Matters in Managed Care webinar series, panelists discussed how payers and providers can work as partners to deliver care with aligned financial interests.
Inovio's DNA Vaccine Combo Plus Cemiplimab Shows Promise in Glioblastoma
The results involve a pair of DNA medicines combined with cemiplimab, which is approved as Libtayo to treat other solid tumors. In this study, the regimen is designed to prime a T-cell response before a patient receives radiation.
Dr Kim A. Reiss: There Are Several Exciting Developments in Pancreatic Cancer Research
Kim A. Reiss, MD, assistant program director of the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program and assistant professor of medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, discusses pancreatic cancer research she presented at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.