This week on The PQI Podcast, we are joined by Pat Garcia-Gonzalez, Co-founder and CEO of The Max Foundation. Founded in 1997 in honor of Pat’s stepson, Maximiliano “Max” Rivarola, The Max Foundation has grown into a global organization focused on accelerating health equity and helping patients access cancer treatment and care. Today, the foundation works in more than 80 low- and middle-income countries and channels more than 10 million doses of cancer medications to patients each year. Pat joins us to share Max’s story, how the foundation has evolved over nearly three decades, and the challenges patients around the world continue to face in accessing diagnostics, medications, and cancer care. We also discuss the importance of global partnerships, patient advocacy, and creating sustainable pathways to treatment. Learn more about The Max Foundation.

This week on The PQI Podcast, we are joined by Manojkumar Bupathi, MD and Matthew Garmezy,MD genitourinary oncology experts and hosts of the Oncology Decoded podcast.  Dr. Bupathi is President and Managing Partner of Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers and Executive Chair of the Genitourinary Research Program at Sarah Cannon Research Institute. Dr. Garmezy serves as Associate Director of the Genitourinary Oncology Research Program and Associate Director of the Drug Development Unit at Sarah Cannon Research Institute Oncology Partners.  Together, they bring perspectives spanning community oncology, clinical research, drug development, and real-world cancer care. In this episode, we discuss recent updates in prostate cancer and, just as importantly, how oncology teams can take new data and translate it into decisions that make sense in everyday practice.  We also talk about Oncology Decoded, their approach to breaking down new research and treatment advances, and why understanding how to actually use emerging evidence is just as important as knowing the latest data.  Listen to Oncology Decoded: https://www.cancernetwork.com/podcasts/oncology-decoded 

This week on The PQI Podcast, we are joined by Geoffrey Rogow, Executive Editor of BBC Studios in New York, award-winning journalist, cancer survivor, founder of After Treatment, and author of the upcoming book I’m Alive. Now What? Geoffrey shares his experience being diagnosed with cancer at age 30 and how survivorship continued to shape his life long after treatment ended. The conversation explores the transition out of active treatment, the importance of finding support and purpose, and the need to better prepare patients for what comes next. Geoffrey also discusses the gap many survivors feel once the structure of treatment ends and the challenge of coordinating care across multiple providers over time. Learn more about Geoffrey and explore survivorship resources at After Treatment. Pre-order his book, I’m Alive. Now What? here.  

Welcome to Season 11 of The PQI Podcast, presented by NCODA. We are kicking off the season with an important discussion about step therapy, also known as “fail first,” and the impact these requirements can have on patients with cancer. Joining us are Lucio Gordan, MD, President and Managing Physician of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, and Jay Seemann, Vice President of Market Access for BeOne Medicines. In this episode, Dr. Gordan and Jay discuss how step edits can delay treatment, increase emotional distress, create significant administrative burdens, and interfere with physician and patient choice. They also explore the importance of individualized, evidence-based treatment decisions and the roles that oncology practices, manufacturers, payers, policymakers, patients, caregivers, and advocates can play in moving solutions forward. Learn more and explore NCODA’s Step Edits in Oncology Hub: https://ncoda.org/news/step-edits-oncology/ Add your voice to NCODA’s Step Edits in Oncology Sign-On Letter: Individual Sign-On Form:https://resources-ncoda.cleverstory.io/individual-form Organizational Sign-On Form:https://resources-ncoda.cleverstory.io/organization-form

In the Season 10 finale of the PQI Podcast, host Ginger Blackmon is joined by NCODA Fellow Shawnny Eugene, PharmD, as co-host for a special conversation focused on pharmacy fellowships and professional development. Together, they welcome three former fellows who have taken unique career paths following their fellowship experiences: Cooper Bailey, PharmD, Rahil Dixit, PharmD, and Utoy Wong, PharmD. Together, they share their journeys from pharmacy school to fellowship training and beyond, offering practical advice for students, residents, and pharmacists exploring both traditional and nontraditional career pathways. The conversation examines what pharmacy fellowships are, how they differ from residency programs, and the many opportunities available across oncology, nonprofit organizations, advocacy, and the pharmaceutical industry. The guests discuss the skills they developed during their training and the importance of mentorship and professional growth. They also reflect on how their fellowship experiences helped shape their careers and prepared them for leadership opportunities within their respective fields. Whether you are a student considering your next step, a graduate exploring career options, or a pharmacist looking to expand your professional horizons, this episode provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of pharmacy fellowships and the impact they can have on career development. Learn more about NCODA and available professional development opportunities at ncoda.org

Season 10, Episode 14: Optimizing Access Through OOLD In this episode of the PQI Podcast, we explore Oncology Optimized Limited Distribution (OOLD) and its growing importance within patient-centered oncology care. Guests Jonas Congelli, RPh, and Ken Komorny, PharmD, BCPS, discuss how distribution models impact oncology practices, care coordination, and the patient experience, while highlighting the critical role of medically integrated pharmacy services in supporting timely therapy initiation, education, adherence, and adverse event management. Jonas shares the vision behind OOLD and how medically integrated oncology teams help streamline care for patients receiving oral anticancer therapies. Ken provides insight into Moffitt Cancer Center’s experience navigating operational, financial, and policy challenges related to specialty pharmacy access, including advocacy efforts. The conversation also highlights how oncology practices, manufacturers, and advocacy organizations can work together to preserve coordinated care models that prioritize patient safety, communication, and continuity of care. Throughout the episode, the discussion reinforces the value of multidisciplinary collaboration and innovation in shaping the future of oncology pharmacy practice and improving outcomes for patients nationwide. Learn more about NCODA and NCODA’s OOLD initiatives here.View the poster Ken discussed here.

In this episode of the PQI Podcast, we are joined by Chadi Nabhan, MD, MBA, FACP, nationally recognized oncology leader, physician-executive, author, and host of the Healthcare Unfiltered podcast. Dr. Nabhan discusses his career journey across academic medicine, clinical oncology, healthcare leadership, precision medicine, and artificial intelligence innovation. The conversation explores how AI is beginning to reshape oncology research and cancer care, including opportunities to improve clinical trial operations, optimize protocols, enhance site selection, support real-world evidence generation, and ultimately accelerate patient access to novel therapies. The episode also highlights the growing importance of data quality, traceability, and diversity within AI-driven healthcare models. Dr. Nabhan shares perspectives on balancing innovation with human oversight, addressing skepticism surrounding AI adoption, and ensuring technology remains focused on improving patient care while supporting physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and the broader oncology care team. In addition to discussing the future of AI in oncology, Dr. Nabhan reflects on his experiences as an author and storyteller, including his books Toxic Exposure and The Cancer Journey, as well as his upcoming book, AI and Cancer Care: When Machines Meet Modern Medicine. The conversation also explores his growing interest in fiction writing and the creative process behind developing characters and medical storylines.

In this episode of the PQI Podcast, we sit down with Brian I. Rini, MD, FASCO, Ingram Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and co-host of the popular GU oncology podcast Uromigos, for a conversation on the evolution of genitourinary oncology and GU cancer care. Dr. Rini shares how mentorship and early exposure to GU oncology helped shape his career path and reflects on the rapid transformation of treatment over the years. The discussion explores his experience in clinical research and drug development, including involvement in therapies that have led to FDA approvals and changed the treatment landscape for patients with renal cell carcinoma. The episode also highlights the complexity and diversity of GU cancers, the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration across oncology care teams, and the future of innovation in GU cancer research. Dr. Rini additionally discusses the value of education and communication within oncology through his work with Uromigos, helping bring meaningful and practical Listen to Uromigos: https://www.uromigos.org/

Season 10, Episode 11: Your Best Meeting Ever with Rebecca Hinds, PhD In this episode, we welcome Rebecca Hinds, PhD, to discuss her new book, Your Best Meeting Ever, and how teams can rethink the role of meetings in today’s evolving workplace. Drawing on her background in organizational behavior and research at Asana and Glean, Rebecca shares how meetings can be treated as products—designed with intention, structure, and purpose. The conversation explores practical strategies for busy, multidisciplinary oncology teams, including how to embrace meeting minimalism, create stronger starts, and ensure every participant is an active stakeholder rather than a passive attendee. Rebecca also introduces the concept of calm technology and discusses how AI can support more effective, focused collaboration across healthcare teams. Learn more about Rebecca and her work at: https://www.rebeccahinds.com/ This episode offers actionable insights to help oncology professionals streamline communication, improve team engagement, and make meetings more meaningful in delivering patient-centered care.  

Season 10, Episode 10: Clearing the Fog: A Clinical Look at Chemo Brain with Jorg Dietrich, MD, PhD Cognitive changes during cancer treatment, often called “chemo brain,” can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life. In this episode, Jorg Dietrich, MD, PhD, Clinical Director of the Cancer & Neurotoxicity Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital and Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, shares his expertise on the neurologic effects of cancer therapies. Dr. Dietrich discusses the biology behind treatment-related cognitive changes, including the impact of chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy on the brain’s cellular environment. He provides insight into how these symptoms present in clinical practice and how they can vary across patients. The conversation also focuses on practical strategies for the multidisciplinary oncology team. From early recognition and patient education to supportive care approaches, this episode highlights how pharmacists, providers, and the broader care team can work together to address cognitive side effects and improve patient outcomes. Dr. Dietrich brings a unique perspective through his leadership in cancer neuroscience and brain repair research, with over 200 publications advancing the understanding of neurotoxicity and recovery in cancer care. This episode offers valuable insight for oncology professionals looking to better support patients experiencing cognitive changes throughout their treatment journey.