#ASCO19 Opening Session - Focus on Patients

The theme of this year's ASCO Annual meeting was

Caring For Every Patient, Learning From Every Patient

This theme was exhibited in many sessions I attended and highlighted in the Opening Session starting with Dr Bertagnolli, in her President's Address.You may read her complete speech at
https://connection.asco.org/blogs/2019-presidential-address-caring-every-patient-learning-every-patient?cid=DM1990&bid=15208062

First up @ASCOPres announcing mCODE: open source, free data standards that will allow for easier collection of EHR data....the same language for EHRs and the ability to communicate between platforms. This is big for #interoperability #ASCO19 pic.twitter.com/NhNcvBH5Bu

— Amanda Narod (@AmandaBinDC) June 1, 2019

All EHRs need to communicate with each other.
#ASCO19 ASCO President pic.twitter.com/qPVIXIWs81

— Dee Sparacio (@womenofteal) June 1, 2019

Dr Ang, a medical oncologist from Aukland, New Zealand spoke next.

Thank you Dr Ang for your presentation “Chemoboy” and for thanking patients , caregivers, researchers and those who work behind the scenes. “what is the most important thing in the world -the people “ #gyncsm #ASC019 pic.twitter.com/XOPQsk5v4A

— Dee Sparacio (@womenofteal) June 1, 2019

Having read two books Dr Atul Gawande wrote,  I was thrilled to be able to hear him in person.

You can serve a patient’s quality of life and quantity of life, #ASCO19 @Atul_Gawande

— Dee Sparacio (@womenofteal) June 1, 2019

 As I heard these next words I thought of how it matched with what I would be saying later that afternoon in the Fireside Chat with Dr Dickson.

Yes patients have goals and priorities! #gncsm #ASCO19
Less then a quarter of the time physicians don’t ask! @Atul_Gawande

— Dee Sparacio (@womenofteal) June 1, 2019

Palliative care can make a difference . @DanaFarber study. @Atul_Gawande #ASCO19 pic.twitter.com/JsbSc8dce3

— Dee Sparacio (@womenofteal) June 1, 2019

It was a privilege to speak at this year's ASCO meeting and Tweet from the meeting.
I was moved by the dedication of the over 40,000 health care providers -surgeons, oncologists, nurses, social workers, and researchers from around the globe who attended the meeting to learn how to improve cancer patient care. Thank you to each and every one of them.


Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!