ASTRO 2024 opps for students, Nonmalignant diseases webinar series, GR, HP Fellowships
July 24, 2024
| Annual Meeting opportunities for students | |
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ASTRO has organized a hybrid in-person/virtual event designed for undergraduate, graduate and medical students to learn more about a career in radiation oncology and the radiation sciences. The 2024 Aspiring Scientists and Physicians Program (ASPP) welcomes all students, but it is particularly oriented toward students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in medicine. Students will meet and have lunch with radiation oncology faculty, residency program directors, physicists and residents to learn more about radiation oncology, cancer treatment and cancer research as they consider their career options. The ASPP registration deadline is September 12. |
| ASTRO 2024: Sessions by disease site; Advance rate savings and more! |
| If you haven’t registered for ASTRO 2024 yet, check your email from earlier this week to learn about sessions of interest based on disease site. Register by August 15 to take advantage of the discounted Advance rate and book your housing before our room blocks sell out! Maximize your meeting experience using the Annual Meeting Portal to plan and save your schedule. You can search the schedule by date, title, presenter, track, session type and focus area. |
| Announcing a new RT for nonmalignant diseases webinar series | |
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This series will provide an overview of historical and contemporary indications for radiation therapy in the treatment of nononcological conditions such as ventricular tachycardia, plantar fasciitis, Dupuytren's and Ledderhose diseases, osteoarthritis and functional brain disorders. The presenters will review data supporting the use of radiation therapy for these conditions, describe the biological mechanisms of efficacy, and provide practical instructions on how to treat. View the series live or take advantage of it onDemand, which is included with registration. View the schedule, topics and speakers and register now for Expanding the Scope of Radiation Therapy for Nonmalignant Diseases, kicking off on August 28! |
| Did you miss the RPT curriculum series? Purchase onDemand in the ASTRO Academy |
| Beyond the Beam, a 15-hour in-depth curriculum designed specifically for radiation oncology residents and practicing radiation oncologists who are planning or participating in a radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) clinical program is now available as an onDemand Course on the ASTRO Academy. The curriculum broadly covers the topics recommended for RPT education by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including physics, radiobiology, chemistry, molecular imaging, dosimetry, radiation protection, regulatory issues, quality and safety, and therapy-specific considerations. Learn more about the complete series or one of the optional packages. |
| Apply now for ASTRO’s 2025 Government Relations Resident Fellowship or Health Policy Fellowship | |
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Are you a radiation oncology resident interested in government relations, including congressional advocacy? If so, ASTRO’s Government Relations (GR) Fellowship program is for you. The GR Fellow will participate in all advocacy meetings and functions, including meetings with members of Congress or their staff. The GR Fellow will also receive an Emerging Advocacy Grassroots Leader award for travel to Advocacy Day. Read more from Dr. Aaron Bush, ASTRO’s 2024 GR Fellow, and apply by August 23.
Additionally, the ASTRO Health Policy (HP) Fellowship applications are open! The HP Fellowship is designed to provide exposure to ASTRO’s health policy reimbursement and coding activities and to develop the next generation of ASTRO health policy leaders. Submit your application by September 13. |
| CMS proposes limited change for 2025 Quality Payment Program |
| On July 10, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the 2024 Quality Payment Program (QPP) proposed rule that includes modest policy changes to the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), the MIPS Value Pathways (MVP) framework, including the Advancing Cancer MPV, and the Advanced Alternative Payment Model program. More information can be found in ASTRO’s summary. |
| Palmetto rejections for simulations and 3-D plans resolve |
| ASTRO members have recently experienced inappropriate claim rejections involving simulations (CPT 77290) and 3-D plans (CPT 77295), particularly in breast cancer cases. After engaging with Palmetto and other Medicare Advantage plans, ASTRO was able to resolve the issue. For more information, see What’s Happening in Washington. |
| Final reminder! Guidelines task force application closes July 29 |
| ASTRO will close applications for the upcoming task force to develop a guideline replacement on Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer. Interested members may apply for consideration or forward this information to interested colleagues by July 29. |
| Reminder: ASTRO accepting applications for Leadership Pathway Program |
| Applications for the 2024-2026 Leadership Pathway Program are open now through August 14. The Leadership Pathway Program aims to enhance the career advancement of a new generation of diverse leaders. The two-year program includes activities specifically designed to increase awardees’ knowledge of ASTRO’s governance structure, expand their networks through assignments to an ASTRO Council, and augment their leadership skills. |
