Bridging Innovation and Outreach to Overcome Global Gaps in Radiation Oncology Through Information and Communication Tools, Trainee Advancement, Engaging Industry, Attention to Ethical Challenges, and Political Advocacy.
An evolving paradigm in global outreach in radiation oncology has been the implementation of a more region-specific, needs-based approach to help close the gap in radiation services to low- and middle-income countries through the use of innovative tools in information and communication technology. This report highlights 4 information and communication technology tools in action today: (1) the NCCN Framework for Resource Stratification of NCCN guidelines, (2) ASTRO e-Contouring, (3) i.treatsafely.org, and (4) ChartRounds.com. We also render special consideration to matters related to global outreach that we believe require distinct attention to help us meet the goals established by the 2011 United Nations׳ Declaration on noncommunicable diseases: (1) trainee advancement toward careers in global health, (2) ethical challenges of international outreach, (3) critical importance of political advocacy, and (4) collaboration with Industry.
Department of Radiation Oncology, DeCesaris Cancer Institute, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, MD.
Luqman
L
Dad
Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA.
Trevor J
TJ
Royce
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI.
Zachary
Z
Morris
Department of Radiation Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
Meena
M
Moran
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.
Todd
T
Pawlicki
Department of Radiation Oncology, Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Valley Medical Oncology Consultants, San Francisco Bay Area, CA.
Deepak
D
Khuntia
Department of Radiation Oncology, Shaw Regional Cancer Center, Edwards, CO.
Patricia
P
Hardenbergh
Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada.
Bernard
B
Cummings
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
Nina
N
Mayr
Department of Radiation Oncology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY. Electronic address: Kenneth.hu@nyumc.org.
Kenneth
K
Hu
D001288:Attention; D003142:Communication; D003906:Developing Countries; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D011057:Politics; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000193:education / Q000941:ethics