The ASTRO Annual Business Meeting and Luncheon was held on Tuesday, September 30, to discuss the past year of programs and events and to look ahead at what is to come. Howard Sandler, MD, MS, FASTRO, called the session to order. After a tribute to ASTRO members who passed away in the past year and announcing several award recipients, including the 2025 ASTRO Gold Medalists, Honorary Members and Mentorship Award Recipients, he announced departing Board members and committee chairs, as well as incoming Board members.
Dr. Sandler then introduced Gita Suneja, MD, MSHP, FASTRO, for an update on the Radiation Oncology Institute (ROI). She discussed how a reimagined ASTRO Foundation will launch in January 2026. “We want to create a situation where ASTRO and ROI can leverage their partnership to do more research in key strategic areas,” Dr. Suneja said. She then revealed the impact of the shared research portfolio, with millions of dollars going to 130 research teams and numerous publications in journals and presentations at ASTRO. Dr. Suneja also congratulated ASTRO and ROI award winners who were recognized during the Annual Meeting.
ASTRO CEO Vivek S. Kavadi, MD, MBA, FASTRO then gave his report, with a focus on the key topics of member relations, finances, the economics of oncology and a new international strategy. He began discussing the ASTRO budget and continued financial viability of the organization, showing that ASTRO’s finances are sound and continuing to grow. He also noted shifting strategies with regard to financial reserves, supporting the operating budget and investing in initiatives to grow the specialty.
Dr. Kavadi spoke about membership, with an emphasis on member outreach and the dialogue-rich road shows he has undertaken in the past year. He also spoke about a membership reinstatement campaign and statistics of the international attendees at this year’s Annual Meeting. This led into his international strategy update, discussing the need to increase international impact to tackle global health care disparities and maintain ASTRO’s preeminence on the global stage.
This then led a discussion of a strategic research partnership with Harvard Medical School to be led by Nancy Keating, MD, MPH, and Miranda Lam, MD, MBA. The plan is for the team to conduct a comprehensive Economics of Oncology analysis using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare and commercial claims data. He also discussed the timeline and goals for this project, aiming to report on spending analysis on the various modalities of cancer treatment (surgical, medical and radiation oncology), describe the adoption and use of emerging technologies, and describe adoption of higher-value care examples. “We are currently in very good shape, but status quo is not going to get us to where we need to be,” Dr. Kavadi concluded.
Dr. Sandler gave his Chair’s report, discussing issues that would have a significant impact on radiation oncology Medicare coding and payment in 2026. He spoke about several codes for treatment delivery and image guidance that were being revised, as well as using OPPS Data for MPFS Rate Setting. “ASTRO is the leader in advocacy for reviewing and commenting on these calls,” Dr. Sandler said. He encouraged eligible members to donate to the ASTRO PAC, so ASTRO would continue to have a seat at the table in matters of U.S. radiation oncology policymaking.
He then spoke about ASTRO’s advocacy leadership fighting for fair reimbursement in radiation oncology, having productively dialogued with CMS about challenges facing community-based practices. Advocacy includes coordinating with stakeholders, crafting aggressive comment letters and recommendations backed by data, and leveraging key congressional relationships in support of recommendations. “There’s no one in Washington doing this better than the ASTRO Advocacy people,” Dr. Sandler said.
Dr. Sandler concluded his report by speaking about the timeline of the latest bylaw amendments and ratification, decoupling the process from the Annual Meeting. A ballot will be sent to members in late October.
Incoming Chair Sameer Keole, MD, FASTRO, spoke next, discussing the expanding scope of radiation oncology. This initiative included discussing the Radiopharmaceutical Therapy (RPT) Symposium next February in Palm Desert, California. “We are going to be important in the delivery of RPTs now and in the foreseeable future,” Dr. Keole said.
Dr. Keole also shared his goals for ASTRO for his leadership term and beyond. These goals included plans such as payment reform, industry relations, increasing community representation, and working with other societies both domestically and globally. “I think we have moved in a positive direction that will make it easier for our members to be engaged,” he noted. Dr. Keole referenced the Economics of Oncology project, expressing his hope that the resulting studies further emphasize the value of radiation oncology.
Lastly, incoming ASTRO President Neha Vapiwala, MD, FASTRO, spoke about next year’s ASTRO Annual Meeting, to be held in Boston from September 26-30, 2026. Dr. Vapiwala also spoke of plans for 2026, including an increasing emphasis on rural, community and international perspectives, a new late-breaking abstract submission process, exciting attendee welcome event, and a reimagined Gold Medal evening celebration. “We are also here at ASTRO to make history,” Dr. Vapiwala said as she introduced the conference theme of “Data to Dialogue: Communicating Radiotherapy’s Value to Advance Care.”
“Radiation therapy, to me, is the ultimate personalized therapy,” Dr. Vapiwala said.
Dr. Keole adjourned the meeting with an open invitation to contact him and other members of the leadership team with questions.
