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The members of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) recently elected five new officers to ASTRO’s Board of Directors: Neha Vapiwala, MD, FASTRO, as President-elect; Jean Wright, MD, FASTRO, as Clinical Affairs & Quality Council Vice Chair; Andrea Ng, MD, MPH, FASTRO, as Education Council Vice Chair; Christopher Corso, MD, PhD, as Government Relations Council Vice Chair; and Malika Siker, MD, FASTRO, as Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (HEDI) Council Vice Chair. The officers will begin their terms October 1 at ASTRO’s 66th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. 

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The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) issued the following statement from Jeff M. Michalski, MD, MBA, FASTRO, Chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors, in response to the proposed 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) released yesterday by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): “The declines in reimbursement for radiation therapy services for people with cancer under the Medicare physician fee schedule are disappointing.

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The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) selected 48 distinguished members to receive the ASTRO Fellow (FASTRO) designation for its 2024 class of Fellows. These physician leaders will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, October 1 during ASTRO’s 66th Annual Meeting. The ASTRO Fellows program recognizes individuals who have made substantial contributions to the Society and to the field of radiation oncology through research, education, patient care and service to the field.

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The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) announced today that following a nationwide search, Vivek S. Kavadi, MD, MBA, FASTRO will become CEO of the Society effective November 1, 2024.

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The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) published today an updated clinical guideline that details best practices for using radiation therapy to treat patients who have oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

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The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) applauded today’s introduction of bipartisan federal legislation to address critical flaws in the prior authorization process. “The prior authorization system in its current form is ineffective and harmful to patients, creating unnecessary delays to lifesaving cancer treatments and distress for the people who need them,” said Jeff M. Michalski, MD, MBA, FASTRO, Chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors.

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The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) published an updated clinical guideline that details best practices for treating patients who have symptomatic bone metastases and ways to improve their quality of life. The guideline is available as a free access article in Practical Radiation Oncology. “Radiation therapy is a cornerstone of care for patients with symptomatic bone metastases, offering a nonsurgical option for fast pain relief and improved quality of life with minimal side effects,” said Tracy Balboni, MD, MPH, chair of the guideline task force.

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Registration opens today for the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO) 66th Annual Meeting, which will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., September 29 – October 2, 2024. Media registration is also available.

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Today marks a significant milestone in cancer care with the introduction of bipartisan federal legislation that would revolutionize Medicare reimbursement for radiation therapy.

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Research on patient-centered treatment of head and neck cancers will be presented at the 2024 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium, which takes place in Phoenix and online today through March 2. Media registration is available. Studies recommended by symposium leadership for media are noted below, and outside experts are available to provide commentary.

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The 2024 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium will take place February 29 to March 2 in Phoenix and via livestream for virtual attendees.

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Today, the largest professional societies representing radiation oncology physicians in the United States announced a partnership with the goal of reforming radiation oncology Medicare payments to expand and enhance access to high quality care for people with cancer.

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The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) today announced that CEO Laura Thevenot plans to retire at the end of 2024 after leading the organization since 2002. During Thevenot’s tenure at ASTRO, membership grew by over 50% to its current level of more than 10,500 physicians, biologists, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and other health care professionals. Additionally, the association’s professional staff expanded from 18 in 2002 to more than 80 currently.

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The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) announced today that Rachel Jimenez, MD, will become the new editor-in-chief of Advances in Radiation Oncology, ASTRO's gold open access journal. Dr. Jimenez, an associate professor of radiation oncology at Harvard Medical School and the chair of quality and safety in radiation oncology at Mass General Cancer Center, will begin her five-year term in March 2024. Dr. Jimenez will succeed Robert C. Miller, MD, MBA, FASTRO, who has served as editor-in-chief since the journal was founded in 2015.

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The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) today expressed its support for President Joe Biden’s intended appointment of W.

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The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) issued today a clinical guideline on partial breast irradiation for patients with early-stage invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

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The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) issued the following statement in response to the final 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) released today: “ASTRO is deeply disappointed that CMS finalized an additional 2% cut to reimbursement for radiation therapy in today’s MPFS final rule.

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The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) recognized the recipients of its 2023 Gold Medal awards and other high-profile honors during an awards ceremony at the 65th ASTRO Annual Meeting in San Diego. Photos from the ceremony are available online.

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Using previously taken diagnostic computed tomography (CT) scans in place of CT simulation scans to plan simple palliative radiation treatments can substantially reduce the time some people spend waiting for urgent treatment, improving the patient experience, a new study suggests.

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A novel liquid biopsy test may help determine which patients with non-small cell lung cancer that has spread beyond the lungs are most likely to benefit from targeted, high-dose radiation, rather than drug-based therapy, a new study suggests.