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.

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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.

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In this episode of The Oncology Insights Podcast, I speak with Dr. Lisa Carter-Bawa, Director of the Cancer Prevention Precision Control Institute at Hackensack Meridian Health, about how stigma, trust, and communication shape cancer prevention and early detection. Dr. Carter-Bawa explores lung cancer screening, patient engagement, behavioral science, and the role of community-based interventions. She also examines how emerging tools such as artificial intelligence and biomarkers intersect with patient behavior and equity. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Lung cancer screening decisions are shaped by stigma and self blame in ways that are not present in many other cancer screening contexts."

Meet the guest: Dr. Lisa Carter-Bawa is a behavioral scientist and nurse practitioner whose work focuses on stigma, trust, and engagement across the cancer prevention continuum. She leads cancer prevention research at Hackensack Meridian Health and oversees community outreach at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her nationally funded research advances lung cancer screening equity through patient-centered communication.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:29) Introduction
• (05:56) Research roles
• (10:24) Screening foundations
• (12:37) Stigma drivers
• (14:41) Awareness gaps
• (18:52) Early detection future
• (23:35) Final Questions

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Oncology Insights Podcast, I speak with Dr. Tony Abraham, President and Medical Director, and Daniel Varghese, CEO of RadiantPath Health, about expanding access to nuclear theranostics in oncology. They explore mobile delivery of Lu-177 PSMA therapy, regulatory and staffing barriers, and patient-centered care models, and examine how bringing advanced treatments into community settings can reduce travel burden and improve therapy completion. Daniel and Dr. Abraham also highlight the role of artificial intelligence, safety standards, and future applications beyond prostate cancer. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Theranostics allows clinicians to precisely identify cancer targets through imaging and then deliver treatment directly to those same sites, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues." - Dr. Tony Abraham

Meet the guests:

Daniel Varghese is a board-certified Physician Assistant and CEO of RadiantPath Health, leading the first mobile nuclear medicine unit in the United States.

Dr. Tony Abraham is a Nuclear Medicine Physician with fellowship training in PET/CT and nuclear oncology, and over 20 years of experience advancing targeted therapeutics in cancer care.

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

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:42) Introduction
• (07:28) Theranostics explained
• (10:11) Patient experience
• (12:10) Access limitations
• (14:51) Staffing barriers
• (22:43) Mobile scheduling
• (40:38) Final Questions

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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