In this episode of The Oncology Insights Podcast, I speak with Dr. Wade Swenson, medical oncologist at Lakewood Health System and founder of the Rural Cancer Institute, about the challenges of delivering cancer care in underserved rural communities. He explores the rural cancer gap, social determinants of health, screening barriers, and the role of policy and workforce development. Dr. Swenson also highlights innovative models for decentralizing care while maintaining quality standards. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Lung cancer accounts for a large portion of the rural cancer mortality gap, highlighting the need for improved screening and early detection strategies."

Meet the guest: Dr. Wade Swenson is a medical oncologist specializing in rural cancer care delivery and founder of the Rural Cancer Institute. He serves at Lakewood Health System and holds academic roles at TCU and the University of North Dakota. His work focuses on reducing disparities, improving access, and advancing oncology workforce development in underserved regions.

Read the full research articles:

Kava, Christine M., et al. "Differences in lung cancer death rates by rural vs. urban status in comparison to all-cancer death rates—United States, 1999–2020." Cancer epidemiology 95 (2025): 102763.

Walker, Margaret R., et al. "Challenges and Opportunities for Rural Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Care." Journal of the American College of Radiology 22.12 (2025): 1609-1617.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now. Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:51) Introduction
• (05:55) Rural disparities
• (07:19) Social determinants
• (06:11) Care models
• (18:43) Screening barriers
• (24:25) Policy advocacy
• (35:16) Final Questions

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Oncology Insights Podcast

Instagram: The Oncology Insights Podcast

LinkedIn: The Oncology Insights Podcast