2023 Gold Medal Recipients, Call for abstracts for Thoracic Symposium, COVID PHE ends tomorrow
May 10, 2023
| ASTRO names 2023 Gold Medal recipients |
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| ASTRO is pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of the distinguished Gold Medal Award: Najeeb Mohideen, MD, FASTRO, Northwest Community Hospital; Simon Powell, MD, PhD, FASTRO, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; and Randall K. Ten Haken, PhD, FASTRO, University of Michigan. The recipients will be presented with the Gold Medal in October at the 2023 ASTRO Annual Meeting in San Diego. Congratulations Dr. Mohideen, Dr. Powell and Dr. Ten Haken! |
| Reminder: Call for committee volunteers is open |
| ASTRO is accepting volunteers interested in serving on ASTRO committees and/or subcommittees for the Society year beginning October 3, 2023. To be considered for service, visit the Call for Committee Volunteers webpage, where, after logging in, you may select up to two committees in order of preference. The Committee Volunteer process will remain open until June 2. Volunteers who are selected to serve will be notified no later than August 28. |
| Now accepting abstracts: Submit your research for the 2023 Multidisciplinary Thoracic Cancers Symposium |
| The Multidisciplinary Thoracic Cancers Symposium ― Collaboration and Precision in Thoracic Cancer Care: The Time is Now takes place November 30 to December 2, in person in New Orleans and virtually. We encourage you to submit your research to be presented at this practical and interactive meeting focused on the latest best practices and revolutionary new treatments on the horizon from all aspects of thoracic cancer care. This meeting is co-sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, ASTRO, the Society for Immunotherapy in Cancer and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. The deadline for abstract submissions is July 31 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. |
| 2023 ASTRO Annual Refresher Course onDemand now available |
| The 2023 ASTRO Annual Refresher Course onDemand is now available in the ASTRO Academy. This course features a comprehensive review of the latest treatment methods for the major disease sites with a look at emerging trends and technologies. It includes over 22 hours of educational content, downloadable audio files and PDFs of the presentations, as well as the ability to earn up to 22.75 AMA PRA Category 1™ CME credits. The Meeting onDemand was included with Refresher Course registration. Others may purchase it now. |
| Notifications sent to #ASTRO23 abstract submitters |
| ASTRO is excited to announce that more than 2,000 abstracts were accepted for presentation at the 2023 Annual Meeting. Notifications to Annual Meeting abstract submitters were emailed yesterday. Check your email for a notice from AnnualMeeting@astro.org with the next steps for accepted abstracts. Thank you to all who submitted to present at ASTRO 2023. |
| Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in ASTRO Advocacy Day, May 22 and 23! |
| Time is running out to learn the ins and outs of advocating for your patients, practice and the profession at Advocacy Day 2023! Join us in Washington, D.C., on May 22-23 for a day of guest speakers and Hill meeting training followed by a day of meetings on Capitol Hill. Participants will learn from experienced legislative experts, Administration guests, and members of Congress about issues including prior authorization, Medicare physician payments, cancer research, best practices for meeting and working with legislative staff and new health care policies on the horizon. Registration closes on May 15, and only a few slots remain, so act now to register and reserve your housing! |
| Tell Congress to support prior auth reform now |
| ASTRO is calling on Congress to encourage CMS to finalize reforms to burdensome prior authorization. Representatives DelBene (D-WA), Kelly (R-PA), Bera, MD, (D-CA) and Bucshon, MD, (R-IN) are leading a letter to CMS, urging them to finalize rules that streamline and increase transparency in the prior authorization process. ASTRO is urging all 326 co-sponsors of The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act legislation, which passed the House unanimously last year, to sign the letter. To contact your lawmakers, visit ASTRO’s Become an Advocate page. |
| COVID-19 PHE ends May 11 |
| The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) is set to end on May 11, and many of the regulatory flexibilities provided will also expire in coming months, including those related to radiation oncology. Read What’s Happening in Washington for details. |
| Correction: Proton Model Policy update story in 5/3 ASTROgram |
| Last week’s ASTROgram on the update of the proton model policy (MP) mischaracterized stakeholders' role in policy development. The proton MP update was authored by the ASTRO Health Policy Committee’s Payer Relations Subcommittee, which is comprised of ASTRO members from all practice settings that utilize all radiation modalities. In accordance with the subcommittee’s procedures, it considers evidence and feedback from interested members and industry stakeholders. The final policy was approved by the ASTRO Payer Relations Subcommittee, the Health Policy Committee and the ASTRO Board of Directors. ASTRO encourages members and stakeholders to review each model policy and submit feedback and suggestions. The subcommittee plans to next update the IMRT model policy. |
