Congressional Briefing, MPFS Highlights and Mentorship Awards
July 15, 2026
| ASTRO announces the 2026 Mentorship Award recipients |
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ASTRO is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Mentorship Award:
The ASTRO Mentorship Award recognizes mentors in radiation oncology who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the professional development of their mentees as clinicians, educators and researchers. Please join us in congratulating them before we celebrate their achievements during the Annual Meeting Awards Ceremony! |
| The inaugural ASTRO Welcome Kickoff: Your all-access pass to Boston | |||
| Don’t spend your first night in Boston in your hotel room! Join us Saturday evening, September 26, at the iconic Citizens House of Blues Boston for the premier networking event of the Annual Meeting. Open to all attendees, this brand-new celebration is the perfect opportunity for both newcomers and seasoned members of the ASTRO community to connect in a high-energy environment before the scientific sessions begin.
Tickets are $100 per person and include all-access entry, a live band, plentiful hors d’oeuvres and two drink tickets. Venue capacity is limited. Add a ticket to your registration today and lock in advance rates before they expire on August 13.
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| Lace up your shoes for the Foundation 5k to benefit Speed of Light – The ASTRO Foundation | |||
| This high-energy, health-focused event brings together approximately 500 participants for a sunrise run (or walk!) during the ASTRO Annual Meeting. Held on Monday, September 28, this year’s 5k journey features iconic Boston sites.
All proceeds directly benefit Speed of Light – The ASTRO Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity accelerating bold, innovative ideas in radiation medicine to help ensure every person has access to the best treatments.
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| ASTRO hosts congressional lunch briefing | |||
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On July 14, ASTRO hosted a congressional lunch briefing in conjunction with House Cancer Caucus leadership. In addition to discussing the current Medicare billing code crisis, panelists presented on subjects including:
Twenty-six congressional offices were represented and House Cancer Caucus Co-chairs Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) served as guest speakers.
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| ASTRO opposes OMB proposed rule changes on federal funding |
| Proposed changes in federal funding regulations would lead to wide-sweeping changes to the United States research enterprise. Key proposed changes would allow political appointees to decide which grants are funded, give the current administration the ability to cancel grants at any time and place new limits on communication of research results.
ASTRO assisted members in leaving public comments and has signed joint letters with One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) and the Cancer Leadership Council to oppose these changes. Learn more about ASTRO’s other key advocacy priorities. |
| CMS releases CY 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule |
| On July 14, CMS released the calendar year (CY) 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule estimating a positive impact of 3% for radiation oncology overall and 5% for freestanding centers. Initial analysis of the proposal indicates that ASTRO's advocacy is primed to secure strong improvements to the key radiation treatment delivery codes. However, other important radiation oncology services — including planning, management and SBRT — would see cuts generally ranging from 3-6%. Individual practice impact will vary depending on service mix. Read What’s Happening in Washington for more information. |
| Submit your vote for ASTRO 2026 elections |
| ASTRO’s 2026 official elections are now open! Voting will remain open until 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, July 24. To view the nominees and access the ballot, visit www.astro.org/Vote and log in with your email address and password. The ballot and instructions will appear once you log in. If you need assistance with your login information, please email.
Voting is conducted through a secure, online system that ensures the authenticity and secrecy of your ballot. |
| Congratulations to the 2026 ASTRO-BCRF Radiation Oncology Visiting Away Rotation Recipients |
| Congratulations to the 10 medical student recipients of the 2026 ASTRO-BCRF Radiation Oncology Visiting Away Rotation Awards! This program provides funding support to participate in four-week clinical experiences at leading institutions beyond their home medical schools. Away rotations enhance clinical knowledge, enable informed specialty choices and facilitate professional relationships that provide ongoing career support. |
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New On Target Podcast: Lymphomas In this new podcast, Malcolm Mattes, MD, Rutgers Cancer Institute, and Susan Wu, MD, MD Anderson Cancer Center, together provide a broad overview of the use of radiation therapy to treat lymphomas. This conversation includes the logistics of radiation therapy, how radiation is integrated with other lymphoma treatment modalities, different radiation techniques and side effects of treatment. Listen and share this resource with your patients! |
