SROA Soundboard

In the summer of 2023, Dan Kenron and his colleagues identified a significant problem: too many treatment plans were not ready within 24 hours of patients' scheduled treatment start times. The result was compressed timelines, parallel work, staff frustration, quality concerns, and the potential for disruptions to patient care.

In Episode 54 of SROA Soundboard, host Tammy McCausland talks with Dan Kenron, Quality and Accreditation Manager in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Oregon Health and Science University, about how his team tackled the problem.

Dan discusses:

• How the team identified and tracked new start readiness issues
• Using data to understand recurring problems and measure improvement
• Developing a new start calculator with standardized treatment milestones
• Creating clearer ownership and communication across disciplines
• Moving from approximately 50% of plans not ready for treatment to about 8%
• Finding the right balance between useful data and over collection
• Applying high-reliability principles to radiation oncology
• Addressing resistance to process changes
• Improving workflows as patient volume and capacity pressures grow

Dan also shares practical advice for other radiation oncology teams looking to use their own data to identify problems, test changes, and build more resilient processes.

Every healthcare leader has more ideas than time.

Strategic plans often begin with ambitious goals, but translating those goals into practical, achievable work requires thoughtful planning, prioritization, and leadership.

In Episode 53 of SROA Soundboard, Tammy McCausland sits down with Jennifer Willyard, Director of Operations for the Department of Radiation Oncology and Applied Sciences and the Department of Dermatology at Dartmouth Cancer Center, to discuss why healthcare strategies often lose momentum and what leaders can do to move them forward.

Jennifer shares practical approaches for:

• Breaking large strategic goals into manageable projects

• Prioritizing competing initiatives without overwhelming your team

• Avoiding scope creep and resource overload

• Creating visibility, transparency, and accountability

• Engaging frontline staff throughout the planning process

• Building sustainable systems instead of temporary fixes

Jennifer will also expand on these concepts during her General Session, From Intention to Action: Approaches and Tools to Activate Your Strategic Plan, at the 2026 SROA Annual Meeting in Boston.

Whether you're launching a department-wide initiative or refining your organization's strategic priorities, you'll come away with practical ideas you can put into practice immediately.

Change is difficult, even when the benefits seem obvious.

In this episode of SROA Soundboard, Shannon Gregg explores why people naturally resist change and how leaders can successfully guide teams through new initiatives, technologies, and evolving workplace expectations.

Drawing on her experience in healthcare technology, clinical research, and her own journey as a cancer survivor, Shannon shares practical insights on communication, training, leadership, and AI adoption. The conversation highlights why successful change management starts with understanding the people impacted by the change and creating an environment where learning, feedback, and growth can occur.

Whether you are implementing a new process, introducing AI tools, or leading organizational transformation, this episode offers actionable strategies to help move from resistance to adoption.

 

Rural radiation oncology programs are under increasing strain, and proposed Medicaid changes may significantly impact access to care.

In this episode of SROA Soundboard, Dr. Kunal Sindhu discusses how Medicaid cuts could affect rural hospitals, patient access to treatment, and long-term cancer outcomes.

This conversation provides insight into the financial and operational challenges facing rural oncology programs and offers practical guidance for administrators preparing for potential changes.

Carbon ion radiotherapy has treated more than 50,000 patients globally but is now being reintroduced in the United States. Carbon ion radiotherapy represents a significant advancement in cancer treatment, but launching a program of this scale requires detailed operational planning and coordination.

In this episode of SROA Soundboard, we explore how teams are preparing for the implementation of carbon ion radiotherapy through structured workstreams focused on people, workflows, training, competencies, and timelines.

This conversation provides insight into the complexity of introducing new technologies in radiation oncology and highlights the leadership and collaboration required to support successful program development.

Healthcare organizations across the country are experiencing a growing shortage of medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals. To help address this challenge and elevate the visibility of the profession, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) launched its national Be Seen Campaign.

In this episode of SROA Soundboard, host Tammy McCausland is joined by Melissa Pergola, CEO and Executive Director of ASRT, and Jake Buehler, Chief Communications Officer at ASRT.

Together they discuss the inspiration behind the campaign, its goals, and how a multi-channel marketing strategy, including national television, social media, and digital advertising, is helping introduce the profession to new audiences while uplifting current practitioners.

They also share early campaign results, including millions of impressions and increased interest in imaging and therapy education programs across the country.

In This Episode

• Why ASRT launched the Be Seen Campaign
• Addressing the workforce shortage in imaging and therapy professions
• Reaching prospective students through digital and social media
• The impact of national television advertising and streaming campaigns
• Upcoming outreach focused on radiation therapy and medical dosimetry
• How radiation oncology administrators can support the initiative

Learn More

Visit: ASRT.org/BeSeen

 

Medical education is expensive, yet financial literacy receive little attention. Radiation oncology residents face various financial stressors, including high educational debt, limited exposure to personal finance, and the financial toxicity patients may experience. Dr. Afshin Safa discusses a financial literacy curriculum he created, which is delivered to radiation oncology residents at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Amy Tamblyn shares her thoughts on an exciting new certification for radiation oncology nurses that will begin in 2026. She provides helpful information about the certification and its importance.

 

Monique Chisem discusses her experience as the first radiation oncology clinical specialist at the Miami Cancer Institute. She shares how she shaped the role, what she learned, and why more cancer centers should adopt this position.

 

Resilience expert Karen Dean shares helpful tips to help navigate stressful situations, set boundaries and practice self-care.