Filling Our Physicians’ Shoes:
There is Great Promise
I spent most of the first two weeks of this June in Chicago at the
Annual Meetings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
“There is nothing more important to me (ASCO) and the American Medical Association (AMA) which
as a physician than your cancer treatment. were back to back. I was heavily engaged in both, to a level of
exhaustion.
I’ve been in practice for over two
decades and have had the privilege of
telling many patients that there is life
beyond cancer. As president of The Center
for Cancer and Blood Disorders, I want to
lead by example, practicing a firm belief
that all patients should receive the finest
medical care available, with the same
concern and compassion as a cherished
member of the family.” At ASCO, there are hundreds of young Oncology Fellows that
are in training to be our next generation of cancer doctors. I can
attest these new young cancer doctors are extremely bright and
many are already engaged in cancer research that will bring us the
cures for tomorrow.
Ray Page, D.O., Ph.D.
President and Medical Oncologist
The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders At the ASCO meeting, the current Healthcare Policy Fellows that
I have mentored over the last two years were able to meet with
our government agencies (FDA, Medicare) to propose changes
to payment models and the high costs of drugs. I was so proud of
their work. They are truly shining stars.
In fact, our Texas Society of Clinical Oncology this year fully
funded an ASCO Fellow from Texas with a Young Investigator
Award. Furthermore, every year at our annual meeting we have
the young fellows in training present their research. This allows a
great opportunity for us older docs to survey and recruit our next
generation of cancer doctors for our communities.
The AMA House of Delegates (HOD) meeting followed. I am a
Delegate representing ASCO (and all things that impact cancer
care). The HOD represents every fabric of medicine, including a
Medical Student Section (MSS) and a Resident Fellows Section
(RFS). There are close to a couple of hundred young physicians
in training in this group. These guy