OncoDaily Magazine – Inaugural Issue

We are excited to announce that the Inaugural issue of OncoDaily Magazine was launched on May 31st and distributed with thousands of copies at the ASCO 2024 Annual Meeting.

The two-sided magazine, consisting of Part 1 and Part 2 part 2 had exclusive content including

1. A special interview with the 2025-2026 ASCO President-Elect Eric J. Small – Blending Science and Compassion.
2. A piece by Penilla Gunther discussing the importance of collaborative efforts to eliminate disparities in cancer care.
3. What is Mentorship? – an article exploring the crucial role of mentorship in the medical community, especially for budding oncologists.
4. Practical tips and strategies for healthcare professionals to achieve a healthy balance between their demanding careers and personal lives. An engaging feature revealing the personal hobbies and interests of some of the leading figures in oncology.
5. An exploration of leadership within oncology, highlighting the qualities that make an effective leader in this critical field.
6. The first Global Summit on War and Cancer by OncoDaily, featuring an opening speech by the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, ASCO CMO Julie Gralow, Prof. Richard Sullivan and others.
7. Oncothon by OncoDaily to raise funds for pediatric cancer research.
8. Advancing Clinical Cancer Research in Armenia: The experience of the Immune Oncology Research Institute.
9. An exclusive interview with Benny Johnson, Senior Medical Director at Agenus, offering insights into his career, contributions to oncology, and thoughts on the future of cancer care.
10. And 100 Influential Women in Oncology by OncoDaily: Key Opinion Leaders to Follow on Social Media in 2023

Sneak peek into the first edition of OncoDaily Magazine

Blending Science and Compassion: Exclusive Conversation with ASCO President-Elect Eric J. Small

Why Oncology?

“Oncology offered a career that blended the best of both worlds – an exciting scientific environment, and the opportunity to work with people.”

Any memorable experiences with a patient?

“A patient… told my daughter, that if there were times when her dad wasn’t home… she should know that I was helping patients like him in a really scary time.”

Hobbies?

“I love to bake… I especially like baking bread… I also love hiking… And yes, I am a bit of a cat lady, currently with 3 in the house!”

Kindness matters!

“I don’t think academic or professional advancement in oncology is mutually exclusive of being kind.”

“It is so vital that we continue to find joy in the little victories each day.” – Benny Johnson

…

“I never knew how close to this disease I would eventually come.”

Family member with cancer in a clinical trial

“If you can have access to a novel clinical trial that makes sense, you should pursue it. In our situation, there were logistical considerations that needed to be thought through and side effects unique to the trial drugs that she needed to understand. As her husband and advocate, I just wanted to offer my wife all the options and ultimately let her make the best decision for her.

I am incredibly proud of her willingness and bravery to enroll in a clinical trial, appreciating how scary it must have been for her to decide while still processing the diagnosis of early-onset colon cancer and simultaneously understanding the nuances of experimental therapy.”

Maintaining hope and advice to caregivers

“I think one way to maintain hope during such a difficult time is to remember the journey is genuinely purposeful and each moment matters- find ways to celebrate your loved one daily. It is so vital that we continue to find joy in the little victories each day. We have been saying to each other simply to “take it one day at a time.”

Penilla Gunther: “Reducing Inequities in Cancer Care Demands Collaboration”

“The inequity in cancer care within countries and between countries is striking. I am happy that the European Commission took the important decision some years ago to create and implement a cancer plan for the European Union with the aim of reducing inequities. I know that the United States has its Cancer Moonshot since 2016, that also has brought together a large community of patients, advocates, researchers, and clinicians who are dedicated to advancing research to improve the lives of people with cancer, those at risk, and their families.

I think we can agree that we have never had so many opportunities in history to treat and cure cancer as now.

To reduce inequities in cancer care demands awareness and not the least, a willingness to see results. Understanding that, is the first step.

Good intentions cannot replace the reality of a need for economical sustainability to projects when changes are made.

My belief is that independent of the financial resources in each country, we need to collaborate more over the country and organizational borders for a continuous exchange of knowledge and information.”

Mentorship and Leadership

“I became a pediatric oncologist because the mentors I could find were such great people that they made me say, ‘I want to be like that,’ and they were oncologists.”
Guillermo Chantada, President of SIOP, OncoDaily Board Member

“I feel if it comes down to what’s the most important thing I’m doing at this point in my career, it’s supporting the bright young minds and helping them take over my role.”
Julie Gralow, Chief Medical Officer of ASCO

“It’s almost like dating a little bit. I think if you can’t see yourself comfortably conversing with someone even in early conversations and it doesn’t feel right, then I don’t even know if it’s worth taking the next step.”
Aparna Parikh, Director of the Global Cancer Care Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, OncoDaily Board Member

“Don’t take an easy problem. Take on a tough problem if you want to study it because that’s where all the efforts are needed.”
Leo Mascarenhas, Director of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s Hospital

“Stimulating original thinking is essential in mentorship. It’s crucial to have people like that in the field who prioritize the development of young investigators and early-career scientists, and my mentors have exemplified that for me.”
Lillian Siu, President-Elect of AACR

“There are different leadership styles. First, Be humble.”
Andrés Wiernik, the Medical Director of the Cancer and Hematology Center of the Metropolitano Hospital.

“True leadership is a learned skill. It sounds easy, but you’re building the plane while you’re flying it most times when you’re in a leadership position.”
Therese Mulvey, the Director of Breast Oncology at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) North Shore Cancer Center.

and more from Matti Aapro, Françoise Meunier, Piotr Wysocky, Nagashree Seetharamu, Philip Philip, Aaron Weissa and Yelena Janjigian.

Pioneering Medicine: Professor Robert Peter Gale’s Remarkable Story

…

Setbacks and challenges

“The most challenging thing we face as physicians is when our attempts to help someone fail. But we have no choice but to press on. Sometimes bureaucracy can be an obstacle but I don’t need to remind anyone in Armenia of this.”

Legacy

“I am reminded of a quote from Woody Allen when asked would he like to live on in the hearts and minds of his fans. He said: I’d rather live in my apartment. But of course, our most important professional legacy is successes of people we have trained.”

Hobbies of Renowned Oncologists

“I have a superpower to be able to, on very short notice, half an hour or less, prepare a big meal for a large group of people.” – ?

“My colleague and I, for example, signed up for kickboxing… and it’s fun!” – ??

From baseball to cooking, oncologists share a variety of hobbies that help them unwind. Hiking, kickboxing, travel, reading, listening to podcasts, hockey, cycling… find out who likes what from Julie Gralow, John Gore, Lillian Siu, Douglas Flora, Pasi A. Jänne, Enrique Sotto and Yelena Janjigian.

Crossroads of Insight: Art, Books and Movies

Check out some of the suggested books, movies and art pieces and share your opinion with us! Read Biography of Jean Monet, watch Past Lives by Celine Song and go see the Sky Above Clouds by Georgia O’Keeffe and let us know your own suggestions.

Download the part 1 and part 2 of OncoDaily Magazine.