ASTRO award deadlines, Continued advocacy on denials, Red Journal podcast: Real talk on wellness
February 11, 2026
| Recognizing your achievements: Upcoming award deadlines |
| Celebrating our members’ contributions to the field is one of ASTRO’s most exciting priorities. Now is the time to gather application materials for ASTRO’s annual recognition awards, including the Gold Medal, Fellowship (FASTRO) and the Mentorship Award. Contact the Membership Department with questions. |
| Last days to apply: The MSF Fellowship and Mentor Awards application deadline is February 12 |
| Applications for the 2026 ASTRO Medical Student Fellowship (MSF) and Mentor Awards will remain open until tomorrow, Thursday, February 12. This is a fantastic opportunity for both students and mentors — apply now to take advantage of all available benefits! Recipients will be granted a $6,000 stipend to support an eight-week summer research project, and funding to offset travel expenses for the ASTRO 2027 Annual Meeting. Mentors of students selected for MSF awards will receive the ASTRO-BCRF MSF Mentor Award. |
| Radiation oncologists featured in mainstream news outlets |
| 📺 Health Policy Council Chair Amar Rewari, MD, MBA, FASTRO, appeared on NBC News Daily for World Cancer Day to discuss the state of cancer care and advances in our specialty like SBRT, adaptive radiation and radiopharmaceuticals.
📺 Rahul Tendulkar, MD, FASTRO, was featured in a segment on NBC's Cleveland affiliate on how low-dose radiation therapy is being used to treat patients with Dupuytren's contracture, osteoarthritis and other inflammatory conditions. 📖 Radiation oncologist Sue Hwang, MD, was profiled in People magazine following the publication of her new book “From Both Sides of the Curtain: Lessons and Reflections from an Oncologist's Personal Breast Cancer Journey.” |
| ASTRO continues its advocacy on new treatment delivery codes |
| ASTRO and eviCore had another productive meeting last Monday, including eviCore’s improved updated radiation oncology guideline. EviCore officials told ASTRO physician leaders it is looking for clear, identifiable documentation that confirms active motion management, beyond a checkbox or simply stating “DIBH.” EviCore said that a sentence or two describing thresholds or motion management system used will suffice. The issue around denials from UHC on code 77387-26 has been resolved and claims should be approved moving forward.
Members are encouraged to continue providing examples of inappropriate denials and other payer issues by emailing Emilio Beatley or Alex Costa. |
| ASTRO submits comments to CMS on Efficiency Adjustment and IGRT billing confusion |
| ASTRO submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding concerns with the new Efficiency Adjustment and highlighting growing payer confusion around the professional component for IGRT (CPT code 77387). Read What’s Happening in Washington for more information. |
| Podcast must-listen: Real talk on wellness |
| The latest Red Journal podcast is for anyone experiencing burnout or overwhelm, and for those supporting colleagues who might be. Red Journal Editor-in-Chief Sue Yom, MD, PhD, FASTRO, interviews Dan Golden, MD, MHPE; Marie Soller, MD; and David Feldman, PhD, about spotting signs of burnout, how to leverage hope and much more. Listen on redjournal.org or any major podcast app. |
| Last chance! Two great multidisciplinary meetings next week! |
| Register now for in-person or virtual options for two dynamic meetings next week:
➡️ February 17-18: Multidisciplinary Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Symposium ➡️ February 19-21: Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium The meetings are co-located at the JW Marriott Desert Springs in Palm Desert, California. The Virtual Full Conference registration includes the livestream and onDemand meeting access. If you register for both meetings, you’ll receive a 25% discount on your registration for the second meeting! |
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| Virtual Annual Refresher Course delivers value for professionals at all career stages |
| Stay current. Stay confident. Stay connected. Whether you are studying for the boards or have been in practice for twenty years, this course offers something for everyone! Don’t miss out on the 2026 ASTRO Annual Refresher Course – register today! |
| Mark your calendar for webinar on optimal applications of immunotherapy with radiation |
| The Definitive Treatment in Transition: De-Escalation, Biomarkers and Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Radiation Oncology webinar, taking place February 26, includes Jonathan Schoenfeld, MD, MPH, discussing recent efforts to use immunotherapy before, during and after radiation to improve cure rates and reduce toxicity. Christopher Wilke, MD, PhD, will also present an overview of the current landscape of de-escalated therapies in HPV-mediated oropharyngeal cancer. Secure your spot for this timely topic! |
| Radiation Oncology Education Collaborative Study Group (ROECSG) Spring Symposium |
| The 2026 Radiation Oncology Education Collaborative Study Group (ROECSG) Spring Symposium, co-sponsored by ASTRO and chaired by Allison Garda, MD, is being held at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, on May 15. This year's keynote speaker is Colin West, MD, PhD, an expert on health care professional well-being and medical education. The symposium is free and has both virtual and in-person attendance options. Abstract submissions are due February 23. View more details and register. |
