Smilow and Yale Cancer Center Clinical and Research Town Hall | September 2, 2021

Transcript

• 00:00Everybody, thank you for joining us for
• 00:04Yale Cancer Center Smilow Cancer Hospital,
• 00:06Town Hall meeting and I hope everyone
• 00:09is doing well past last night's
• 00:11storm and everyone's dried out.
• 00:15I'm just going to remind everybody
• 00:16that a 5:30 D Nancy Brown is joining
• 00:19us and we have a packed agenda,
• 00:21so you may see us rush through to
• 00:24try to get you all the information.
• 00:26Alright, so moving on to next slide.
• 00:30Alright, acknowledging sort of all
• 00:32the things and I'm going to go run
• 00:34fast through these so please bear with
• 00:36me if I sort of missed some part.
• 00:38So first of all,
• 00:39big congratulations to Doctor Ed,
• 00:41captain who has been appointed or
• 00:44designee associate director designee
• 00:46for research affairs for the Yale Cancer
• 00:49Center starting in January 1, 2022.
• 00:51He will transition to the permanent job.
• 00:54Unfortunately,
• 00:54that also means that Doctor
• 00:56Garofalo it will be retiring and
• 00:58it's like mid bittersweet.
• 01:00I think for those of you know, Bob.
• 01:01Is outstanding, but so is it.
• 01:03So really glad to see a join us.
• 01:06He has been running our translational
• 01:08science effort along with RIFORD for nearly
• 01:10a decade and has really fostered research,
• 01:13engagement and career advancement.
• 01:15So really excited to welcome
• 01:17Ed into this role.
• 01:19And as you all know,
• 01:19RCCG CCSG Grant will be for renewal so that
• 01:24timeline is a critical time for us and.
• 01:27And thank you for Bob's effort
• 01:29for all that he has done for us,
• 01:30and I think stay tuned for retirement
• 01:33celebration also later in the year.
• 01:36Next up,
• 01:36it's Kevin.
• 01:37Do he joins the Smiler at radiation
• 01:39oncology team in Trumbull starting in
• 01:41September and he's coming joining us
• 01:43from NYU Langone Health and his research
• 01:45interests are in advancing innovation
• 01:47in medical education and GI malignancies.
• 01:51Next up,
• 01:51there is a doctor Alyssa Gallego
• 01:53who says some of you may know,
• 01:55but she's joining the department
• 01:56surgery as an assistant professor
• 01:58and is practicing in the Smilow
• 02:00Cancer Hospital Care Center,
• 02:01Greenwich.
• 02:02She is focuses on Breast Cancer Care and
• 02:05prior to practicing in Greenwich Hospital,
• 02:07doctor Gallego practice at
• 02:09Mount Sinai Beth Israel,
• 02:10and was an associate professor of surgery
• 02:13there at the ICANN School of Medicine.
• 02:15Last but not least,
• 02:17joining us as Alex Choi,
• 02:18a recent graduate of our fellowship program
• 02:21in Hospice and palliative medicine,
• 02:23he will join the palliative care program
• 02:25in October as an instructor of medicine.
• 02:27So welcome to all of the new faces slide.
• 02:32Alright,
• 02:32continuing now celebrations and awards
• 02:35doctor Joseph Kim got the 2021 Clinic
• 02:38Cancer clinical investigator Team
• 02:40Leadership Award from the NCI More kudos.
• 02:44Maryam last Doctor Lustberg appointed
• 02:45Co chair of the Alliance for
• 02:48Clinical Trials and Oncology Symptom
• 02:50Intervention Committee Next up Ellen
• 02:52Foxman doctor Foxman has been named a
• 02:542021 Rita Allen Foundation scholar.
• 02:57Congratulations Dr Foxman and
• 02:58then last but not least Doctor
• 03:00Kenyon has received a break.
• 03:02Through a word from the
• 03:04Department of Defense to fund
• 03:05his research in breast cancer.
• 03:07More awards. Breast Cancer Research
• 03:11Foundation awarded Dr Merrick Ocean and
• 03:13Leo's pushed I with the project awards
• 03:15for 2021 Kelsey Mark Doctor Martino
• 03:17and was invited to participate in the
• 03:20American Society of Climatology and the
• 03:22Medical Educators Institute and then
• 03:24Doctor Townsend was appointed as the
• 03:27inaugural culture elect of the ACR'S
• 03:29Working Group on Cancer Revolution.
• 03:31I'm saying this really fast.
• 03:33It's not that I don't congratulate all
• 03:35of you, but trying to stay on schedule.
• 03:37Doctor Vasquez received an NIH
• 03:40NCI QA Career Development award to
• 03:44study IDH Mutant gliomas and then
• 03:47Doctor Ward quarterback.
• 03:48I probably am messing up your name.
• 03:50Tim is a postdoc associated in the center
• 03:52of Molecular and Cellular Oncology
• 03:54under Marcus mute doctor musician,
• 03:56and he's been awarded a CR I
• 03:59Irvington Postdoc Fellowship.
• 04:01Doctor Gushwa 30 year hematology
• 04:03fellow at Yale, has been selected as a
• 04:06recipient of the Yale Cancer Center.
• 04:07Forget scholar for 2021 and then
• 04:10last but not least, on this page,
• 04:13Doctor Quinones, Abilis or not,
• 04:15quite doctor, she's still a student,
• 04:17a PhD student in in in Mandra Mazumder
• 04:20Slab has been afforded an F31 fellowship,
• 04:23so lots and lots of good stuff for our
• 04:27come our institution. OK, next page.
• 04:31Also kind of acknowledging.
• 04:34Recognizing Alien Sally Sally Rowley,
• 04:38who is an assistant patient
• 04:40services manager for MP4 and MP.
• 04:42A special multi specialty clinic.
• 04:45Really proud to announce that Alien
• 04:46graduated from The Citadel this summer.
• 04:48You can see this getting her
• 04:50masters degree in leadership.
• 04:51She was nominated and selected to receive
• 04:54the Lieutenant General John W Rosa Award,
• 04:56presented by General Glenn Walters
• 04:59for outstanding Academic Achievement,
• 05:02student engagement and scholarly.
• 05:05Excellence.
• 05:06She is the first woman of color
• 05:08to receive this award and with
• 05:10a military background,
• 05:12Elion has always dreamed of
• 05:13going to the Citadel.
• 05:15But at the time of undergraduate studies,
• 05:17females were not allowed
• 05:18entrance to the school.
• 05:20So congratulation,
• 05:20and what an inspiring story had to say.
• 05:23You know,
• 05:24just hearing about aliens journey and
• 05:25getting this big award, kudos to you.
• 05:29Alright, next slide.
• 05:34So I missed some promotion so I before I go,
• 05:37Sandy Morgan was promoted.
• 05:39Patient services manager for
• 05:40NP7 on New York Street campus.
• 05:43Samantha Perillo,
• 05:44patient services managers for radiation
• 05:46oncology came if I'm getting these wrong,
• 05:49please correct me.
• 05:50Actually, Sheldon next nursing
• 05:52professional development specialist
• 05:54for Smilow at Saint Francis and Chloe.
• 05:56Shelvin Smite was promoted to smilow
• 05:59safety and quality coordinator.
• 06:00Did I get those right?
• 06:02Alright, thank you alright agenda.
• 06:05First up Doc doctor Billingslea for
• 06:08the vaccination third dose update.
• 06:10We had a nice patient forum last night
• 06:12so I think Kevin will just cruise
• 06:14through this following followed by C2.
• 06:16Update by Roy Herbs and then last
• 06:19but not least chaperone policy.
• 06:21David Depot card is coming.
• 06:22Chris Parker couldn't come so he's
• 06:24going to talk to us and then as usual
• 06:26we're joined by our panelists came
• 06:28Slusser who you know and we love.
• 06:29And then Lisa Barbato whose on
• 06:31our backs and who represents.
• 06:33US on the vaccination team alright
• 06:35doctor Billinsley Europe first.
• 06:37Thank you so much Doctor Ahuja.
• 06:40So the challenging news that we're all
• 06:43aware of is that we enter the 19th month
• 06:47or so of this pandemic, and it does.
• 06:51It has taken a toll on all of us,
• 06:53but we all remain absolutely
• 06:56steadfast in serving our patients and
• 06:58keeping them as safe as possible.
• 07:01And the good news is that we do have
• 07:04excellent vaccine availability and
• 07:06we we know that an additional dose,
• 07:09particularly for immuno compromised.
• 07:11Patients which many of our cancer
• 07:14patients are provides an additional
• 07:16level of protection.
• 07:17So over the recent days or weeks under
• 07:22CDC guidance as well as updating our own
• 07:27recommendations to align with the NCCN,
• 07:31we have a new set of guidelines
• 07:33for our immuno compromised cancer
• 07:35patients who are now immediately
• 07:38eligible for a third dose vaccination.
• 07:41And these this is the attestation
• 07:43statements that are.
• 07:44Currently on our website for
• 07:46patients who wish to schedule a
• 07:48third dose vaccination here at Yale,
• 07:51New Haven Health these have been broadened
• 07:53to include any patient who's who have,
• 07:56who has received virtually any
• 07:59modality of cancer therapy for
• 08:01a solid tumor within one year
• 08:04of their initial vaccine series.
• 08:06As well,
• 08:07any patient who has a recently
• 08:09diagnosed cancer or recurrent
• 08:11cancer with a treatment plan that
• 08:13will include chemotherapy,
• 08:15immunotherapy,
• 08:16or radiation,
• 08:16as well as surgery even if they
• 08:19have not started therapy any any
• 08:22individual who has any blood cancer
• 08:24diagnosis and you can receive read
• 08:27the variety of diagnosis that
• 08:29are included under that umbrella
• 08:31and any of our patients who have
• 08:34received a stem cell transplant or.
• 08:37Therapy with.
• 08:38With that with car T cells we are
• 08:42of course reminding all of our
• 08:44patients to be vigilant in mask
• 08:47wearing and social distancing.
• 08:49Vaccines are only one level of
• 08:52protection and of course the other
• 08:54thing that I would add quickly is for
• 08:57our teams in clinical care settings are PPE.
• 09:01Recommendations have been updated
• 09:03to include eye protection as well.
• 09:06Thank you.
• 09:09Thank you Kevin. Next up,
• 09:13Doctor Herps you're up next.
• 09:14If you have questions for Doctor
• 09:16Billingsley, just put them in the
• 09:17chat and if you have time for Q
• 09:19and it then we'll keep it open.
• 09:22I'm thanks Nina. Great to be here.
• 09:24Just a quick update on the CTO,
• 09:26so here's our org chart for
• 09:28those who are interested.
• 09:30I know several of Asterix Sony to,
• 09:32of course, the director,
• 09:33I'm the acting associate
• 09:35director for Clinical Sciences.
• 09:37I've been doing this for about 3 1/2 months.
• 09:38I'm filling in.
• 09:39We are very happy to have an interim
• 09:42associate director for the see TO&C RSL.
• 09:45That's Alyssa gateman.
• 09:45She's on the call now and thank you.
• 09:47Listen for all you're doing and then
• 09:49our deputy director for finance and
• 09:51administration Margaretville Shannon.
• 09:52And then clinical operations salary
• 09:54boin has been doing an amazing job.
• 09:57We appreciate all of her efforts.
• 09:58The clinical Research Support
• 10:00Laboratory Italia Mitchell also doing
• 10:02great work and we're looking for
• 10:04someone to lead regulatory affairs.
• 10:06We have extended an offer.
• 10:07Our fingers are crossed on that a
• 10:09really great person and then we
• 10:11also are extending an offer for
• 10:12someone to lead our care center
• 10:14effort which is very important to
• 10:16accrued trials at the care center.
• 10:17So our immediate priority is
• 10:19stabilization through recruitment
• 10:21and staffing augmentation.
• 10:22To ensure our ongoing patient
• 10:24safety and regulatory compliance,
• 10:26and I'm happy to say that the pendulum
• 10:28is swinging up and we've been hiring
• 10:31and I really appreciate everyone and
• 10:33their patience as we continue to rebuild.
• 10:35Next slide,
• 10:37please.
• 10:37We have two search is underway
• 10:40will hopefully be announcing our
• 10:42candidates in the next week or two.
• 10:44We're going to have an assistant medical
• 10:46director for the CTO for the main
• 10:47campus and also an assistant medical
• 10:49director of the CEO for the care centers.
• 10:51Because of the broad nature of our practice.
• 10:5315 sites where patients are recruited trials,
• 10:56the busy nature of the main campus,
• 10:58we thought we need to MD's to help me
• 11:00in this role and we've had numerous
• 11:02candidates and their committees already met,
• 11:04so hopefully the next time I
• 11:05speak to you or even before.
• 11:07Need an eye and unless we will be
• 11:09sending out an announcement as to these
• 11:10people who will be working to help us
• 11:12all and our patients with the trials.
• 11:14Next slide now studies are activating.
• 11:19You know,
• 11:19one of the things I've I've become aware of.
• 11:20His communication is just so
• 11:22critical and I want everyone
• 11:23who's involved in clinical trials,
• 11:25and it's probably all of you on the
• 11:27line to know that things are picking up.
• 11:29We are going to start when we have
• 11:30the new medical directors and I sent
• 11:32a memo out to the DART leaders today.
• 11:34I really want people to know that.
• 11:35Let's not where we want it to be. It's not.
• 11:37Too bad and we're making progress.
• 11:4052 new studies were activated since March.
• 11:42About eight trials per month and six
• 11:44new studies were open since August 11th.
• 11:46So again,
• 11:47it's I see the light at the end
• 11:49of the tunnel.
• 11:50It's a bit of a long tunnel,
• 11:51but we are making progress
• 11:52and it's because of all
• 11:53the support from the people on
• 11:55the panel and all of you and the
• 11:57Deans office and the hospital.
• 11:58It really has been a team effort.
• 12:00Next slide now.
• 12:01Here are the numbers and and and
• 12:04you can see that things things are.
• 12:07Are you know dipped last
• 12:09June we actually closed.
• 12:11They've been inching up,
• 12:12but I just got this month
• 12:14numbers and I gotta tell you,
• 12:15you know, I'm ready to retire.
• 12:17This is amazing.
• 12:18We actually had 67 patients accrued
• 12:20last month and that's with one
• 12:22of our teams on a hold because
• 12:24of personnel issues which would
• 12:25make about 800 for the year.
• 12:27So and then, more importantly,
• 12:29twelve of those,
• 12:3067 or 17% were at the care centers
• 12:33and I'm just going to give a Kudo
• 12:35to Navy Hafez five accruals way
• 12:36to go Navy at our leader crew.
• 12:38The month I'm resigning from him three,
• 12:40so we are on the way back and
• 12:43we were never that down.
• 12:45We're having impact.
• 12:46We're helping our patients,
• 12:48so I think I have one more slide.
• 12:51And and this is our focus and I
• 12:52I just want all of you to know
• 12:54that if you have any questions,
• 12:56you can contact me,
• 12:57Alyssa or any of the team we're
• 12:59actively hiring and onboarding to
• 13:00fill new positions were on or having
• 13:03a long term ongoing long term CTO
• 13:05and investigative training efforts.
• 13:07In fact,
• 13:08today I was asked for four times
• 13:09next month or this month when
• 13:11I'll be able to lead a one and
• 13:12a half hour training session.
• 13:14Both of the care centers and
• 13:15main campus I'm I'm and soaps
• 13:17and how to do clinical studies,
• 13:19continuous monitoring and
• 13:20management of staff.
• 13:21Level work in progress.
• 13:23Continuous quality improvement to ensure
• 13:26SLP adherence and timely management
• 13:28of regulatory processes as we grow,
• 13:30we're going to grow in an even
• 13:32more efficient and safer way.
• 13:33And then we want to prioritize.
• 13:35Faculty group continues to meet where
• 13:37prior to write priority rising trials
• 13:40and we're trying to improve alignment
• 13:42and open more trials in a quicker way,
• 13:45and we're working with the faculty,
• 13:46the nurses,
• 13:47the staff,
• 13:47the scientists to make this happen.
• 13:49So thank you for all your
• 13:51support and I'll be back.
• 13:52Next month with another update.
• 13:55Roy, that was breaking news 'cause I
• 13:56didn't know the numbers that change.
• 13:58And kudos, that is amazing.
• 14:00That is outstanding. I don't know.
• 14:02Maybe our work is done all right.
• 14:04Next up I'm going to leave the Q&A if one
• 14:07of the fact there's a question on vaccine.
• 14:09If someone can chatter
• 14:10response on the panelist,
• 14:12but Next up is David Depakote,
• 14:14who's going to talk about the
• 14:16new chaperone policy?
• 14:17David, thank you for coming on short notice.
• 14:21Worries myself.
• 14:22Doctor Christian Packer and
• 14:24my colleague John Koskinen.
• 14:26I've been going on a road
• 14:28show about this policy.
• 14:29She may have heard of it before now.
• 14:32I'll keep some of this brief and
• 14:33and open up for questions if necessary.
• 14:35Or anyone can shoot myself Christian
• 14:38or Jenna. I know about it,
• 14:40but the new policy is a joint policy
• 14:43between Neil New Haven Health system,
• 14:46Yale Health and Yale Medicine
• 14:48that speaks to a combination of.
• 14:51Good practice out in the community.
• 14:54A standard of care that's
• 14:56emerging in risk mitigation.
• 14:58It's been many position statements,
• 15:01professional organizations to have medical
• 15:04chaperone during sensitive examinations,
• 15:06treatments or procedures,
• 15:07and is becoming a standard of
• 15:09care throughout the nation.
• 15:11Some in response to allegations of misconduct
• 15:15and and some driven by other means,
• 15:18such as in in the case of our situation
• 15:22as well MCIC pushing for a standard
• 15:25approach to these types of patients,
• 15:29and we we know that there are many cases
• 15:32where the most significant in recent years,
• 15:36which happened not too long ago,
• 15:37was USC settlement for alleged misconduct,
• 15:42which is $1.1 billion lawsuit
• 15:44and that is with a B.
• 15:46And we do note that in the news earlier
• 15:49this week there was misconduct by an
• 15:52advanced practice registered nurse.
• 15:54Who has significant misconduct and
• 15:56there are reasons then that we do
• 15:59have policies such as this coming
• 16:01forward given the next slide.
• 16:05On it in the organizations,
• 16:08a chaperone will be required.
• 16:11For examinations that are sensitive in
• 16:14nature and chaperone will be a trained
• 16:17individual that's either a hospital
• 16:20health system or university employee or
• 16:22member of the medical staff who access
• 16:26that impartial observer that is not
• 16:29the patient's family member and the
• 16:31bottom of the slide is a list of common.
• 16:35Treatments, exams,
• 16:36and procedures where a chaperone
• 16:39would be necessary on pelvic exams,
• 16:41internal extra genitalia examination of the
• 16:44female breast directly of the female breast.
• 16:47Specifically,
• 16:48rectal examinations, treatments,
• 16:50procedures in intra vaginal physical therapy.
• 16:53We know that this is a significant change in
• 16:57culture and how we manage our patient care,
• 17:00but in many cases this is an approach that
• 17:03supports both the safety of the patient.
• 17:05But also protection towards our health
• 17:08care professionals against allegations
• 17:10of misconduct bingo in the next slide.
• 17:15In addition to having a chaperone
• 17:17during these sensitive examinations,
• 17:19treatments or procedures on our risk
• 17:22management approaches to also document
• 17:24the presence of a chaperone and who
• 17:26that chaperone is. For most cases,
• 17:29if a provider is making that documentation,
• 17:34the dot chaperone note smart phrase in
• 17:37epic will be the easiest way to do that,
• 17:40and generally the inpatient sites real,
• 17:42not even healthy individual
• 17:43performing the examination,
• 17:45treatment, or procedure.
• 17:46We have the responsibility to complete
• 17:48that documentation outside of Yale.
• 17:51New Haven Health inpatient sites.
• 17:53Whether that's yellow medicine or
• 17:55ambulatory or outpatient sites,
• 17:57they'll be determined locally.
• 17:58If it's done during the grooming process,
• 18:00for example, it's done during bio,
• 18:03or done after the procedure
• 18:05by anime or or care associate.
• 18:08That'll be determined relatively locally,
• 18:11and I think that's the last
• 18:13slide that we had.
• 18:14We wanted to be very brief in terms of the.
• 18:16Older review of this and many individuals
• 18:20privacy Eves a they not only a note
• 18:23from Tom and from other health care
• 18:26leaders across the entities but also
• 18:29have received the training through
• 18:32your electronic management system.
• 18:34Whether that's TMS or in,
• 18:36for and or received.
• 18:38The memo to do it raining
• 18:40in it in a different way.
• 18:42Our goal is to train as many folks as
• 18:44possible to be able to act as chaperones.
• 18:47Across all of our sites,
• 18:49but happy to answer any questions,
• 18:50whether here or offline.
• 18:54Alright, well, perfect.
• 18:55I think we actually have time for Q&A.
• 18:58So Lisa, I think the question was important
• 19:00and we were able to type a quick response.
• 19:03But for those who can't read the
• 19:05chat 'cause you're listening in,
• 19:07but there was a question on if health
• 19:10care workers can also get the third dose.
• 19:13So maybe Lisa and then
• 19:14maybe Doctor Billingsley.
• 19:15You want to answer that
• 19:17because I suspect many people.
• 19:18One of our curious.
• 19:20So currently
• 19:21healthcare workers are not within scope
• 19:23to receive a third dose vaccination
• 19:25unless they meet one of the criteria
• 19:27that Kevin reviewed earlier.
• 19:29But we do expect that health
• 19:31care workers will be in the next
• 19:33wave of recommendations,
• 19:35which I think we expect
• 19:36to hear by the end of the month.
• 19:40I have little bad to Lisa's commentary.
• 19:44I I'm expecting to hear something
• 19:47within days actually about
• 19:50health care workers will.
• 19:52And I I think it's it.
• 19:54Well, we'll hear more very soon.
• 19:58Yeah, I think a lot of people
• 20:00are expecting that there
• 20:02will be news out in the next few weeks.
• 20:04Their questions on vaccines.
• 20:06Just type them out.
• 20:09Growing herbs I think you rush
• 20:12through your transformation,
• 20:13but what changed? Well,
• 20:16I I think a number of things.
• 20:19One you know, we everyone pitched in,
• 20:22you know we we went through a period
• 20:24in you know with COVID with some
• 20:27staff that I've left you know it's a
• 20:29tough time in in the whole country
• 20:31with people working remotely and
• 20:33and and and and people you know,
• 20:35slowly coming back to the work place.
• 20:37So a couple of things happened.
• 20:38One we we hired more staff
• 20:40and they became trained to.
• 20:43We've been allowing some to work remotely.
• 20:46In certain positions,
• 20:47and I think that's helped.
• 20:49Three, you know,
• 20:50we've run in a group called Juran who
• 20:53have helped us a great deal they've
• 20:55brought in some support and some
• 20:57additional team members that have
• 20:59helped us with the regulatory team.
• 21:01And then I think it really is a team effort.
• 21:03You know,
• 21:04the physicians and nurses
• 21:05everyones pictured in,
• 21:06we've had no nurses who have left
• 21:09one team or CRC's to go help another.
• 21:12We've we have APS who are now helping
• 21:14out with some of the research.
• 21:16Asks and I think you know,
• 21:18it's really all about patient
• 21:20care and everyone's really tried
• 21:22to make the best we can.
• 21:23And then we also have activated more trials.
• 21:25You know you can't.
• 21:26You can't make bread without flour,
• 21:28and you know,
• 21:29we've we've activated war trials,
• 21:31and we've been.
• 21:31We've been smarter and need to know
• 21:33where we're opening fewer trials.
• 21:34But smarter trials were closing
• 21:36some trials so that we have
• 21:37less regulatory work to do.
• 21:39So it's really, you know,
• 21:40many approaches,
• 21:40but I really have to thank you know,
• 21:42it's this is a team effort.
• 21:43You know,
• 21:44I picked this up from Lloyd Decker wonderful.
• 21:46Man who really was working with
• 21:48the team before I got here and and
• 21:50now it's been my pleasure to just
• 21:52sort of help everyone in just to
• 21:54reach their their best potential.
• 21:55We're not there yet.
• 21:56We still need more people.
• 21:58We still have one team that's not accruing,
• 22:01so we have to help that along.
• 22:03But we're going to build depth
• 22:04and and but I think right now
• 22:06we're on a good trajectory.
• 22:08And the key thing is to keep it there.
• 22:09Thank you. I think waiting.
• 22:11I figured there weren't
• 22:13enough vaccine questions.
• 22:14So now the questions are coming.
• 22:16Uhm, who wants to take if
• 22:18they're recommending from Mike?
• 22:20If they're recommending,
• 22:21I guess, the third dose to those
• 22:23living with immuno compromised.
• 22:25How do physicians and RN not fit into
• 22:27the same category for patient safety?
• 22:30So I think the question is why
• 22:32are the physicians and RN is not
• 22:34eligible for the vaccine right now?
• 22:38I think it's only this you know,
• 22:39so it may be Kevin you want
• 22:42to tackle. Yeah, thank you.
• 22:43You know I. I think
• 22:45what we are aiming for is is understanding
• 22:49that for many of our patients who
• 22:52have been under cancer therapy or
• 22:56recently treated their immunological
• 22:58response to their primary vaccine
• 23:02series has been probably adequate.
• 23:06But not optimal.
• 23:07Whereas most of us who are health
• 23:11care workers and may be exposed
• 23:14but are generally healthy.
• 23:17Most of us have enjoyed a quite quite
• 23:19a robust antibody response to either
• 23:22the M RNA vaccines or for the few folks
• 23:25who got the J&J to the edge vaccine.
• 23:29I think we've all learned,
• 23:31and there's abundant evidence to
• 23:34suggest this that over some period of
• 23:37time that antibody response will wane.
• 23:41Now it's not clear how much decrement
• 23:44in actual functional immunity will be.
• 23:46Go along with that.
• 23:47I think most of us are actually
• 23:49quite still well protected,
• 23:51but with that waning antibody response
• 23:54there will likely be benefit for
• 23:57all of us for an additional dose.
• 23:59But that necessity is probably we
• 24:03probably do not have the same acuity to
• 24:06that as some of our vulnerable patients do.
• 24:10But as we said earlier,
• 24:11hold on to your hats.
• 24:13More information coming soon.
• 24:15And regardless of one of the health
• 24:17care workers is immunosuppressed,
• 24:19they still are eligible and that list
• 24:21is rather large and comprehensive.
• 24:23If you are an immunosuppressive
• 24:26medications outside of cancer,
• 24:27you are still eligible just
• 24:29like any of our other people.
• 24:32And another question here is for how
• 24:34long after a person is in remission,
• 24:37are they still considered immunocompromised?
• 24:44No, I I guess I'll lead on that Lisa may have
• 24:49something to add.
• 24:50The for most patients
• 24:53treated with solid tumors,
• 24:55you know they are going to return to
• 24:58functional immunity quite quickly,
• 25:00but as you've noticed,
• 25:03the guidelines that are written
• 25:05currently expand out to one year.
• 25:08Anyone who's been vaccinated within
• 25:10one year of cancer treatment,
• 25:12so that's on the liberal side.
• 25:14But we feel that that's important,
• 25:16and fortunately the really good
• 25:18news here is that we seem to have.
• 25:21Vaccine availability not only in
• 25:23our own health system but in retail
• 25:26pharmacies as well so that there is no
• 25:29need to be restrictive in this approach.
• 25:32We Sir or even Roy.
• 25:34Do you want to add to that?
• 25:37I was just going to say it would
• 25:39be very dependent on the patients
• 25:41die underlying diagnosis
• 25:42and what type of treatment they
• 25:45received and clearly the humans
• 25:46help humans logic diagnosis.
• 25:50Maybe immuno compromised
• 25:51for longer periods,
• 25:52depending on the type of treatment.
• 25:54They received a
• 25:55man and I think if if that that's why
• 25:58the NCCN guidelines
• 25:59were written pretty liberally to
• 26:01allow for the 3rd dose
• 26:04to a pretty broad group based
• 26:05on the variability
• 26:07right and if someone is in remission folks.
• 26:09But if there's still on
• 26:11medications at driven therapy.
• 26:12Do we consider them immunosuppressed
• 26:14because you know someone is
• 26:16on hormonal therapy safe for
• 26:18breast cancer or others would?
• 26:20We would still consider
• 26:21them amino suppressed.
• 26:22I just want to make sure Lisa or
• 26:24Kim I see a lot of agreement.
• 26:26Yeah, that's it.
• 26:27The current guidelines
• 26:28that came out from NCCN?
• 26:29Yes, we're including that in.
• 26:31As Kevin said,
• 26:32we're being very inclusive,
• 26:34but yes, they're included.
• 26:37Thank you, I don't see more questions,
• 26:39but David I'm going to ask you a question
• 26:42in that if the chaperone policy in terms
• 26:44of if you have to have a chaperone in,
• 26:47we know our clinics are busy are
• 26:50their designated chaperones or
• 26:52how does this work operationally?
• 26:54Or maybe Kim may need to answer
• 26:57this order smilow patients,
• 26:58but maybe David you can give the
• 27:00system answer and then Kim can
• 27:02talk about the smilow answer.
• 27:03The system answer is it's it's
• 27:06Kim's answer on just joking,
• 27:08but I think the easy answer is our
• 27:11goal is to train everyone that
• 27:13works in a clinical space such that
• 27:16it's not a challenge in any way,
• 27:18shape or form to identify someone
• 27:20who should be a chaperone.
• 27:22So it from the unlicensed.
• 27:25Damn Azor care associates.
• 27:27The nursing staff to the medical staff.
• 27:29Our goal is to have everyone had
• 27:31the ability to be that chaperone.
• 27:33How that's truly operationalized
• 27:36within workflows,
• 27:37I would defer to content that question.
• 27:40Yeah, I think so. I would just say
• 27:42and there's a question in here.
• 27:44Additional Ftes 'cause I
• 27:45was going to get to that.
• 27:46I figured that was coming.
• 27:50Like let me just ask because we know
• 27:53that this policy is is going to be more
• 27:56disruptive in certain clinics than more
• 27:59so disruptive than in other clinics.
• 28:02So, but as as Dave said,
• 28:05what we really need to do initially is,
• 28:07it's just that all hands on deck
• 28:10we are making sure that everyone
• 28:12is receiving their training,
• 28:14and so I'm really it's really
• 28:16going to be a team approach,
• 28:18but the local leaders are looking at.
• 28:21Their workflows,
• 28:22with their local teams and in addition
• 28:25to that we are looking at some of our
• 28:28clinics that may require additional
• 28:31additional staff based on high
• 28:34volume examinations or procedures.
• 28:36So we have started that work again.
• 28:39It doesn't delay the implementation of
• 28:42the chaperone policy, so I said it first.
• 28:44You know,
• 28:44it's really going to take a team
• 28:47approach to make sure that we're
• 28:49keeping our patients and our teams.
• 28:51Safe and protect it and making
• 28:53sure everyone feels comfortable,
• 28:55has a comfortable environment to
• 28:57practice in and to be a patient.
• 28:59And but we are.
• 29:01I want everyone on the town hall
• 29:03to know we are looking at what
• 29:06clinics and what procedures.
• 29:09What you know that we may need
• 29:10to add additional staffing and
• 29:11trying to write those business
• 29:13plans with our finance partners.
• 29:14So that is work that is happening right now.
• 29:18Thank you and then David.
• 29:20I think the next one is for you.
• 29:21If a patient is completely
• 29:23comfortable with their provider and
• 29:24prefers not to have a chaperone,
• 29:26is there an option to opt out
• 29:28at Doctor Salem ask that.
• 29:31Yes, just typing in response will
• 29:33be easier to actually say it on.
• 29:35Given that there is a significant risk that
• 29:39a patient can be coerced into opting out,
• 29:44and the misconduct that can ensue from there,
• 29:49the general feeling not just within
• 29:51the health system and the Yale
• 29:54corporate entity and their risk
• 29:56management teams that opt out is not
• 29:59necessarily the appropriate approach.
• 30:01To safeguard both patients and
• 30:03practitioners so the stance from
• 30:05the Yelp corporate entity and the
• 30:07health system is that there is not
• 30:09an opt out clause within the policy.
• 30:18I don't see Dean Brown here yet.
• 30:20Are there other updates while we wanna
• 30:23give around the smilow operations?
• 30:26Kim, anything from the store more
• 30:28COVID you'd like to update us.
• 30:30I saw you see, you know that otherwise
• 30:32that someone is going to have to give
• 30:34a good joke or sing a song we did
• 30:36at both storms from a couple weeks
• 30:38ago and last night we were very,
• 30:40very fortunate. So you know,
• 30:43we really I do want to say though,
• 30:45thank you need a. This is a great
• 30:47opportunity to thank our teams.
• 30:48For a couple weeks ago they worked feverishly
• 30:52over the entire weekend to prepare.
• 30:55If we had to have a delayed start.
• 30:57We went through many scenarios,
• 30:59had people on the phone,
• 31:01mult in and zoom meetings
• 31:03multiple times throughout that
• 31:05whole weekend of the hurricane,
• 31:07and so I'm glad we had a couple extra
• 31:10minutes so that I could thank everyone.
• 31:13For all of their efforts,
• 31:14we ended up not having to implement a plan
• 31:18for a delayed start that that following day,
• 31:21but just really appreciate everyone
• 31:23coming together and doing what we
• 31:25needed to do to to plan for that.
• 31:27And in case,
• 31:29and we were very fortunate this
• 31:31morning I there were some water
• 31:33intrusions on the York Street
• 31:36in Saint Rayfield campus that I
• 31:38think teams worked very hard to to
• 31:41contain and and to limit disruption.
• 31:44Operations are cancer.
• 31:45Operations were not disrupted
• 31:48based off of the water intrusions,
• 31:51but again,
• 31:51the hospital did a really great
• 31:53job responding.
• 31:56Thank you and let me ask maybe one
• 31:58other question in terms of the third.
• 31:59Oh, so here's one one more so thank you.
• 32:02Oh D brown is here but not a panel is Renee.
• 32:06Could you make her a panelist?
• 32:09I've saved you guys giving
• 32:10us a song and or jokes.
• 32:12At this point there you go,
• 32:14the eye protection,
• 32:15the recurrent mandated use of eye
• 32:18protection or is is mandated.
• 32:19Now right? Kim,
• 32:21for all or Kevin IC agreement yes, well
• 32:24that the health systems
• 32:25coming out with their soon.
• 32:27I guess it was communicated
• 32:29to a faculty to medical staff,
• 32:32but the eye protection is a question
• 32:34meaning goggles or face shield.
• 32:35It's either
• 32:36OK. Thank you. Alright, well saved us.
• 32:40Roy singing us or one of
• 32:41you guys giving us a song.
• 32:43Thank you welcome Dean Brown for coming.
• 32:45Does this mean I have to say what's the?
• 32:49Did you you draw a crowd? There's?
• 32:50There's a lot of attendees,
• 32:51and they're eager to hear from you.
• 32:54We have. I kept them on a tight
• 32:56limit so they were very good.
• 32:57So welcome to town hall and this is broad.
• 33:00Based in both faculty and
• 33:02and our APS and staff.
• 33:04And it's a monthly occasion,
• 33:06so we thank you for joining us, my
• 33:08pleasure and and really very pleased
• 33:10to update you on the status of
• 33:13the search for your new director.
• 33:15As you know, the committee was chaired by.
• 33:20Rick Edelson other members Akiko Esaki,
• 33:23Chen Lu, Diane Kelly,
• 33:25Elena Ratner you know Williams Gary Dizzier,
• 33:27hyphen Lin, Jennifer Ogilvie,
• 33:29Keith Churchwell Lori Pickens
• 33:31Mark Lemon Patrick Penny,
• 33:33Ranjeet Bindra and Valentino Greco.
• 33:37The the. Search firm come.
• 33:43I did an amazing job and brought
• 33:45forward and I think it reflects on
• 33:47you as a center that there was a great
• 33:51deal of interest from top candidates.
• 33:55So much so that after the committee
• 33:58completed the what we call the
• 34:00airport interview or the you know,
• 34:01rounds of interviews.
• 34:03I normally ask them too.
• 34:07Narrow to three finalists,
• 34:08that committee was not able to do that
• 34:11and actually narrowed to six finalists,
• 34:14and because of that we then went to
• 34:18a series of zoom interviews with
• 34:21some key stakeholders to narrow
• 34:23to our three finalists,
• 34:25which we have now done, and we have three.
• 34:29Even that was extremely difficult.
• 34:31I will say we have three
• 34:34outstanding finalists who will now.
• 34:37Come on site for a hybrid of in person
• 34:41interviews of about two day visit and
• 34:45with a combined with a zoom interview.
• 34:48We've found over our last couple of
• 34:51searches that that actually facilitates
• 34:54more engagement, for example by.
• 34:56Trainees or people you know at
• 34:59different sites who can't get on
• 35:02campus for an in person meeting and
• 35:06the three finalists are Eric Weiner,
• 35:10Jennifer Grandis and Jedd Wolchok,
• 35:14and they will be here starting
• 35:16next week and the last one is
• 35:20currently scheduled for UM.
• 35:24The 18th or so of October.
• 35:27Each of them is very enthusiastic
• 35:31and excited and I'm really looking
• 35:34forward to our getting to spend
• 35:36some time with them and and think
• 35:39about the vision for this center so
• 35:44I don't know if we have the capacity
• 35:46needed to take questions in the
• 35:48chat or in any other way. So
• 35:50we do. We actually re-enable actually
• 35:53even put them on camera. I think.
• 35:55So, OK, I suspect there are a lot of
• 35:58questions if you service attendance.
• 36:00Respect everyone's curious, so Rene,
• 36:03what would be the best way they
• 36:05raise their hand or they put a chat?
• 36:07How would you like to do this?
• 36:11I think probably if they put their
• 36:13question and then we can upgrade
• 36:15them to the to the message so we can
• 36:17kind of make it more interactive.
• 36:19I know you all have a lot of questions
• 36:21so and I know Dean Brown made the time
• 36:23to sort of answer those questions,
• 36:25then I'm going to say the same thing.
• 36:27All of the finalists are very
• 36:30excited about our all of our combined
• 36:34organization and R&R in Hips met.
• 36:36Said many of us and I have to say I'm
• 36:40really excited about all three finalists.
• 36:43Maybe I'll start with the first question.
• 36:45While people are being shy in terms
• 36:48of the ability to meet the candidates,
• 36:51I know that we're putting together
• 36:53their vision talk,
• 36:54but will some of the people have an
• 36:57ability to meet the the finalist?
• 37:00Yes, so they will be here for two days
• 37:03and we have a you know let me call out.
• 37:07Rowan Mcquade, who runs all of our
• 37:09leadership searches and who has
• 37:11the job taking a spreadsheet that
• 37:13I've given her and many of you have
• 37:15had input to into and you know,
• 37:18slotting in many meetings and including,
• 37:22you know, meals and lots of opportunities,
• 37:25and so two days will be in person.
• 37:28And then again we will have each of them
• 37:31will have an opportunity to give a talk.
• 37:33These are hard talks to give.
• 37:35Because you, you you know,
• 37:37have to kind of express your vision,
• 37:42you may want to talk about your own
• 37:45background and there's a lot to get.
• 37:47And so you know it's.
• 37:50I would say the talks should not
• 37:52be a make or break.
• 37:53You know,
• 37:54it just gives you a flavor of
• 37:56somebody that gives them a chance
• 37:58to organize their their thoughts so.
• 38:02Perfect
• 38:02and I know that your office,
• 38:04Rowan also asked us to put small
• 38:05groups with at the different.
• 38:07Yes sort of ranks,
• 38:09so that's also there with including
• 38:11fellows and faculty at the various levels.
• 38:14So now questions are coming in
• 38:16the first one coming from Doctor
• 38:18Rachel Green Green up,
• 38:19who's our new chief of breast surgery?
• 38:20What are wonderful candidates?
• 38:22What are the driving priorities
• 38:24that will inform your decision?
• 38:28Yeah, so you know I told the committee, uhm.
• 38:32That in some sense, uh,
• 38:35these these candidates have to be a
• 38:38triple threat in every sense of the word,
• 38:42but ultimately they have to be people who
• 38:46can lead who lead with the highest values,
• 38:50who can promote the excellence of our our.
• 38:55A faculty in our center and who
• 38:57are able to articulate a vision
• 39:00that everybody can get behind.
• 39:02And you know again,
• 39:04we are very well poised but we
• 39:08are not where we can be so. The
• 39:11next question maybe is a big,
• 39:13perhaps many of the folks may
• 39:15not know these candidates,
• 39:16so can you share a little bit more
• 39:18about each candidate for those of
• 39:19us who may not be familiar, sure,
• 39:23so I'll start with Eric Weiner.
• 39:26Eric is a medical oncologist who
• 39:30specializes in breast cancer.
• 39:32He is, at the Dana Farber.
• 39:37Where he has been for a long time.
• 39:38He's actually was a Yale.
• 39:41Uhm, undergraduate and you know
• 39:44medical student and he is the
• 39:47incoming president of ASCO I believe.
• 39:50But very involved in ASCO
• 39:53and and I would say that,
• 39:55you know because of his connections to Yale.
• 39:58You know one of the draws for him is.
• 40:02Is is that dumb so that's, uh,
• 40:05and then Jed is at Memorial Sloan
• 40:09Kettering a you know leader in.
• 40:15Immunotherapeutics in particular has
• 40:17been leading the Parker Institute at MSK,
• 40:22which is a.
• 40:26Foundation funded institute that brings
• 40:29together leading immuno therapists
• 40:32and and a terrific scientists.
• 40:35And then the third Jennifer Grandis is
• 40:38on the West Coast and has had a is a.
• 40:43Uhm, E&T head and neck surgeon and she's
• 40:49had a variety of roles in cancer centers,
• 40:53but also in academia,
• 40:55including promotional roles and
• 40:57directing of a CTSA in the past,
• 41:00and so a very broad leadership background.
• 41:04So again, you know, incredibly.
• 41:07Uhm, talented,
• 41:09slightly different variations on the theme,
• 41:13but I think we we would be
• 41:14lucky to get any one of them.
• 41:16Yeah, and I agree all three are
• 41:18fabulous and excited and I think the
• 41:20other piece which maybe people will
• 41:22come feel comfortable or may not.
• 41:24And these are some of
• 41:26the questions I've heard.
• 41:27One is of course the question that
• 41:29comes up is how is the school and
• 41:33the hospital partnering together
• 41:34in in this very critical search.
• 41:37Yeah, you know so we've now
• 41:40done a number of clinical chair
• 41:42searches and I I have to say, come.
• 41:45It's been a pleasure.
• 41:48We work closely with the hospital,
• 41:50and in particular with the church,
• 41:52well in terms of crafting
• 41:56offers and Keith and I often.
• 42:00You know, come to the same.
• 42:01We always end up coming to the
• 42:03same conclusion about who the lead
• 42:05candidate is and and it's a you know.
• 42:09I think we share.
• 42:10The desire to invest in the success
• 42:13of this person and so it's a matter
• 42:15of figuring out how to do that,
• 42:18and it's very collegial and and
• 42:21I'm I'm excited about that as well,
• 42:24and just reminding everybody that Lori
• 42:26Pickens represented the hospital and
• 42:29the search committee also and Mason,
• 42:31well, I think one piece that a lot of
• 42:33faculty have been worried that they
• 42:35may affect them is, and you know,
• 42:37this is the CTO in the clinical trials,
• 42:40and there's been a lot of consternation.
• 42:42And I wonder if you can touch base on
• 42:45what's been shared and what you think has
• 42:47been the response from the candidates.
• 42:50Yeah, so again, let me say thank you to
• 42:54those who have been working very hard
• 42:57on the CTO and particularly Roy. The.
• 43:01The institutions and I say institutions
• 43:04because it includes the hospital and the
• 43:08school and Yale medicine are investing.
• 43:12A significant amount of money and resources
• 43:16in getting the CTO where it needs to be.
• 43:19The biggest challenge that we've had
• 43:22is the national competition for people
• 43:25who have the the training and the
• 43:29talents and we have worked closely
• 43:31with the university to enable us to now
• 43:35recruit people who can work elsewhere.
• 43:38We were losing a lot of candidates
• 43:41because of that. We've also put in place.
• 43:44An interim leader who is, I think,
• 43:48really stabilizing and at the administrative
• 43:50level and and and helping to turn around,
• 43:53and one of the.
• 43:56You know, I think when you when
• 43:58you talked to finalists,
• 43:59when I talked to find list,
• 44:01you know it's a very realistic
• 44:04assessment of what are the challenges
• 44:06and what do we need to address those
• 44:09challenges and so we're already
• 44:11starting to have those conversations
• 44:13with each of the finalists.
• 44:15The
• 44:16there's a question from Dan on when
• 44:18do you expect to make a decision?
• 44:20Yeah, pretty rapidly.
• 44:22You know, I think, uh.
• 44:25One starts to get a sense as
• 44:28the process goes on and and
• 44:30I in in the finalist process.
• 44:32Already we're, you know,
• 44:34asking people to start to express
• 44:36a vision which allows it informs
• 44:38the resources that people will
• 44:40need and you know in in my head,
• 44:42you know I may have three draft letters,
• 44:45offer letters in my head as
• 44:47we're having these conversations
• 44:49before we make our final so
• 44:50we can act pretty quickly so.
• 44:54You know, I hope, uhm?
• 44:57Mid fall.
• 44:58Perfect I think one of the other, UM.
• 45:02Key areas that I suspect a lot of the
• 45:06folks on the UM in the Cancer Center also
• 45:09concerned is our CCSG grant renewal.
• 45:13Yes, and how will that be impacted?
• 45:15What should we do?
• 45:17And it may be helpful to not only hear what.
• 45:21You know, maybe.
• 45:22You sort of are thinking,
• 45:24but also what the candidates
• 45:26experiences are in in grant renewal.
• 45:28Because I suspect many
• 45:30people are concerned about,
• 45:31you know there's a grant renewal
• 45:33for the next director and how
• 45:35ready are they with that, yeah?
• 45:38So each of these uh leaders has pretty
• 45:42extensive grant writing experience and
• 45:45grant writing experience for cancer centers.
• 45:50We the conversation that we've had,
• 45:53is whether to. Delay submission a year.
• 45:57The NCI will fund us at our current level
• 46:00for that year and what we have said as
• 46:03a leadership team is that we will make
• 46:06a decision in the next month or so,
• 46:08but I think that.
• 46:11One of the things that will inform that
• 46:13decision is the input from our candidates,
• 46:15as as we're meeting with them in terms
• 46:19of preference and and we have when.
• 46:22When Charlie was coming,
• 46:24he was working with many of you too brightly.
• 46:28A renewal submitted as he was arriving,
• 46:31so we have experience doing that.
• 46:33It's not easy and and.
• 46:36Well, as I say,
• 46:37we'll make a decision within the next month.
• 46:39Can
• 46:40see, I think, that one of the
• 46:42other things that a lot of faculty
• 46:44have been in this is, you know,
• 46:45just general as we have spread so much.
• 46:49How do we keep the connections
• 46:51of all of our care centers?
• 46:53There's 14 if I'm getting them right.
• 46:55Care centers where cancer services
• 46:57are performed and our physicians
• 46:59are scattered around all those
• 47:00sites in how do we connect?
• 47:02And then there's nursing teams
• 47:04in APR ends and all those tapes
• 47:06and all those things and one of
• 47:08the things that I have seen is.
• 47:09See some amount of worry and concerns
• 47:12that how does do we create a culture
• 47:15and connectivity and make sure
• 47:17that our mission which is devoted
• 47:19to our patient continues forward.
• 47:21Yeah, I don't know if this has
• 47:23come up with the candidates,
• 47:24but it's something that I've heard
• 47:26a lot from our new emerging leaders
• 47:28also as well as junior faculty.
• 47:30Well,
• 47:31I think this is, you know,
• 47:32when you start to think about what might
• 47:35differentiate one candidate versus
• 47:37another given their incredible talents.
• 47:39I think the ability to do
• 47:41this maybe one thing right,
• 47:42but and so I'm not going to answer the
• 47:46question because I think each of them
• 47:48will have a vision of how to do that.
• 47:51It's extremely important,
• 47:52it's it is very doable.
• 47:54It takes creativity and leadership
• 47:56and that's what we're gonna
• 47:58be looking for. The
• 47:59other part, which is important
• 48:01in terms of not only to the
• 48:03institution and I know to you,
• 48:04but also to the CCSG as is,
• 48:07and it's becoming a important scoring
• 48:10pieces attention to the I guess,
• 48:12and I know we have chatted,
• 48:14but it may be helpful to sort
• 48:16of for everyone else to hear
• 48:18and also maybe to hear some of.
• 48:20Or maybe we'll find out as they talk,
• 48:21but this is an important component
• 48:24of the SCHS G grant renewal
• 48:27and I know there has been over
• 48:29the past year led by Kevin.
• 48:31Billingsley and hairy cougar.
• 48:32A lot of working in this space and then,
• 48:36as you know,
• 48:37via appointed Dr Burtness Barbara
• 48:39Burtness as our interim Associate
• 48:40director of the eye in this space.
• 48:42But it's an important area not only
• 48:45broadly for academic medical centers,
• 48:47but also for the CCSG Yeah, uhm.
• 48:52So I think there are two aspects of
• 48:54this and where I thought you were going.
• 48:56This was the HealthEquity
• 48:57piece for the CCSG but but
• 48:59actually well that's the other next question.
• 49:03We talking about is the faculty diversity.
• 49:08Inclusion and end.
• 49:10So I think we get that we we have just.
• 49:14If you haven't looked at it.
• 49:17Posted on the on our office of DIY Web
• 49:20page is a strategic plan for our faculty
• 49:25and I think much of what is in there
• 49:27is applicable to the Cancer Center
• 49:30or just as it is to any department
• 49:33and the the core of that plan is not.
• 49:37It is retention,
• 49:38but it's also I'm sorry is is recruitment
• 49:41but it's also retention right?
• 49:43How do we retain our diverse trainees?
• 49:46You know, so this year our incoming residency
• 49:51class is 24% underrepresented in medicine.
• 49:54That's a big improvement.
• 49:56Over prior years,
• 49:57we need to make sure that we, you know,
• 50:00retain our best and brightest and
• 50:02keep them here into our fellowships.
• 50:04And then our fellows into our faculty.
• 50:06But.
• 50:08The Cancer Center is, you know,
• 50:09the the recruitment of the Faculty
• 50:12Cancer Center are not just in
• 50:14the in the Cancer Center itself,
• 50:16but in all of the related departments,
• 50:18and so the conversations that I'm having
• 50:21with many chairs are about candidates
• 50:23who will bring diversity and the other
• 50:27aspects of our strategic plan are around.
• 50:31Mentorship and sponsorship of faculty.
• 50:34Once they're here and.
• 50:39So,
• 50:39so there are many elements of it,
• 50:41and we're also changing our search
• 50:44processes to make sure that we are.
• 50:47Really reaching out deeply for the best or
• 50:51widely for the best candidates and we are.
• 50:54We are starting to make a dent.
• 50:57And then there's a question about the flip.
• 50:59The other part,
• 50:59which I think you were also going,
• 51:01yes called the equity and,
• 51:02and that's another another important piece.
• 51:05And I was in you kind of already fixed.
• 51:08Figured out my next question.
• 51:09But that's also another piece and you know,
• 51:11we live in a very rich,
• 51:12diverse environment,
• 51:13and that's a piece that I suspect
• 51:16we're also actively talking
• 51:18about an uptick with you. Yeah,
• 51:20and I think that UM.
• 51:23You know, there obviously the
• 51:25work of Marcelo Nunez Smith,
• 51:27both in the Cancer Center.
• 51:28But more broadly and strategic thinking
• 51:33strategically about how we do that.
• 51:35One of the things that she and I have
• 51:37been talking about is taking the.
• 51:43Infrastructure that we stood up
• 51:46for COVID research correct and and.
• 51:50Reapplying that now in the HealthEquity
• 51:53area and so in the cancer.
• 51:56Arena, for example,
• 51:57our cultural ambassadors have have
• 51:59emphasized prostate cancer as something
• 52:01that's of extreme importance to them and you.
• 52:04You could imagine standing up.
• 52:07A community organizations others who will
• 52:12facilitate making therapies accessible,
• 52:17and this is Isaac. Tim second day.
• 52:23But he and I have already talked
• 52:26about some recruitments that would.
• 52:28Add value in this area and help
• 52:30us make care more accessible and
• 52:32I think we need to look at this
• 52:35across every area of cancer.
• 52:37For those who don't know,
• 52:38Doctor Kim is our new chair of Urology.
• 52:41A couple more questions were guidelines
• 52:42or key components provided to the
• 52:44candidates in preparation of their visit.
• 52:46Vision talks. If so,
• 52:47can you review those elements and
• 52:49I can say yes, yes yes. Yes yes.
• 52:51Lots of guidelines, but I
• 52:53would say guidance more
• 52:54than guidelines you know.
• 52:55I think this is a really individual kind of.
• 53:00Thing, and so no.
• 53:01No one said, you know,
• 53:03cover these five elements.
• 53:04I think this is a chance for you to see
• 53:07how people think and how they organize.
• 53:10You know how they present themselves.
• 53:13Another question or in from
• 53:15Doctor Bill Kevin Billingsley,
• 53:17who I think you know,
• 53:17is our CMO Yes Medical Officer and
• 53:19Kevin as our Care center faculty.
• 53:21Are he stakeholders in our organization?
• 53:24Will they have an opportunity to
• 53:26interact with candidates even virtually?
• 53:29Come. The answer is yes.
• 53:31It virtually again because of the.
• 53:34The geography is probably the
• 53:35most effective way to do it.
• 53:39Absolutely, I think as Nancy as you know,
• 53:41about 60% of the cancer care is
• 53:43delivered in these care centers
• 53:45and the important stakeholders.
• 53:47For this. I'm looking if I missed
• 53:51any questions from the folks.
• 53:54I think in closing comments maybe if
• 53:56your broad observations and expectations,
• 53:59I think you alluded to it that you
• 54:01know where this Cancer Center.
• 54:02I know we're all very proud of her
• 54:05Cancer Center, but yet in the rankings.
• 54:08Uhm may not reflect that.
• 54:10I think we've all seen the newest rankings,
• 54:12and I know the director will
• 54:14have a huge role.
• 54:15But I know you're thinking
• 54:16about it more broader than that,
• 54:18as cancer care is delivered in a very
• 54:20distributed system and is affected by many,
• 54:23many parts.
• 54:24Maybe some you know thoughts on that,
• 54:27because I think this is a big
• 54:28part of you know.
• 54:29Also, although we shouldn't look at rankings,
• 54:31those do affect us.
• 54:32Yeah,
• 54:33so you know rankings are flawed.
• 54:38Report is a.
• 54:39It has a lot of unusual things,
• 54:42but I I think you pick.
• 54:44Those elements that come.
• 54:45Force you to move in the direction
• 54:48we need to move anyway, and you know.
• 54:51So obviously the quality pieces are dumb.
• 54:57Very relevant and and uhm.
• 55:00For cancer include, you know even how we
• 55:04think about palliative care and we have
• 55:06a very strong habit of care program.
• 55:08But you know that that comes
• 55:10into play as well.
• 55:14The the. Pieces around.
• 55:18Uhm? Reputation. Uh.
• 55:23Make up a significant proportion of
• 55:26our rankings and we have not done a
• 55:28very good job of getting the word out
• 55:31about everything that's going on here.
• 55:32And so we've had conversations with
• 55:36our communication team in the system
• 55:39and in your medicine about targeting.
• 55:43For example, national meetings like ASCO
• 55:45with information about what's going on here,
• 55:48various groups, and as well as the kind
• 55:52of doximity and and those sorts of things.
• 55:56But you know related to that is
• 55:59continuing to develop strong disease
• 56:01programs so that we are a destination
• 56:03site for more and more diseases.
• 56:05As we are, you know, in in many.
• 56:08So those are so few things,
• 56:11I think that we can do to.
• 56:14Realize the reputation that you deserve,
• 56:17and then the last piece which I
• 56:18know is close to your heart is
• 56:20the physician scientist pipeline.
• 56:22And how do we you know how have
• 56:25the candidates? Thought about it,
• 56:27is this something that's apparent to them?
• 56:29I presume it is and it's very annoying.
• 56:32What how you think about this,
• 56:34but it may be helpful 'cause
• 56:35this is important to our fellows.
• 56:37We have some great fellows,
• 56:38we're doing some ongoing recruitments
• 56:40but we don't keep a lot of our fellows
• 56:43and some of them have moved in.
• 56:45Perhaps some broader observations
• 56:47for not only Cancer Center product
• 56:49for our organization.
• 56:50How we foster that pipeline up.
• 56:52But yeah, I know.
• 56:53And I I mentioned that when I mentioned
• 56:56the characteristics of of our. Uhm?
• 56:59Recruits and UM. It's striking that
• 57:04that each has a track record for UM.
• 57:08For developing faculty and in
• 57:10fact come in one case. One of the.
• 57:14One of our candidates, former trainees,
• 57:17sent me a page long email making
• 57:21sure that I knew that this person,
• 57:23you know was an incredible mentor
• 57:26and developer of faculty and.
• 57:29You know?
• 57:31When we when we start to get into
• 57:34the division talks and what their
• 57:37resources that they need are.
• 57:39One of the things that attracts them
• 57:41is or some of the newer programs
• 57:43that we're putting into place that go
• 57:46beyond the Cancer Center. That the.
• 57:48Help them know that we value this,
• 57:51and so that that's a factor,
• 57:54but UM, the K12 and other things
• 57:55that we have in the Cancer Center
• 57:58extremely important to them.
• 57:59So I I think.
• 58:02Again,
• 58:02that may be an area where it
• 58:04becomes a differentiator that
• 58:05we find somebody who's you know
• 58:07most successful at that.
• 58:10Nancy, Greta or any closing remarks you
• 58:12would like to make 'cause you also have,
• 58:15you know beyond the director,
• 58:16search anything else you'd like to say.
• 58:19Uhm, thank you, uh, you know,
• 58:22we've we've been through a challenging 18
• 58:26months with COVID and it's had its impact
• 58:30on your care of cancer patients and.
• 58:34Thank you for continuing to offer
• 58:37outstanding care and you know the
• 58:38highlights of my day or when I get the
• 58:40note from a family member or the patient.
• 58:45Singing your praises and I try to
• 58:46share those back with you, but uhm.
• 58:51It's, you know, recruiting is one
• 58:53of the most fun things to do in
• 58:56this job because you get to see
• 58:58other people get really excited
• 59:00about you and this one has been.
• 59:04Gratifying so far and I
• 59:05look forward to landing.
• 59:06Somebody really grateful. Thank
• 59:08you so much for coming and talking to us.
• 59:10I know the entire our
• 59:14Cancer Center appreciates.
• 59:15I know they're very eager
• 59:17for their next director.
• 59:18I know, although you know,
• 59:20I'm here, I suspect we're all
• 59:22eager for our next director.
• 59:23And thank you also for acknowledging all
• 59:26the hard work this team has been doing.
• 59:28As you know that the cancer team
• 59:30was quite disrupted during code,
• 59:33they have come through brilliantly.
• 59:35Whether it's the nursing team,
• 59:36the physician team,
• 59:37so thank you Nancy for coming again.
• 59:39And everybody have a great evening
• 59:42I I will say
• 59:42thank you again.
• 59:43Will have lots of things to say.
• 59:45Thank you 'cause you're not
• 59:45off the hook yet, but neither
• 59:47you've really stepped up in a
• 59:48big way and so appreciate that.
• 59:50Thanks and and a reminder to everybody.
• 59:52Next town Hall is October 7th
• 59:55at 5:00 PM and then as usual
• 59:58if you have agenda items,
• 59:59email Renee Yelk answers dot dot Edu.
• 01:00:03Thank you everybody.org take
• 01:00:05care everybody. Bye bye.