Oncoalesce
Why do we need Oncoalesce?
How do Oncologists address the problem of learning about and then incorporating new products and services when they are so busy just staying afloat? How can they determine that corporate marketing is reliably presenting the true data? Can and should we trust anecdotal data? What if it is from a friend or mentor?
I am proud to launch a new company that will allow the profession to communicate more effectively and efficiently, to help oncologists understand how they can adopt new technologies and what are the benefits to patients in their care.
So, what is Oncoalesce?
Veterinary Oncology has over 25 companies with products or services specifically for our market. All companies are invited to become part of Oncoalesce.
Oncoalesce will employ a panel of oncologists from across the country. They will be appointed from all areas of the profession, will have an open mind and will demonstrate an active desire to drive new technologies forward.
Companies will meet every quarter with the panel. They will discuss the pros and cons of a product or service, how they can be used, what types of patients will benefit the most, what to look out for, new trial data and calls for investigator lead trials, clinical experiences etc.
They all arrive at a consensus of how the existing and new products can be used. After each meeting the notes are compiled into a succinct easy to absorb working document by the panel and this is shared with all oncologists across the country.
You (the clinician) end up with a manageable regular refresher, written by oncologists, some of whom you should know. I am hoping you will be able to trust their information they have provided, reach out for any clarification and you will feel confident to adopt to the new technologies wherever possible to help the patients in your care. Over time the communication from this coalition will be the driving force behind positive change.
More details will follow over the next few months.
If you have any comments or you are interested in being on the panel, please email me.
Oncoalesce Monographs
To read previous editions of Oncoalesce, please download the PDFs.
BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ONCOALESCE PANEL
If you are interested in being part of this team, please email me with a short description of why you think this new movement could be of value to the profession, why you want to help and why you would be a productive member of the team.
Job description
Twice a year, a remote meeting will be held lasting approximately 4 hours. It will be held on a Friday. The newly appointed panel will be expected to be present for these meetings (barring vacation, unforeseen stuff, etc.).
An additional two meetings will be held but the discussion will take the form of an online forum over a few days. Views can be discussed over this time on the forum with the contributions of each individual expected to take around 4 hours, but in their own time rather than a set 4-hour period, thus it can fit in with their normal schedule.
Participating oncologists will be paid a professional hourly rate for this commitment totaling 4x4 hours i.e. 16 hours a year. On top of this they will be required to read papers and literature ahead of the meetings and be open to answer enquiries from their colleagues to help clarify any points raised in the meetings.
This project is comparable to a group of Key Opinion Leaders meeting up but is composed of newer faces who want to help but often get overlooked. It will be diverse and dynamic. It will be the team that coalesces veterinary oncology.
It will be Oncoalesce.