ACCC National Oncology Conference to Focus on Reimagining Innovation in Cancer Care

The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) 40th National Oncology Conference will take place in person in Austin, Texas, October 4-6, with content designed to reflect the theme of “Reimagining Innovation.” Particular areas of focus include workforce burnout, value-based care, improving the patient experience, and championing women leaders to succeed in oncology. President for the 2023-2024 term, Olalekan Ajayi, PharmD, MBA, chief operating officer of Highlands Oncology Group, PA, took the helm from David Penberthy, MD, 2022-2023 ACCC president, who is now with PennState Health, at the 49th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit, held March 8-10, in Washington, DC.

Preconference activities will take place on Wednesday, October 4, encompassing 3 sessions: “ACCC Financial Advocacy Network” will cover how cancer programs and practices can best deliver comprehensive financial advocacy services, using census survey data to pinpoint potential areas of improvement; “Examining the Current Environment for Value-Based Care” will address benefits and challenges from participation in the Enhancing Oncology Model, Medicare Advantage value-based care, and care delivery and advocacy; and “Clinical Updates From Chicago – A Focus on What Community Centers Need to Know to Move Their Solid Tumors' Practices Forward,” will be a CME session.

A new feature this year will be the poster presentations, which will take place on the evening of October 4 and cover topics ranging from food insecurity to health disparities to improving workplace wellness and morale to financial navigation. So far, 25 posters are being presented, but there is potential for more to be added in the days leading up to the conference kick-off.

“Women Leaders in Oncology: A Panel Discussion” will be a highlight on the morning of Friday, October 6. Moderated by Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA, executive vice president of policy and strategic initiatives and director of public policy at Texas Oncology, the 7 panelists are set to address the underrepresentation of women physicians and nonphysicians in the health care space. Topics they will address include their journeys to becoming leaders at their practices/cancer centers and how women of color face a different, sometimes more difficult, leadership path; how they overcame their biggest barrier to professional growth and career advancement; and helping other women succeed as leaders.

In addition, over the 3 days of the conference, there will be 30 sessions, 6 of which will be presentations on Thursday, October 5, from the winners of this year’s ACCC Innovator Awards program now in its 13th year: Duke Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai Health System, Oncology Hematology Care Inc, Orlando Health Cancer Institute, Rochester Regional Health-Lipson Cancer Institute, and St. Elizabeth Cancer Center.

There will also be plenty of opportunity for networking, with the exhibit hall open Wednesday evening, all day Thursday, and through early afternoon on Friday. Sprinkled in between sessions will be networking breaks and opportunities at breakfast and lunch to meet with exhibitors.