AACI Commentary
About Our Editorial Series
Exploring Topics of Interest to AACI Cancer Centers
To promote the work of its member centers, AACI publishes Commentary, an 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 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
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
412-802-6775
Emily Stimmel
Communications and External Relations Manager
412-647-0504
September 2023
No Time to Waste: Now is the Time to Advocate for Federal Funding to Support Cancer Research
By Jennifer W. Pegher, MA
With the 2023 Fiscal Year (FY) ending in less than two weeks and no FY 2024 budget agreement on the horizon, the likelihood of a government shutdown is growing. Each day without an approved budget delays the development of innovative cancer treatments and potential cures. And for patients with cancer, there is no time to waste.
Earlier this year, the NCI released the National Cancer Plan, and just last week, the Biden administration shared new plans for the Cancer Moonshot.
Achieving the ambitious goals outlined in these plans will require substantial and sustained new federal investment.
Read the September 2023 Commentary.
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
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
By Barbara E. Bierer, MD, and Timothy Rebbeck, PhD
January 2022
By AACI Staff
December 2021
Reflecting on 50 Years of Progress and Looking Ahead to the Future: Highlights of the 2021 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting
By Robert A. Winn, MD
November 2021
Leadership Development and Diversity in Cancer Centers
By Caryn Lerman, PhD
October 2021
Confronting Delayed Cancer Screening and Cancer Disparities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Chyke A. Doubeni, MBBS, MPH
September 2021
Learning From the Pandemic: Reflections on the 13th Annual AACI CRI Meeting
By Theresa L. Werner
August 2021
A “Delicate Dance”: Establishing a Process for Assessing and Endorsing Cancer-Related Policy
By John DeMuro
July 2021
Engaging Advanced Practice Providers in Cancer Clinical Trials
By Christa Braun-Inglis, MS, APRN-Rx, FNP-BC, AOCNP
June 2021
Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies to Enhance Cancer Treatment
By Rohit Bhargava, PhD
May 2021
Who Was First? The National Cancer Act of 1971 and the Birth of NCI-Designated Cancer
Centers
By Donald L. Trump, MD, FACP, FASCO and Eric T. Rosenthal
April 2021
The Little State That Could: How West Virginia Became a National Model for COVID-19 Vaccination
By Hannah Hazard-Jenkins, MD, FACS
March 2021
From Pre-Pandemic Politics to a "New Normal": Cancer Policy Priorities for the Biden Presidency
By AACI Staff
February 2021
Sustaining the Use of Telemedicine in Post-Pandemic Cancer Care
By Karen E. Knudsen, MBA, PhD; Cheryl L. Willman, MD; and Robert A. Winn, MD
January 2021
By Charles W. M. Roberts, MD, PhD
December 2020
Defining the Role of the CTO Medical Director at AACI Cancer Centers
By CTO Medical Directors' Forum Co-chairs
November 2020
Confronting Our Twin Pandemics: Reflections on the 2020 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting
By Stephen D. Leach, MD
October 2020
Addressing Cancer Health Disparities From the Inside Out
By Ana Maria Lopez, MD, MPH
September 2020
Telemedicine and Cancer Care: Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Ruben Mesa, MD
August 2020
Reflections on the 12th Annual AACI CRI Meeting
By Theresa L. Werner, MD
July 2020
Localizing Data to Expand Community Participation in Clinical Trials
By Robert Winn, MD
June 2020
COVID-19: How AACI’s Corporate Partners Are Helping Cancer Centers and Their Patients Weather the Pandemic
May 2020
COVID-19: What AACI Cancer Centers Are Doing to Mitigate Risks
By AACI Staff
March 2020
Perspectives From the NCI Director: Homecoming and the NCI FY 2020 Budget
By Norman E. Sharpless, MD
February 2020
Looking Ahead: Forging a Path for 2020 and Beyond
By Jennifer W. Pegher, MA
January 2020