The Accelerators Podcast

Send us Fan Mail The Accelerators Podcast hosts Dr. Simul Parikh and Dr. Matt Spraker invite Radiation Oncologist Dr. Mudit Chowdhary  on the show to discuss the recently released, controversial study of Enzalutamide monotherapy versus active surveillance for low or intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer. Our discussion of this study dovetails in to other related topics including conflicts of...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to The Last Crusade, part 3 of our 3 part series to honor to the newest class of ABR Diplomates! In this episode, friend of the show Dr. Jason Beckta examines another host of The Accelerators Podcast, Dr. Matt Spraker , with the same mock gynecologic oncology section faced by Dr. Simul Parikh . Podcast art generously donated by Dr. Danielle Cunningham .

Send us Fan Mail In part 2 of our 3-part series on the oral boards, we flip the script! Friend-of-the-show Dr. Jason Beckta interviews Accelerator Dr. Matt Spraker in a fireside chat about standardized tests, #RadOnc oral boards, and life as an early career attending.  Don't miss part 3, in which Matt struggles through Jason's gynecologic oncology oral boards section. Here are some thing...

Send us Fan Mail It's that time of year again, welcome to the newest class of ABR Diplomates! To honor them, The Accelerators are releasing a 3 part series related to the oral boards! In part 1, Dr. Jason Beckta , a busy generalist, examines Dr. Simul Parikh for the gynecologic oncology section. He hasn't treated a case in 6 years. Good luck Dr. Parikh! Podcast art generously donated by...

Send us Fan Mail Drs. Simul Parikh and Matt Spraker host health care quality experts radiation oncologist Dr. Marsha Haley and MROQC program manager Melissa Mietzel , MS for a discussion about everyone's favorite topic: patient satisfaction scores! We begin with a discussion of Marsha's recent graduate work, a systemic review of whether patient satisfaction measures such as Press-Gainey...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Simul Parikh hosts Dr. Austin Dove for a fireside chat about his new review article in the Red Journal on low-dose radiotherapy for osteoarthritis (OA).  In this episode, Austin reviews the history of low-dose radiotherapy for OA, which includes multiple prospective studies evaluating efficacy and safety of the technique. These studies show that one example, 0.5 Gy x 6 fractio...

Send us Fan Mail Sim orders, documentation, prior auth, oh my! Is it death by 1000 clicks? The Accelerators Podcast (Drs. Anna Laucis , Simul Parikh , and Matt Spraker) host their first industry experts for an intimate discussion on the radiotherapy workflow: David Lindsey (CEO, Oncora Medical and graduating MD/PhD student), Sasa Mutic (SVP, Varian Medical Systems ), Jacob Philip (CEO, Medlever ),...

Send us Fan Mail #RadOnc legend Dr. Ralph Weichselbaum joins The Accelerators (Drs. Anna Laucis , Simul Parikh , and Matt Spraker ) for one of our favorite episodes ever. We kick off by discussing how to #MedTwitter, the state of technology and proton therapy, and radiation resource allocation. Then we discuss Ralph and Sam Hellman's 1995 paper, Oligometastases, the history of the concept, an...

Send us Fan Mail Drs. Anna Laucis and Simul Parikh use the recent criminal case of RaDonda Vaught to launch an introductory discussion of medical errors in #RadOnc. In this informal chat, they discuss important quality and safety concepts and share their experiences with incident learning, safety culture and, of course, Swiss cheese. 

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Todd Scarbrough and Dr. Nick Zaorsky (http://zaorsky.com/) join Dr. Matt Spraker for a jobs show boost! In this show we take a deep dive on radiotherapy utilization in the US. We start our exploration by reviewing a recent Cancer publication from Nick's team evaluating facility volumes. By reformatting Nick's data presentation, Todd discovers that utilization exists...

Send us Fan Mail Drs. Anna Laucis , Simul Parikh , and Matt Spraker jump behind their mics to record a live podcast during the lunch break of day 1 of the 2022 ASTRO Refresher Course.  Yes, we had a live Zoom audience! In this unplanned and unedited chat, we discuss #RadOnc The NRMP Match 2022 and SOAP results, more on the job market, and Matt's favorite: Prior Authorization! At the end, we f...

Send us Fan Mail Accelerator Dr. Simul Parikh and friend of the show Dr. Jason Beckta join Dr. Todd Scarbrough as he signs on live from #ACRO2022!  In this unfiltered, slightly edited chat, they debrief on the job market and discuss the RO-APM, adaptive radiotherapy, breast IMRT, and more!  And remember folks, #PantsArentReal

Send us Fan Mail The Accelerators (Drs. Anna Laucis, Simul Parikh, and Matt Spraker) are joined by Drs. Jason Beckta , Emma Fields , Todd Scarborough , and Chirag Shah to discuss the #RadOnc job market. Join us on an epic journey through the past, present, and future of the job market. We  cover the highly variable written record of the #RadOnc workforce, how patient volumes are changing with hypo...

Send us Fan Mail In our final episode of 2021, Drs. Laura Dover (@LauraDoverMD), Caleb Dulaney, and Samuel Marcrom from QuadShot News (@QuadShotNews) join the The Accelerators (Drs. Anna Laucis, Matt Spraker, and Simul Parikh) for a scientific year in review!  The reports of our death are greatly exaggerated; it was a great year in #RadOnc science! Join us as we review our favorite articles of the...

Send us Fan Mail In the final part of our Builders series, we all gather around for a fireside chat with #MedEd all-stars Dr. Erqi Pollom and Dr. Jenna Kahn ( @JennaMKahn ). The Accelerators (Drs. Anna Laucis , Matt Spraker , and Simul Parikh ) interview the founders of ROVER, the Radiation Oncology Virtual Education Rotation . Dr. Pollom is an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (and Neuros...

Send us Fan Mail The Accelerators ( Dr. Anna Laucis , Dr. Matt Spraker , and Dr. Simul Parikh ) host a very special episode on the Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model. We are joined by expert guests Anne Hubbard (Director of Health Policy, ASTRO), Dr. Constantine Mantz (Chief Policy Officer, GenesisCare), Dave Adler (Vice President of Advocacy, ASTRO), Join Luh (Providence Health and CARR...

Send us Fan Mail In part 3 of our Builders series, Dr. Matt Spraker interviews radiation oncologist and implementation scientist Dr. Erin Gillespie ( @ErinGillespieMD ).  Dr. Gillespie is an Assistant Attending Radiation Oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor at University of California San Diego. She is the co-creator of the popul...

Send us Fan Mail In part 2 of our Builders series, Dr. Simul Parikh interviews the infamous Dr. Emma Holliday ( @DrEmmaHolliday ).  Dr. Holliday is an Assistant Professor in the Gastrointestinal Radiation Oncology Section at MD Anderson, but she is also well known for her famous self exam review videos. They discuss how the videos were initially recorded as a favor to a classmate, but now have bee...

Send us Fan Mail In part 1 of our Builders series, Dr. Laucis interviews one of our field's rising stars, Dr. Danielle Cunningham. She is a PGY4 radiation oncology resident physician at Mayo Clinic in Rochester and creates stunning medical illustrations on the side. Dr. Cunningham shares how she used peer review of her early illustrations to overcome fear of sharing her creations with the wor...

Send us Fan Mail It’s September and we’ve got Application Fever!  On Episode 3 of The Accelerators Podcast, Matt is joined by Dr. Ilana Rosman and Dr. Bryan Carmody for a deep dive on the medical residency application and selection process. Bryan, the self-proclaimed “Sheriff of Sodium” is a prolific blogger, raises awareness about conflicts of interest and other issues that poison The Match. Ilan...

Send us Fan Mail The Accelerators (Drs. Laucis, Parikh, and Spraker) welcome Dr. Toby Chapman and Dr. Jerry Jaboin to discuss practical tips for getting started as a #RadOnc attending. We explore how to meet referring clinicians, being affable while maintaining work-life balance, and how to be your tumor board’s favorite oncologist - or not.  At the end, Jerry serves up the introductory wellness m...

Send us Fan Mail The Accelerators (Drs. Laucis, Parikh, and Spraker) welcome radiation oncology program directors Dr. Christina Henson (University of Oklahoma) and Dr. Sarah McAvoy (University of Maryland) to discuss practical tips for succeeding in residency.  We explore how to reflect and accept feedback, balance your life while training in an apprenticeship model, shaping your career, and share...