New Association of Community Cancer Centers president looks to technology-driven solutions
The most important issues facing members of the Association of Community Cancer Centers are the same that face all oncologists, according to the association’s new president, David R. Penberthy, MD, MBA.
“Whether you’re in a community or an academic medical center, the science of oncology is really exploding, to the point where it’s a daunting task to keep abreast of everything that’s happening,” Penberthy told Healio after being named president of the association during its Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit. “It’s a challenging task for all oncologists, and I think ACCC [Association of Community Cancer Centers] is uniquely positioned to facilitate best practices and promote effective ways of using the latest and greatest techniques and treatment to effect favorable outcomes throughout the country.”
Penberthy discussed his goals for his 2022-2023 tenure and elucidated his theme as president, “Leveraging technology to transform cancer care delivery and the patient experience.”
The role of technology
Penberthy, who earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech and medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, found inspiration in his interest in technology to pursue a career in radiation oncology. In keeping with this interest and aptitude, Penberthy plans to optimize technology to advance the oncology field.
“I want to look at the current state of affairs in oncology throughout the country, look at our membership and find out what their difficulties and pain points are,” he said. “I think we can use technology to figure out how to solve those pain points. We can do that in many ways, large and small.”
‘State-of-the-art care’
Penberthy’s career has spanned 28 years, beginning with a surgical internship at Bethesda Naval Hospital, after which he served as a U.S. Navy flight surgeon with Fighter Squadron 101 in Oceana, Virginia. He then began his official training as a radiation oncologist. Since then, he has been impressed with the rapid evolution of technology.
“We’re all walking around with these supercomputers in our pockets,” he said. “With the advent of artificial intelligence and clinical decision support, I think we are now going to move into an era where the latest technologies and techniques are not going to be siloed in the academic centers, but accessible throughout the nation, so that even the small oncology programs will be able to provide state-of-the-art care in their communities. I want ACCC to help them achieve that.”
Penberthy said he plans to focus ACCC’s efforts on finding technology-driven solutions, like AI and wearable devices, which enable clinicians to focus on patient care. He also intends to leverage technology to alleviate workforce shortages and improve patient access by expanding use of telemedicine in cancer care delivery.
Penberthy said he believes technology can be further used to improve clinical trial participation, the delivery of person-centered care, and care to underserved populations. To this end, ACCC plans to host small virtual tech talks and conduct other outreach to members regarding their use of tech-driven solutions. This information will be collected and disseminated as part of a portfolio of educational tools.
Other goals Penberthy plans to address include:
- using data and digital health tools to decrease health disparities;
- advocating for widespread access to digital tools and seeking sufficient reimbursement for their use in cancer care delivery; and
- assembling technology-driven change makers to offer solutions and imagine a future in which oncology harnesses technology to enhance the patient experience.
Penberthy serves as medical director of radiation oncology at Bon Secours, Southside Regional Medical Center (SRMC) in Petersburg, Virginia. He has also served as cancer committee chairman at SRMC, where he led the oncology program through two American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer accreditation surveys.
“ACCC addresses community oncology, and it addresses academic oncology; it’s a nice blend of all the multidisciplinary specialties within oncology,” Penberthy said. “I look forward to working with the ACCC membership to figure out what their needs are and how we can promote and facilitate effective and optimal patient care.”
For more information:
David R. Penberthy, MD, MBA, can be reached at Virginia Radiation Oncology Associates, 210 Medical Park Blvd. #100, Petersburg, VA 23805.
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