The PQI Podcast

S9 E11: Honoring Veterans Through Early Cancer Detection

This Veterans Day, we’re shining a light on care for those who’ve served. Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) O’Donnell, Director of the Multi-Cancer Early Detection Clinic at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, joins the PQI Podcast to discuss the Sentinel Study—a Department of Defense–sponsored clinical trial offering multi-cancer early detection (MCED) testing to U.S. veterans. Through a single blood draw, the test can screen for more than 50 types of cancer, addressing the urgent need for improved screening among veterans, who face a cancer risk nearly 20% higher than the general population. Dr. O’Donnell shares how this innovative study combines science, service, and compassion to bring life-saving research to those who’ve served—and what it could mean for the future of oncology care. Listen to learn more about: * How early detection technology is transforming the future of cancer care * Why veterans face unique cancer risks linked to their service * What makes the Sentinel Study a model for accessible, equitable screening * The personal motivation that drives Dr. O’Donnell’s work For more information on the Sentinel study or to determine eligibility, visit redcap.link/VeteransScreeningStudy [https://redcap.link/VeteransScreeningStudy] or contact the Sentinel Team at dfciprevention@mgb.org [dfciprevention@mgb.org]

S9 E10: Advancing Clinical Research

Before every breakthrough in oncology, there’s phase I research — where innovation, teamwork, and patient trust come together. In this episode, Dr. R. Donald Harvey, PharmD, BCOP, FCCP, FHOPA, FASCO, Vice President of Clinical Research and Executive Director of the Emory Clinical Research Office, joins hosts Ginger Blackmon, PharmD, and Maddy Floysand, PharmD, for an inside look at how early-phase clinical trials lay the groundwork for new cancer therapies. Dr. Harvey, also Professor of Hematology/Medical Oncology and Pharmacology and Associate Dean for Clinical Research at Emory University, shares how phase I studies are evolving to balance discovery, safety, and patient care while expanding access beyond academic centers. He talks about: * How early-phase trials shape the future of oncology treatments * Collaboration between academic and community sites to improve access and equity * The vital role of pharmacists in study design, safety, and education * How AI and data are changing trial design and patient matching * Advice for clinicians and students interested in research careers Dr. Harvey also reflects on the teamwork that drives meaningful progress and what continues to inspire him after decades of leading research that connects science to patient impact.

S9 S9: The Realities of Ethics in Oncology

In cancer care, ethical challenges rarely come with easy answers. When should treatment stop? How do teams manage moral distress? And what happens when AI begins to shape clinical decisions? In this episode, Dr. Nico Nortjé, Executive Director for the Center for Clinical Ethics in Cancer Care at MD Anderson Cancer Center, joins host Ginger to explore how oncology professionals navigate those moments when medical facts and human emotions collide. Dr. Nortjé shares what he’s learned from leading ethics consultations, guiding care teams through end-of-life discussions, moral distress, and the new ethical questions raised by technology. You’ll learn: * How to recognize and address moral distress before it leads to burnout * How ethics consults can turn uncertainty into team alignment * How to approach treatment-limiting conversations with empathy * What to consider when AI starts influencing care decisions Listen for a grounded, thoughtful look at what ethics really means in oncology today.

S9 E8: Mental Strength at Work

We talk a lot about caring for patients — but what about caring for ourselves? This week, Ginger sits down with Amy Morin, LCSW, for an honest conversation about what mental strength really looks like in oncology practice. From navigating grief and burnout to finding balance between empathy and endurance, Amy shares real strategies to stay steady when the work feels heavy. A psychotherapist and bestselling author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, Amy brings both research and personal experience to the table. She and Ginger dig into how to manage compassion fatigue, reframe negative thoughts, and use practical tools, like taking out the mental trash, pleasant activity scheduling, and the two-minute gratitude flash, to build strength day to day. Amy also shares how her own story of loss led to her work helping others, plus a peek into her upcoming Mentally Strong app and The Mental Strength Playbook.

S9 E7: A Haven of Healing

When Dr. Rupa Gupta set out to open Lotus Oncology & Hematology, she wanted more than a clinic — she wanted a sanctuary.  In this episode of the PQI Podcast, Dr. Gupta shares how she built a practice that blends evidence-based treatment with compassion, mindfulness, and community connection. She discusses designing a healing environment filled with light and art, integrating therapies like acupuncture, yoga, and art therapy, and building a culture where staff well-being and patient dignity go hand in hand.  Tune in to hear: * How thoughtful design and empathy transform the patient experience * Integrative therapies that support quality of life * Ways to strengthen team connection and reduce burnout * Why accessibility and trust are key to meaningful, patient-centered care