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 nearly 3,000 readers 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.
Chris Zurawsky
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
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Emily Stimmel
Communications and External Relations Manager
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By Hannah Hazard-Jenkins, MD, FACS
How did a little state of 1.8 million people manage to become a leader in the United States’ COVID-19 vaccination effort? West Virginia’s passionate sense of identity and open communication among state officials, health care providers, and residents have been instrumental to its success. With its rolling hills and small, tight-knit communities, West Virginia is the only state in the U.S. that lies completely within Appalachia; due to this insulation from the surrounding region, the state was the last to document a case of COVID-19.
Knowing our demographics, West Virginia’s local and state governmental officials collaborated with the leaders of three large health systems to devise a vaccination plan that deviated from the proposed federal plan. To understand this plan and why it was implemented, it is important to know a few things about West Virginians and their health.
The Little State That Could: How West Virginia Became a National Model for COVID-19 Vaccination
By Hannah Hazard-Jenkins, MD, FACS
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
The Broad Relevance of Pediatric Cancer Research
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
Bridging the Cost Chasm: Empowering Clinical Trials Offices to Negotiate With Industry Partners
By Aleksandar Zafirovski, MBA
December 2019
Artificial Intelligence, Workforce Training, Patient Advocacy & More: Reflections on the 2019 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting
By Michael B. Kastan, MD, PhD
November 2019
Less Paper, Better Trials: Recommendations for Implementing an Electronic Regulatory Document Management System
By the AACI Regulatory File Management Working Group
October 2019
A Future Without HPV-Related Cancers is Within Reach: Eliminating Cervical Cancer is the First Step
By Anna R. Giuliano, PhD
September 2019
Simplifying Clinical Trials: Using Technology to Improve Operations
By the AACI Shared Investigator Platform (SIP) Task Force
August 2019
Disclose and Manage: Recommendations From the AACI Conflict of Interest Task Force
By Karen E. Knudsen, MBA, PhD, and Leonidas C. Platanias, MD, PhD
July 2019
Inventing the Future of Oncology Nursing
By Laura Fennimore, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
June 2019
Ensuring Patient Access to CAR T Therapy: AACI Responds to CMS Medicare Coverage Proposal
By Richard Bondi and Clint Divine
March 2019
A Revolution in Cancer Care: AACI's New Initiative Will Establish Best Practices in CAR T Therapy
By Joseph McGuirk, DO
December 2018
A Legislation Library to Benefit AACI Cancer Centers
By Roy A. Jensen, MD
September 2018
Zip Code vs. Genetic Code: Breaking Down Cancer Disparities in Philadelphia
By Karen E. Knudsen, PhD
October 2017
Satisfaction with Oncology Quality and Clinical Operations: A survey from the AACI Physician Clinical Leadership Initiative (PCLI)
By Morgan Dodson, Michael Neuss, Laura Hutchins, Richard Lauer, John Sweetenham, Nathan Levitan, Martha Mims, Mohammed Milhem, Craig Bunnell, Dan Mulkerin, Randall F. Holcombe
Fall 2017
SF CAN: A City Working Together to Fight Cancer
By Alan Ashworth, PhD, FRS
Summer 2017
Integrating Clinical Research into Clinical Care
By Martha Mims, MD, PHD & Sarah McNees, PHD
Spring 2017