AON Inside The Network, Winter 2023-24

WINTER 2023-24

Breaking Down Silos to Harness the Power of Collaboration

Honoring Patients Through Their Stories The Fight for Equitable Cancer Care in African American Communities Case Study: Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTS:

Ryan Olson, MD, and Katherine Mondada, PA-C, MPAS

WINTER 2023-24

CONTENTS FEATURES 06 Honoring Patients Through Their Stories 10 The Fight for Equitable Cancer Care in African American Communities 14 Case Study: Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute Teams Up with American Oncology Network to Advance Quality Care, Improve Bottom Line 20 Breaking Down Silos to Harness the Power of Collaboration

6 PEOPLE AND PLACES 24 Leadership Spotlight: Katie Goodman

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26 Employee Spotlights: Ryan Olson, MD, and Katherine Mondada, PA-C, MPAS 28 Nutrition Bites: Create and Nurture Healthy Habits for a Lifetime 32 Patient Story: Hollie from Hematology Oncology of Indiana

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We welcome your feedback, article suggestions and photos (high resolution please).

Email to AONCommunications@AONcology.com

LEADERSHIP LETTER

LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP With a new year comes new possibilities — and these opportunities are bright for AON. It's your passion and perseverance, intertwined with your unwavering commitment to our mission and patients, that propelled us to such remarkable achievements in recent years. These are the very cornerstones that fueled our 2023 triumphs, paving a bright path forward to closing the cancer care gap.

Collaboration is a word that rings true when I reflect on our achievements.

Collaboration is a powerful force that permeates throughout our organization.

As we embrace the new year, I urge us to further strengthen our ties, both within teams and across departments. Together, we are exponentially more impactful and poised to become transformative forces within our communities and the industry.

“For AON, collaboration extends beyond the organization’s boundary to welcome like-minded partners, where together, we can further our mission and impact.”

Collaboration is not merely a celebratory word or theme for us this year, but one that is a tidal wave resonating throughout the healthcare profession. In addition to serving as AON’s chief medical officer and medical oncologist at Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute, I sit on the board of directors for the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), a fellow leader in community oncology. This year’s COA conference’s theme is “Stronger Together,” which illustrates the importance of collaboration.

For AON, collaboration extends beyond the organization’s boundary to welcome like-minded partners, where together, we can further our mission and impact. AON’s collaboration with multiple independent medical practices across the nation and organizations preserves the delivery of high-quality healthcare in our communities.

In an industry dominated by large healthcare systems, the spirit of collaboration is crucial for community oncology and our practices across the nation. By harnessing collective expertise and having a unified front, we can navigate the ever-changing healthcare landscape and ensure our patients continue to receive the personalized, high-quality care and services that they deserve.

Let’s carry collaboration into our daily practice this year. Let’s work together, learn from each other and further advocate for our patients. Together, we can continue to bridge the cancer care gap and revolutionize our industry, securing better futures for all cancer patients.

Here’s to making a difference the AON way. Happy 2024.

Stephen “Fred” Divers, MD AON’s Chief Medical Officer

Winter 2023-24

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IN THE NEWS Shiela Plasencia Highlights COA Health Equity Initiatives

Collaboration Is Key to Execute Value-Based Care for Patients With Cancer

Shiela Plasencia, director of practice support, Community Oncology Alliance (COA), addresses the importance of health equity at the COA Payer Exchange Summit and shares examples of work done by Alti Rahman, AON chief strategy & innovation officer and Susan Sabo-Wagner, vice president clinical innovation.

Value-based care is often discussed in the context of oncology, where care does not come cheap and its associated toxicities — both financial and clinical — can have a substantial impact on patient quality of life. Coverage of the Institute for ValueBased Medicine session with Zangmeister Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio.

Learn more Sharing Solutions for Financial and Other CancerRelated Hardships On December 5, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) — an alliance of leading cancer centers — hosted a Patient Advocacy Summit to explore the role of navigation throughout the cancer process. A diverse group of subject matter experts including Alti Rahman, AON chief strategy & innovation officer, addressed the impact patient navigation has on care and how to utilize navigators to reduce economic burdens and disparities in care.

Learn more AON Joins Nasdaq to Further Patient-Centric Community Oncology Care The American Oncology Network (AON), which provides community oncologists with access to resources to elevate the level of care through a patient-centered approach, has started trading on Nasdaq with the goal of continuing the growth of the organization, according to Stephen “Fred” Divers, MD. Learn more Innovation in Value-Based Care Requires More Data, Patient-Centered Thinking With the Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM) now underway for the 44 oncology practices that enrolled in the model by July 1, 2023, continued innovation in the value-based care space seems inevitable. In a panel discussion at the 2023 PatientCentered Oncology Care® meeting held in Nashville, Tennessee, a panel of experts including Stephen “Fred” Divers, MD, AON chief medical officer, discussed the EOM and key tools for providers in the movement toward value-based care in oncology.

Learn more

Learn more Expert: The Growth of the 340B Drug Pricing Program Has Influenced the Landscape of Cancer Care Pharmacy Times interviewed Melody Chang, RPh, MBA, BCOP, vice president of pharmacy operations at American Oncology Network, on the 340B Drug Pricing Program and its impact on community oncology.

Learn more Oncology Pharmacists “Approve Every Regimen That Gets Built Into the Oncology EMR,” Yet Pharma Often Overlooks Their Role Brian Mulherin, MD, AON medical director and an oncologist at Hematology Oncology of Indiana, explained that a concerning patient case involving such a scheme occurred on his practice’s oral oncolytics team recently.

Learn more Data Show New Treatment Options for Patients With Liver Cancer May Be on the Horizon Douglas Braun, PharmD, RPh, CPH, CSP, shares how hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) are the two primary types of adult primary liver cancer, with HCC at approximately 75% of liver cancers.

Learn more The Impact of Health Care Industry Consolidation on Cancer Care and Partnerships In a presentation at the 2023 Clinical Pathways Congress with the Cancer Care Business Exchange, Ronald Barkley, MS, JD, from the Cancer Center Business Development Group; Harlan Levine, MD, president of Health Innovation and Policy at City of Hope; Barbara McAneny, MD, CEO of New Mexico Oncology Hematology Consultants and former AMA president; Todd Schonherz, CEO of the American Oncology Network; and Adria Warren, JD, partner at Foley & Lardner, discussed the impacts on oncology care from industry consolidation in health care.

Learn more

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AON LEADERSHIP EXECUTIVE TEAM

Todd Schonherz Chief Executive Officer

Kristin Matisziw

Chief Compliance & Risk Officer

Stephen “Fred” Divers, MD

Anthony Belott

James Gilmore

Shelly Glenn

David H. Gould

Chief Medical Officer

Chief Development Officer

Mark Moch

Karen Pilley

Alti Rahman

Erica Mallon

Steve Swart

Caroline Hewitt

Curtiss McNair

Chief Information Officer

Chief Revenue Cycle Officer

Chief Pharmacy & Clinical Services Officer

Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer

Chief Growth & Relationship Officer

General Counsel

Chief Financial Officer

Executive Vice President Practice Operations

Tena Messer

Executive Vice President Practice Operations

SENIOR LEADERSHIP

Melody Chang

Michael Essik

Katie Goodman

Kyle Hendrickson

Guy Messer

Ryan Olson, MD

Bridget Russo

Susan Sabo-Wagner

Vice President Pharmacy Operations

Vice President Radiation & Radiology Services

Vice President Finance

Medical Director Pathology

Vice President Clinical Research

Vice President Human Resources

Vice President Mergers & Acquisitions

Vice President Marketing

Vice President Laboratory Services

Vice President Clinical Innovation

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FEATURE

Resilience What's Your "Why AON" Story?

Positivity

Strength

Honoring Patients Through

Their Stories Celebrating National Patient Recognition Week 6

Inside the Network

FEATURE

A

s the calendar turns February, a special wave of appreciation washes over the healthcare industry.

The first week in February is National Patient Recognition Week (February 1 through February 7). It is a week-long celebration that honors the very people who make our mission of providing accessible patient care possible — the patients. It is also a time for us to pause, reflect and rekindle our dedication to improving and advancing the delivery of patient care and services.

It was in 1995 that this impactful initiative came to life and was created by a man named John O’Malley. His vision was simple yet profound: to dedicate a week to the patients who are seen by the many healthcare professionals. While it is only a week, it is a sentiment that is unwavering because behind each diagnosis is an individual who has a story that is waiting to be heard.

At AON, we are grateful for the individuals who entrust us with their well-being, and it is with immense honor that we have been chosen to be a part of each patient’s journey.

National Patient Recognition Week is about the human connection that is woven into every interaction.

This week, and every day, we pledge to listen with empathy, collaborate with respect and walk beside our patients through each step of their journey, whether complex or simple. We are stewards of their stories, witnesses of their courage and beneficiaries of their trust. Their strength serves as the platform for our initiatives and goals, their vulnerability fuels our compassion and their journeys define the very essence of our patient-centered care approach that is carried throughout the network.

It’s a Tapestry Woven by Patient Stories Our patients are unique, carrying diverse backgrounds and experiences including their cancer diagnosis journeys.

Through their perspectives, we can truly see the impact we make — no matter how small. Patient stories are not solely personal accounts that are shared in hopes of inspiring others but collectively, represent a thread that is woven into the fabric of AON’s mission. The stories illustrate the power of hope and the journey of healing.

The following three stories, while only snippets, highlight the continuous commitment to personalized care that is interwoven into each AON practice’s care approach.

Fran’s Story: Harnessing the Power of Positivity and Perspective as a Cancer Patient Receiving a cancer diagnosis is often followed by feelings of fear, anxiety and heavy-heartedness. However, this has not been the case for one Meridian resident who has chosen to embrace his cancer journey and move forward with optimism.

These days, you will find Francis (Fran) enjoying his days either in the kitchen making homemade jelly or Italian sausage with his wife Marcia or outside gardening or fishing. One couldn’t tell by simply looking at Fran that he was diagnosed with metastatic bladder cancer, which is cancer that has spread past its origin, in 2015.

Prior to his diagnosis, Fran recalls intermittently finding blood in his urine, which is when he knew something was wrong. Fran decided to take action and visit a local urologist in hopes of shedding light on the source of the problem. After several tests were performed, his doctor delivered the devastating news — Fran had bladder cancer.

“I just remember thinking of my grandfather and how he had cancer and now, I have it,” Fran shared. “For a bit of time, I wasn’t myself and didn’t want to do a lot of things, which my wife and family wouldn’t accept.”

While unsure of the next steps, Fran and his wife were comforted by the urologist whom they had known for years. He provided insights into the diagnosis as well as recommended treatments for Fran to consider, including BCG (Bacillus CalmetteGuerin) followed by Vicinium, which are non-invasive and common options for Fran’s cancer type.

Fran agreed to the treatments.

However, as time went on, he was disappointed to learn that while successful at first,

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FEATURE

his cancer had returned. The urologist thought it best for Fran to see a specialist and referred him to Boardcertified medical oncologist Dr. Stephanie Hodson at Gem State Cancer & Blood Specialists.

Facing a cancer diagnosis and all the ramifications that come with it, having a positive experience at the oncology care center was critical for Marde – and she found that under the care of medical oncologist Dr. Sakeer Hussain.

As a patient of Gem State, Fran considers himself lucky to have found a local oncology practice that offers the latest in personalized cancer treatments while maintaining the hometown atmosphere that he has come to appreciate when receiving his care. “You get more one-on-one attention in smaller settings and get to know others around you,” Fran shared.

“I would recommend him to anybody,” she said of Dr. Hussain. “He tells it like it is, but his personality, he warms up to you. He is human. Initially, he is rather reserved when he meets a person but very professional and very, very nice.”

To continue reading Fran’s Story, visit www.aoncology.com/patient-stories/frans-storyharnessing-the-power-of-positivity-andperspective-as-a-cancer-patient/.

Marde has equally high praise for the rest of the Heartland team and is happy to talk at length about the excellent care she received from care managers, nurses and even the office staff.

Dr. Hussain shares that Marde’s positive attitude and plans for the future are important to her treatment success, adding that she has done well since her initial chemotherapy and has continued to immunotherapy.

“She is doing well, so far,” he said.

Marde credits the staff at Heartland for much of her recovery. “It’s the personal care and professionalism.

You’re not a number. People there are not numbers,” she said, adding that she has recommended the clinic to others.

“How could I not? They saved my life; they really did.”

Marde added that patients can’t let cancer beat them, but quality care goes a long way toward maintaining longterm well-being and positive mental health. “Heartland, they do everything they can within their power. There is not enough I can say about them.”

Marde’s Story: A Lung Cancer Survivor with a Positive Attitude Following her diagnosis of stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer, Marde sought treatment from Heartland Oncology & Hematology in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

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Marde’s path started when she first experienced symptoms – tightness of breath and a little pain in her chest – and went for testing. She was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, a disease that allows cancer cells to form in the lung tissue. According to the National Cancer Institute, each type of non-small cell lung cancer has different kinds of cancer cells. For example, one is squamous cell carcinoma, cancer that forms in the thin, flat cells that line the inside of the lungs.

To continue reading Marde's Story, visit www.aoncology.com/patient-stories/mardes-story-alung-cancer-survivor-with-a-positive-attitude/.

FEATURE

sudden it became impossible for her to journal, words came into her mind, but she couldn’t write them down, everything came out jumbled; having the same issue when trying to text message, the texts made no sense.

At this point, she went to a primary care physician and stated to the doctor, “I either have a tumor in my head or I had a stroke.” Unfortunately, the test results didn’t reveal anything abnormal.

Barbara’s Story: A Busy Single Mom with an Unwavering Positive Attitude Like most single working moms, Barbara was extremely busy balancing work and home life for her then 10-yearold daughter, Sofia. She was also dealing with a stressful time in her life — renovating her home, working as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, doing yearend schoolwork and studying for the ESL National Board Certification.

Then on a beautiful summer day in Asheville, even more pressure was about to get added to her plate. As Barbara was biking with a friend, she struggled to get her words out.

She explained, “At the time I just blew it off thinking I was tired and out of breath from the bike ride.”

Shortly thereafter, Barbara started noticing that something was very wrong. As a language teacher, writing and journaling was something she did daily. All of a

Just a few days later Barbara woke up to an odd feeling on the right side of her face, and she had lost feeling in her right arm. This time she headed straight to the hospital emergency department. Alerting the ER staff that these strange symptoms had occurred over the past three weeks, they immediately did a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. In less than an hour the doctor delivered the life-changing news, Barbara had a 6-centimeter brain cystic tumor over the language center on the left side of her brain. “I totally lost it, uncontrollably crying, I felt like this was sudden death,” said Barbara.

She couldn’t believe this was happening, then the next immediate thought was how was she going to tell her daughter. Overwhelmed and deciding it was too much, she asked the doctor if he would explain it to Sofia.

Acting impervious to the diagnosis, Sofia just sat quietly, no tears, but in a state of shock. Barbara continued, “I didn’t sleep at all that night my ‘dark night of the soul’.”

To continue reading Barbara’s Story, visit www.aoncology.com/patient-stories/barbaras-storya-busy-single-mom-with-an-unwavering-positiveattitude/.

These stories capture the AON mission and serve as a reminder that we partner in journeys, not just treat diagnoses. Beyond white coats and stethoscopes, AON physicians, care team members and central support staff are weavers of hope and advocates for hundreds of patients. In the symphony of healthcare, it is the patient’s voice that guides the melody, and it is our privilege to play in harmony, every day, every step of the way.

AON is continuously looking for patient stories to feature. If your practice has a patient story that you would like captured, email Marketing@AONcology.com to get started. 

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The Fight for Equitable Cancer Care in African American Communities It starts by recognizing cancer disparities unique to each population.

F

ebruary is Black History Month, making this an important time to note the racial disparities that exist in cancer care and research. Race is an underlying determinant that can put certain populations at higher risk of being diagnosed with certain cancers.

Because of the genetic makeup of tumors, cancer affects individuals differently. Other factors that alter the way an individual experiences cancer besides sex and gender include lifestyle, geography and income among others.

These are explained as the social determinants of health or, more specifically, cancer disparities.

African Americans are part of one of the largest minority populations in the United States. This group also reports the highest cancer mortality rate, despite

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the decline in cancer incidence rates, of any other racial population. These striking statistics have become the basis for the drive across the healthcare industry to implement initiatives to reduce healthcare disparities and ensure every individual has equitable access to the care they need to treat their disease at every stage.

For example, black people have higher death rates than members of all other ethnic groups for certain types of cancer, specifically multiple myeloma and prostate cancer. Additionally, black women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer and inflammatory breast cancer. Furthermore, they are at higher risk for developing lung and colorectal cancers. Black men are diagnosed more often with lung and bronchus cancer as well as prostate, colon and rectum cancers than other populations.

FEATURE

Here are three facts about cancer among the African American population.

• This population reports a lower cancer screening rate compared to their counterparts. Frequent cancer screenings, as recommended by physicians, can help detect tumors in the early stage and before they have had time to develop. As a result of both delayed and no screenings, late stage diagnoses are more common, which has allowed time for the tumor to develop and spread. The higher rate of inaccessible and quality healthcare services and being uninsured as well as an increased level of medical distrust are only just a few reasons why screenings are low for this population.

• The five-year survival rate for certain cancers is lower for African Americans. Cancer is often found in advanced stages that are more challenging to treat, which increases the risk of mortality. In fact, black men have a 19% higher mortality than white men, and black women have a 12% higher mortality rate than their counterparts. The survival rates are impacted by the barriers to timely care and accessible cancer treatment centers in addition to other cancer disparities.

• There is an underrepresentation of African Americans in clinical trials. Diversity in cancer treatment trials is critical in learning how certain therapies impact specific populations. However, African Americans are less likely to be participants in these studies for various reasons including economic factors, unawareness of available trials and mistrust.

Diversifying the participants who enroll in trials provides insights into the efficacy of treatments.

Early detection through frequent screenings makes a difference in whether cancer therapies are successful or not. By recognizing the disparities populations face, such as the African American community, physicians and healthcare teams can work toward creating more inclusive services that enhance the health and well-being of many.

13%

of the U.S. population are African American

1% to 2%

of the participants in clinical trials are African American

The Causes of Racial Disparities There are many reasons why racial disparities exist in cancer care, one of which is based on socioeconomics.

The reality is that a wide wealth gap remains between black and white households, even within the same income class, which can put higher-quality medical care out of financial reach. This is especially true for those seeking treatment for costly cancer care.

Another reason is the inherent distrust African Americans have traditionally had with the healthcare industry. While this distrust dates back to the highly unethical Tuskegee syphilis study in 1932, more recent research has provided additional reasons why it persists: an implicit bias in healthcare that black people often receive lower quality care than their white counterparts. According to a survey conducted by Genentech and published by WebMD in partnership with the All of Us Research Program, one in three medically disenfranchised black and Hispanic people said they didn’t participate in clinical trials or receive vaccinations because of their lack of confidence in the healthcare industry.

The restoration of trust in the healthcare industry would be a huge step forward in greatly reducing or eliminating racial disparities.

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FEATURE The Fight for Equitable Cancer Care in African American Communities, continued

The Need for Diversity in Research

Steps in the Right Direction

While social and economic barriers do play a role in higher rates of cancer in the United States, it is also true that African Americans are more susceptible to the disease than other ethnic groups. This can be attributed to genetics, limited access to quality care and, most importantly, substandard care stemming from a lack of diversity in clinical research and drug trials.

Disparities and gaps in care do exist, but for the first time, we are seeing progress toward rectifying this problem.

While the Food and Drug Administration cannot mandate population-based studies, it is beginning to encourage drug manufacturers and the healthcare industry to focus research on generating data applicable to African Americans. The industry seems to be listening, too, as evidenced by the creation of think tanks and advisory boards to learn how to be more inclusive.

Black people make up about 13% of the U.S. population, yet we seldom see that portion of the population represented in research. Notably, African Americans make up just 1% to 2% of the participants in clinical trials. This lack of diversity makes it impossible to see what effect certain drugs may have on people of African American descent, especially when trying to treat multiple myeloma, of which African Americans account for approximately 30% of the patients.

One way to combat this is to assign a diversity officer to all research studies and clinical trials. Currently, there are data safety and monitoring boards for studies to ensure the patients and participants are being properly cared for and protected. The diversity officer can play a similar role by ensuring study populations don’t heavily skew in the direction of one race or another. This helps ensure that all patients are represented equally, making available the data that lets researchers know the effect a certain drug or treatment has on all members of the population.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology, which is the world’s largest cancer society that features representation from 150 different countries, recently announced the addition of a diversity and inclusion officer to its administrative structure. This role will address some of these racial disparities and work toward solutions to eliminate them.

At American Oncology Network (AON), we are in a unique position because of our diverse patient population and geographic footprint. This combination allows all patients, but especially African Americans, to participate in trials right in their community – trials that are being conducted by physicians and doctors they know and trust.

This sort of inclusion is a significant step toward making sure patients from all walks of life are receiving the care they deserve.

While there has been progress toward erasing these inequities in treatment and care, a great deal more work remains to be done. To that end, it is important to stay informed of these disparities so that we can learn how to eliminate them forever.

To read more blog articles developed by AON and its physicians, visit www.AONcology.com/blog/. 

Note: This article has been adapted from two articles published on the American Oncology Network blog: “Three Facts About Cancer in African American Communities,” authored by AON, and “Racial Disparities in Cancer Care and Research: The Causes and Possible Solutions,” authored by AON’s Board-certified medical oncologist Ruemu E. Birhiray, MD, a physician at Hematology Oncology of Indiana and member of AON’s diversity committee.

Ruemu E. Birhiray, MD, Hematology Oncology of Indiana

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2024 INNOVATE AON AON’s process improvement idea competition to generate $250,000 in new revenue or cost savings by December 31, 2024.

Open to all AON employees.

Start brainstorming your ideas now. More information to come.

Winter 2023-24

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CASE STUDY

Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute Teams Up With American Oncology Network to Advance Quality Care, Improve Bottom Line The providers at Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute

With two full-time centers and several community outreach clinics in Central Arkansas, Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute has spent more than 35 years providing care to thousands of patients in Hot Springs and the surrounding communities. The organization approaches care with all aspects of treatment in mind by encouraging positive attitudes, improving medicinal and nutritional therapies and maintaining a warm and comfortable setting.

Genesis physicians emphasize clinical trials and education and closely monitor results from trials performed domestically and internationally.

Along with its dedication to research, Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute prioritizes community involvement. It works closely with Our Promise, a non-profit committed to helping local cancer patients with practical assistance, as well as the American Cancer Society and other charitable endeavors.

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35 years of providing care 7 physicians 6 advanced practitioners 11 locations

FEATURE

THE CHALLENGE: Limited Resources Like many provider groups in today’s lean healthcare climate, Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute must optimize use of resources to maintain economies of scale and improve overall quality performance. Prior to joining AON and with five physicians and four nurse practitioners covering the organization’s two cancer centers and rural areas of Arkansas, Genesis faced challenges taking care delivery to the next level across its six satellite locations that were spread over a 200-mile radius.

“We all wore several hats,” said Lesia Landers, MAP, practice administrator for Genesis. “Whenever a practice finds itself in this situation, it becomes more difficult to focus on high-level initiatives that can truly move the needle on performance and position an organization as a leader in the healthcare market.”

THE SOLUTION: Finding the Right Partner To optimize the OCM patient care and ramp up services without increasing patient costs, the leadership at Genesis made the decision to join the American Oncology Network (AON), which partners with independent practices to lessen administrative burdens and allows physicians to focus on their patients.

Teaming with AON meant the center could offer patients an unprecedented level of care – including nutritional care – without adding to its headcount.

AON also provides full-time human resources, pharmacy, procurement, legal and other professionals, easing the administrative burden on Genesis’ employees and allowing them to focus on their degree of expertise rather than, as Landers said, wearing so many hats.

For example, Genesis provided an on-call service after hours for its patients. However, it didn’t have the resources to fund an entire care coordination team that could assist with nutrition and family support services or manage advanced data collection.

“In order to provide additional services, we would have had to increase our staffing and that would have increased our financial responsibilities,” said Landers, who is also a senior regional director for AON. Adding to the need for increased staffing and financial outlays, Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute applied for and was accepted into the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) Oncology Care Model (OCM). It was one of just three clinics in Arkansas to be accepted into the OCM, which officially launched in 2016 and brought with it increased data collection needs.

Since partnering with AON, Dr. Divers said there have been a number of efficiency improvements, including managing patient copays and dealing with prescriptions, which used to take upwards of 30 minutes for the clinical staff.

Before, our nurses were fielding calls as part of an already busy schedule. AON’s care coordination team adds a layer of patient care on top of all that. That level of relationship is an added value.”

– Stephen “Fred” Divers, MD, Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute

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“Now, on the oral medication side of the house, it’s easy.

We simply send prescriptions to the AON pharmacy and follow up immediately to confirm. We can also keep patients updated on the status of their medications,” said Dr. Divers. “Behind the scenes, AON has staff members dedicated to coordinating insurance claims. They can even help connect patients to financial assistance programs if needed.”

He added, “It’s far more efficient for the patient, too, because medications through the AON pharmacy are dispensed quickly and shipped directly to them.

Meanwhile, pharmacists and nursing staff are available 24/7 to interact personally with each patient to explain the medications and proper usages as well as address any concerns.”

Another benefit of working with AON is that Genesis now has a highly experienced compliance and coding team at its disposal. Previously, Landers served as compliance officer along with the many other hats she wore. The practice would also have to bring in outside coders every two years to audit charts — something that now happens continuously.

AON is also making life easier for Genesis’ physicians, who can now access comprehensive patient information faster than ever and from any location. For example, Dr. Divers conferred with a pathologist on the weekend while traveling, reviewing the results of a patient’s bone marrow test that were submitted just 24 hours earlier. He was then able to connect with the patient immediately, accelerating the treatment plan.

Our patients still recognize us as the cancer experts in our region,” Landers said. “That was a driving force behind joining with AON. They share our philosophy about keeping community oncology alive, maintaining practice independence and serving patients outside of hospital settings.”

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“These are huge service benefits not seen elsewhere, and it can only happen with a fully integrated system,” said Dr. Divers. “Labs, radiology and other services – it is heads and tails above what we have historically been accustomed to from a quality and delivery point of view.”

An Advantageous Practice Model A fixture in the community for nearly three decades, Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute knew how integral it was to maintain its identity while under the AON umbrella. Retaining the Genesis name was as important as its physicians’ ability to retain full autonomy over clinical decisions.

Adds Dr. Divers: “We’ve always tried to be good stewards of insurance and government dollars. AON reduces the economic and administrative burdens felt by most private oncology practices – and does so without reinventing the wheel. And we’re still able to provide excellent care to our patients.”

Its partnership with AON has also helped Genesis improve revenue cycle management, which in turn improved payer contracting.

Continued Revenue Growth Since partnering with AON, Genesis has seen its revenue increase and now has a 6,500-square-foot PET center to increase patient volume.

A Wise Decision With AON, Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute has seen its revenue increase, its administrative burden lessen, and has grown to include seven physicians, six advanced practitioners and now has eleven locations.

Most importantly, AON has helped Genesis maintain a high level of care for their patients and expand support services — all while keeping costs down.

“The level of management expertise alone would be out of reach for most small practices without a partner like AON. In fact, if I were going to recruit, these are the people I’d hire. I don’t know of a better leadership team.”

Working with AON allows small practices to function with the same breadth of services and expertise that are typically only seen at large metropolitan or academic practices,” said Dr. Divers.

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Florida Oncology & Hematology Relocates Clinic to Clearwater Community oncology practice Florida Oncology & Hematology, a partner practice of American Oncology Network (AON) (Nasdaq: AONC), has relocated its Safety Harbor clinic to 3220 McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater.

The clinic is now open to patients.

Learn more Cancer and Blood Specialists of Georgia Opens New Oncology Clinic in Cumming Cancer and Blood Specialists of Georgia, a partner practice of American Oncology Network (AON) (Nasdaq: AONC), announced today the opening of its new clinic in Cumming, which is located at 101 Greenfield Drive, Suite 220.

Learn more American Oncology Network Expands in Maryland, Welcomes New Practice to Its Network American Oncology Network (AON) (Nasdaq: AONC), one of the nation’s fastest-growing community oncology networks, is pleased to welcome Bay Hematology Oncology to its expanding network of practices.

Learn more Vista Oncology Welcomes New Board-Certified Medical Oncologist to the Practice Vista Oncology, a partner practice of American Oncology Network (AON) (Nasdaq: AONC), is pleased to welcome new physician Mandy Robertson, MD, to its care team and is now accepting patients at the Olympia clinic location.

Learn more Low Country Cancer Care Opens New Clinic in Alma Low Country Cancer Care, a community oncology practice that is part of American Oncology Network (AON) (Nasdaq: AONC), has partnered with Bacon County Hospital and Health System to open its new clinic in Alma.

American Oncology Network (AON) (Nasdaq: AONC), one of the nation’s fastest-growing networks of community oncology practices, is pleased to announce its physicians Ruemu E. Birhiray, MD; Ralph V. Boccia, MD, FACP; and Arvind Chaudhry, MD, PhD, were selected to present their research results at the 65th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego, California, which was held on December 9 through December 12.

Learn more Cancer & Blood Specialists of Arizona Relocates to New Clinic Site Cancer & Blood Specialists of Arizona, a partner practice of American Oncology Network (AON) (Nasdaq: AONC), announced today the relocation of its main clinic to 1281 East Cottonwood Lane in Casa Grande.

Learn more American Oncology Network’s Specialty Pharmacy Reports Zero Drug Waste After Value-Based Program, Secures Unchanged Reimbursement Rate for 2024 American Oncology Network (AON) (Nasdaq: AONC) is excited to announce that its specialty pharmacy achieved a below-threshold result of zero percent in drug waste during its participation in the value-based program Prime Therapeutics IntegratedRx-Oncology.

Learn more Zangmeister Cancer Center and American Oncology Network Welcome New Medical Oncologist Zangmeister Cancer Center and American Oncology Network (AON) (Nasdaq: AONC) are pleased to welcome Hiral A. Shah, MD, to the clinic. Dr. Shah is now accepting patients at the Columbus clinic.

Learn more

Learn more

Zangmeister Cancer Center Collaborates with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Division of Gynecologic Oncology

American Oncology Network Launches New Cancer Foundation

Zangmeister Cancer Center, a partner practice of American Oncology Network (AON) (Nasdaq: AONC), is pleased to announce a collaboration with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Division of Gynecologic Oncology that grants university-affiliated physicians the privilege to provide specialized gynecologic oncology patient care onsite at its Columbus clinic.

Learn more 18

Physicians from American Oncology Network Selected to Present at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition

Inside the Network

American Oncology Network (AON) (Nasdaq: AONC) announced today the launch of its cancer foundation, the American Oncology Cares Foundation.

Learn more

Making a difference in the lives of cancer patients.

As the number of individuals who are diagnosed with cancer increases, the funds available to financially support them decreases. American Oncology Cares provides financial support to assist qualified adult cancer patients undergoing treatment with non-medical expenses.

By alleviating some of the financial burden associated with essential living expenses like rent or mortgage, utilities, transportation, and food, patients can focus more on healing and getting better rather than finances and bills.

Search Program Overview

user-plus Patient Eligibility

• Program launched October 2023

• Active cancer treatment

• AON contracted with non- profit America’s Charities to administer and manage American Oncology Cares

• Household income at or below 200% of the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines

• America’s Charities responsible for patient application review and distribution of patient grants • Monies raised in your state, benefit patients in your state

• Over 18 years old

Clipboard-Check Program Criteria for Your Practice/State • Please contact Shelly.Glenn@AONcology.com

• Complete online application • Housing expenses, utility bills (gas, water and electric), and transportation and food costs associated with travel for cancer treatments • Applicants can apply to receive one grant of up to $750 per year

To apply

Donate to benefit cancer patients If you have questions, please contact Shelly Glenn Shelly.Glenn@AONcology.com Winter 2023-24

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BREAKING DOWN SILOS TO

Harness the Power of Collaboration

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Inside the Network

FEATURE

T

he silo mentality has been present in organizations for generations and is not a new concept. As the term “silo” may imply in a business context, it is when either departments, teams or employees themselves work independently from colleagues. It can further be associated with the “unwillingness to share information or knowledge,” as Investopedia reported in its article “Silo Mentality: Definition in Business, Causes, and Solutions.” Companies that have managed to break down the silos and harness the power of collaboration have an observable advantage that impacts all corners of the organization.

There are positive examples of collaboration throughout AON, within teams, cross-functionally and even externally, that inspire teamwork and partnership. For example, AON’s Leader Program, the company’s leadership training course, equips managers with resources and techniques that promote collaboration along with educating on AON’s story, vision and other leadership essential skills. Another example is the transition team’s collaborative model used when onboarding new practices to the network.

The three-step process exemplifies a transition journey that brings together multiple teams at opportune moments in the strategy to ensure a seamless and efficient joining. Additionally, employees' use of Microsoft Teams to share files and communicate ensures all key stakeholders are informed on the status of projects and recent updates. It is these initiatives that have become engrained into not only the culture but also the everyday processes that allow for the fostering of collaboration and teamwork.

Embrace the AON Advantage:

Your Fast Track to Practice Succes s in Three Stages

Joining AON opens doors to improved patient care, streamlined operations and a supportive network of practices and healthcare leaders.

The transition process may seem daunting, but it does not have to be.

Here is a four-month journey that is broken down into simple steps, so you can understand the typical transition process and confidently navigate each stage. Each transition journey is unique to the practice.

However, our proven formula is effective and flexible to meet the practice’s individual needs.

Stage 1: Building Trust & Gathering Intel

• Communication: We establish a clear communication plan to ensure everyone involved stays informed.

• Data Dive: We gather necessary information about your practice, such as provider details, contracts and workflows.

• Personalized Plan: We create a personalized transition roadmap that is unique to your practice.

(Month 1)

Stage 2: Putting the Pieces in Place

(Months 2 and 3)

Stage 3: Go Live & Beyond (Month 4)

• Strategy: We hold introductory meetings with your team, paving the way for smooth integration and implementation .

• Contracts: We handle setting up new contracts with payers, pharmaceutica l companies and other partners.

• Behind-the-Scenes: Our dedicated project management team tackles over 1,000 tasks to ensure everything runs smoothly without burdening your staff.

• Training: We provide comprehensive training on new systems and processes to empower your team to operate with confidence.

• Change Champions: We offer continuing support and address any bumps in the journey.

• Regional Support: Your dedicated project management team partners with the regional AON team who will remain your ongoing point of contact and support system after your Go Live date.

Remember, this is a partnership between AON and your practice. We believe in collaborating, making the transition a joint effort toward your success.

Ready to enhance your clinical and administrative operations, boost patient satisfaction and retention, and improve your financial growth and stability?

Fill out the form to book a discovery call with a dedicated AON team member.

The AON transition team’s collaborative three-step process brings together multiple teams at opportune moments in the strategy to ensure a seamless and efficient joining.

Understanding the Disadvantages of Silos The disadvantages of silos are vast and carry with them varying degrees of impact, both short- and long-term consequences, and can further affect those served such as patients, partners and other key stakeholders. Silos can lead to an increase in missed collaborative opportunities and further miscommunication, duplication of tasks, delays and the increased use of inaccurate or outdated information. The ability to remove silos that have already formed or are being created can be complex, but the process can pave the way for positioning the company favorably for increased engagement, improved workflows and processes, and increased innovation that fuels the company’s growth among other benefits. To start, it is critical to first understand what leads to silo formation and then methods to identify potential silos.

Stage 1: Building Trust & Gathering Intel Stage 2: Putting the Pieces in Place Stage 3: Go Live & Beyond Learn more.

A common behavior that sets the groundwork for silos is simply exercising a silo mentality. In the article “Organizational silos: 4 common issues and how to prevent them,” which was published on Asana, silo mentality only needs to be exhibited by at least one individual, and it can directly impact colleagues who may, in return, reflect similar behavior. Another indicator of silos included in the article is the lack of shared processes. These are often replaced with individualized processes and tools that do not transcend department and team boundaries.

Winter 2023-24

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FEATURE

Stopping Silos in Their Tracks While silo mentality is not inherently bad in all situations, most often it causes disruption. After silos have been identified, it is time to implement initiatives that can break down the silos to improve collaboration, and there are various ways to do so. According to the article “Silo Mentality,” a feature by the Corporate Finance Institute, companies can overcome silos through various approaches: Create and communicate a unified vision.

Leadership should develop and then agree on the goals for the company, department or team. The next step is to share the goals throughout the organization, making it easy for departments, teams and employees to tie their own goals to the other goals.

Implement goals and then measure them.

Communicating goals is the first step to challenging the silo mentality. It is important to continue measuring these goals throughout the year and transparently providing results so that departments and teams can respond accordingly.

Establish a collaborative culture and create together.

Teams thrive when they are diverse because they bring together employees with different expertise and experiences. By establishing a collaborative culture, silos struggle to form.

Other methods to consider include increasing communications within the team and with other departments and discussing expectations of sharing information and details, implementing a company- or team-wide software that allows for transparency and easy collaboration, and hosting events — even remote activities — that allow employees to get to know colleagues.

For departments, teams and employees who work in virtual environments, there are additional tactics to try, according to the Forbes article “Employees Siloed Working From Home? Here Are 4 Ways To Bring Them Back Together.” Firstly, consider opportunities throughout the week to get together for “breakroom-style” conversations to get familiar with each other and inspire camaraderie. Secondly, take time to develop processes and practices that promote transparency. Lastly, encourage frequent employee recognition and provide consistent feedback.

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Inside the Network

FEATURE

Long-Term Planning To Create a Culture of Collaboration Maintaining a silo-free environment doesn’t have to be as complicated as one may initially believe. The goal is to ensure silos are not able to form, and if they do, there are steps in place to easily tackle them and move toward creating a collaborative culture. Zapier published an article “5 Ways to Break Down Organizational Silos” that explores techniques to keep silos at bay: Continue to take the time to help employees throughout the company understand the unified vision and goals.

Look for ways to strengthen cross-functional training opportunities that allow employees to learn about roles and the tasks involved, which can inspire insights, better communication and improved teamwork.

Create multi-functional teams for high-stakes projects that include key members from departments and teams involved, such as how AON’s transition team involves individuals from across the network.

Consider drawing on the IKEA effect. This guiding principle states that people are more involved and invested in processes and tasks that they are a part of from the beginning stages; in other words, they value these activities more because they have extended effort in developing them.

Companies can establish a collaborative culture by taking the time to encourage departments and teams to identify silos and implement techniques designed to break them down. Success is a collective journey, and the ability of teams to form partnerships together is the foundation for achieving goals. 

Self-care is critical and you deserve the time. Book it.

To send WellBeing messages to your colleagues today, visit Recognation via SharePoint.

Winter 2023-24

23

Get to Know...

KATIE GOODMAN VICE PRESIDENT OF CLINICAL RESEARCH

1. How long have you been with AON? About two years ago, I formally transitioned from Florida Cancer Specialists to work with AON full time but have been supporting AON since day one.

2. What does a “day in the life” look like for you in your role?

I work from my home in Sarasota, Florida. I like to start my day with coffee and exercise before I dive into a day filled with meetings, which all revolve around opening and managing the execution of clinical trials in multiple AON locations. There will be meetings with study sponsors interested in learning about us and other appointments with people we currently work with who need assistance or updates on the status of work we currently support.

3. What goals are you and your team working to achieve?

2024 will be a big year for AON research! Our team is working hard to add to our centralized services so that we can better support various aspects of managing clinical research for more AON practices. To name a few, we have plans to implement an electronic regulatory process that will ease our workload in the “behind the scenes” paperwork required to run trials.

In 2023, we implemented a trial management system that tracks the research services and billing of our work-to-study sponsors. We are going to expand on this in 2024 to capture and collect all the research activities occurring in our practices. AON also has practices that are either new to research or want to start research

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Inside the Network

programs. We are going to launch and continue to grow research programs where we have practice interest. I am also working closely with data scientists at MiBA (Meaningful Insights Biotech Analytics) to improve trial-matching capabilities. This will ease the process of matching patients with the right clinical trials in 2024.

4. How does your role contribute to AON’s overall mission and goals?

For me, bringing clinical trials to the community is the epitome of providing the highest quality of care to patients.

5. What are you most proud of when it comes to your team and department?

There is nothing more rewarding than hearing of a new FDA drug approval and knowing that we played a role in making that new treatment option available for patients.

It is not uncommon for researchers to see their own patients doing well and even a disease responding to an investigational treatment, which is incredible, but when the FDA approves these new drugs, it means the treatment becomes available to patients everywhere. That really motivates me on challenging and frustrating days. I have seen how this research and our data can change outcomes for patients everywhere.

LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT

6. What principles guide your work and vision?

12. What is a quote you live and/or work by?

I truly abide by the patient-first principle; safety must always be part of our decision-making. There are federal regulations that govern how we conduct clinical trials, and I can link nearly everyone back to patient safety.

Sometimes, it is the safety of the patient whom we are providing care for at the moment, and sometimes, it is the thousands of patients who may receive the drug at some time in the future.

“Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

7. How do you define the word success?

14. What is your favorite book (or books)?

Professional success is celebrating with a research colleague who has successfully enrolled a patient on a clinical trial — which is never easy! Personal success is simply self-fulfillment; happiness in where I am in life.

At 54, I think I might finally be there … maybe.

My favorite genre is historical fiction. I just finished “Bright Young Women” by Jessica Knoll, and it was a very interesting read.

8. How do you lead your team? What is your leadership style?

My leadership style has evolved to be largely collaborative.

I believe that we will be more successful if we are all part of the solution.

9. What’s your favorite part about working for AON? I love working in a network that is wonderfully diverse and has so much in common at the same time. In one day, I can speak to someone on the opposite side of the country who has a different background but is working on the same study and managing the same types of patients. Working at AON has given me a chance to meet so many new people from all over the United States — I love that!

10. What has been the most memorable moment for you while you’ve worked for AON? There are many, but collectively, it is the excitement of our new investigators when we can bring them various clinical trials. Research programs are hard to start and run, but it is nice when it is recognized that we make a difference by contributing a study menu.

11. What motivates you to get up and get to work in the morning?

13. What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?

New for me in 2020, I’m a camper. I have a small group of friends (fellow empty nesters) who camp mostly throughout Florida, but I want to hit every national park!

15. What is a fun fact about you?

I strictly adhere to the “arrive at the airport two hours early” rule. It drives my husband crazy.

16. What piece of advice would you give your younger self?

Travel more!

17. List three adjectives that describe your personality.

Curious, empathetic but also opinionated.

18. What is one of your favorite travel destinations, or where do you hope to travel to in your lifetime?

Zion National Park is incredible, but I hear Glacier is even better. The list of places I want to travel to is ridiculously long!

19. Who is your hero?

I like the everyday hero, someone who defies the odds and inspires others. These heroes are everywhere.

20. If you had three wishes, what would they be?

Be a good dancer, world peace and three more wishes (duh). 

I am motivated to get to work usually because I have various projects that I am excited to see through. I enjoy having the authority to implement changes.

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTS

RYAN OLSON, MD MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF PATHOLOGY AON PATHOLOGY TEAM

D

r. Olson officially joined AON in June 2023 and is the medical director of pathology; however, he has served as the co-medical director of the AON lab since AON’s beginning. “I was directly involved with the lab’s design from the very beginning,” he shared. “I have a deep professional pride in the AON lab.” His influence at AON does not stop there. He is also one of two staff hematopathologists, which are highly specialized professionals who are trained to diagnose diseases in blood cells, and serves as the president of the AON Pharmacy.

His path to AON was destined. He has worked closely with AON’s CEO Todd Schonherz for more than 10 years and, as he explained, has been passionate about AON since its inception.

“I think the unique benefits of the large physician-owned laboratory are incredible, benefiting the pathologists, oncologists and ultimately our patients in ways that cannot be duplicated in any other setting,” he said. “The

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Inside the Network

opportunity to build the AON lab from the ground up for the company is something I would not have passed up.”

Dr. Olson is nothing short of passionate about his role. He explains his role at AON as “a professional dream come true.” He continues to share what he loves about his job, "I enjoy the independence of directing the lab and the opportunity to provide truly world-class pathology care and engaging with both the lab staff and the clinical oncologists. Plus, we have an amazing team with tremendous camaraderie.

It is a genuine pleasure coming to work every day. I am deeply grateful for the privilege and opportunity to work here in the AON lab.”

Outside of work, he is all about his family: his wife Angela and their three young children who keep them both very busy. Before parenthood, Dr. Olson enjoyed reading and traveling. However, nowadays he is busy making memories with his family, which, as he shares, is an incredibly worthwhile sacrifice. 

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTS

KATHERINE MONDADA, PA-C, MPAS PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT GEM STATE CANCER & BLOOD SPECIALISTS

K

atherine Mondada is a certified physician assistant and a member of the Idaho Academy of Physician Assistants and the Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology. She has been part of the care team at Gem State Cancer & Blood Specialists, located in Meridian, Idaho, for five years.

“I chose Gem State because it gave me the opportunity to serve our community in a new way, one that has not been available before,” she shares. “There were only two large hospital systems to choose from for cancer care in our valley. Our clinic gives people more choices for their cancer care.”

Katherine is passionate about getting to know her patients and their families throughout

the treatment journey. “We get to spend a lot more time with them and see them on a more frequent basis than other specialties,” she explained. “It is amazing to see someone open up and share one of, if not the most, difficult experiences of their life.”

When she is not working, Katherine enjoys trying new restaurants and wineries with her friends and family. She loves to get outside on the mountain and ski during the snowy months and enjoys water sports in the summer. Another activity she is fond of is spending time with her two dogs and taking them for walks on the Boise River Greenbelt, a 25-mile-long pathway that is lined with sprawling trees and scenic views. 

Email your employee spotlight nominations to AONCommunications@AONcology.com

Exiting News!

We are gearing up for the 2024 COA Conference in Orlando from April 4 to April 5. Visit us at the AON booth to learn about joining our network and how we are enabling physicians to focus on what matters most – providing the highest standard of care for every patient.

We will see you there at COA2024.

Winter 2023-24

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NUTRITION BITES

Create and Nurture Healthy Habits for a Lifetime

M

aking healthier choices can help you feel better and even live longer because these decisions directly affect your health and quality of life, now and tomorrow. You can also reduce your risk for the most common, costly and preventable health problems, like heart disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes and obesity, by consistently making healthier choices in several areas of your life.

Nicole Franklin, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN Oncology Dietitian

While it can be hard and takes time, change is possible, especially when it comes to creating healthier habits.

There are proven strategies that set you up for success. Here are eight strategies to try.

Eight Strategies for Building Healthy Habits 1. Make a plan. Identify unhealthy patterns and triggers. Set realistic goals, and write down steps to help you achieve them.

2. Alter your surroundings. Find ways to make selecting healthier choices easy. One method is to remove any temptations.

3. Seek support. Find friends, family, co-workers, neighbors or groups for support, or ask people to join you in building healthier habits.

Jennifer Lafferty, MS, RDN, CSO, LD, FAND Oncology Dietitian

4. Fill your time. Try exercise, a favorite hobby or spending time with family and friends.

5. Monitor your progress. Journal your experiences to help you stay focused and catch slip-ups or negative self-talk.

6. Look to the future. Think about and visualize future benefits to stay focused.

7. Celebrate. Give yourself a reward when you’ve achieved a milestone, like a massage or personal time.

8. Practice patience. Improvement takes consistency and time, and setbacks will happen. Focus on progress.

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Inside the Network

NUTRITION BITES

Eight Dimensions of Well-Being (DOW) for Nurturing Healthy Habits The eight co-dependent dimensions of well-being (DOW) are emotional, physical, occupational, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental and financial. Balance among these eight dimensions helps you create and nurture healthy habits that last a lifetime.

The AON WellBeing program is modeled on the DOW, and well-being offerings in each dimension are shared monthly. Stay tuned for opportunities to engage with colleagues.

How Will You Enhance Your Well-Being in the New Year?

Emotional Dimension What it is: Understanding and respecting your feelings, values and attitudes while appreciating the feelings of others.

Examples: Starting a gratitude journal and begin with listing one item you’re grateful for once a week.

My Plan:___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Physical Dimension What it is: Caring for your body and prioritizing staying healthy now and in the future.

Examples: Walking, running, exercising, participating in team sports or doing classes at the gym.

My Plan:___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Occupational Dimension What it is: Participating in work by contributing your unique gifts, talents and skills that are personally meaningful, rewarding and enriching to your values, goals and lifestyle.

Examples: Joining a club or taking a class in an area that interests you (even if it is not related to work).

My Plan:___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Social Dimension What it is: Maintaining healthy relationships with others and your community. Caring about them and allowing them to care about you.

Examples: Attending a club of interest in your local community or volunteering once a month at a local charity or non-profit of your choice.

My Plan:___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Winter 2023-24

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NUTRITION BITES Create and Nurture Healthy Habits for a Lifetime, continued

Spiritual Dimension What it is: Finding purpose, value and meaning in your life and participating in activities that are consistent with your beliefs and values.

Examples: Writing down once a week your core values and beliefs.

My Plan:___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Intellectual Dimension What it is: Valuing lifelong learning, maintaining curiosity and expanding knowledge and skills while discovering the potential for sharing your gifts.

Examples: Reading, journaling and experiencing the arts at a play, concert or museum.

My Plan:___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Environmental Dimension What it is: Understanding how your social, natural and built environments affect your health and demonstrating a commitment to a healthy planet.

Examples: Start by looking at ways you can improve your environmental health, staying safe during extreme temperatures and looking at your home air quality. For more information on this dimension, visit www.nih.gov/healthinformation/environmental-wellness-toolkit.

My Plan:___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Financial Dimension What it is: Managing your resources to live within your means including setting goals and preparing for short-term and long-term needs while being aware that everyone’s financial values, needs and circumstances are unique.

Examples: Taking advantage of Creative Planning’s 1-on-1 consultations and attending their monthly webinars.

My Plan:___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ 

Sources: newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/03/creating-healthy-habits www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5508938/ 30

Inside the Network

NUTRITION BITES

Featured Recipe

One-Pot Tuscan White Bean and Kale Soup PREPARATION TIME: 15 MIN. // TOTAL TIME: 45 MIN. // SERVES 5

INSTRUCTIONS INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 large yellow onion, diced 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced 2 large celery stalks, diced 3/4 teaspoon sea salt, divided, adding more for taste 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided 2 tablespoons tomato paste 4 cloves garlic, minced ¼ to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, to taste 1 tablespoon freshly chopped rosemary or thyme (or substitute it for 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary or thyme) 1 teaspoon dried basil 3 cups vegetable broth 2 (15-ounce) cans white beans, drained and rinsed 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes 4 cups chopped kale leaves or baby spinach 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 3/4 cup full-fat coconut milk For Serving (Optional) Parmesan cheese Fresh basil Croutons

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few cracks of fresh black pepper.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened (about five minutes).

2. Add the tomato paste, garlic, red pepper flakes, rosemary (or thyme) and basil, and cook until fragrant (about one minute).

3. Add the broth, beans, tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes, until the veggies are fork-tender, and the flavors are well developed.

4. Optional: For a more blended soup consistency, use an immersion blender to purée the soup in short bursts, only puréeing part of the soup (mostly the beans) and leaving plenty of whole pieces of vegetables.

5. Return the soup to a light simmer. Add the kale, turn off the heat and cover the pot for five minutes. Once the kale is softened, uncover the pot and stir in the vinegar and coconut milk. Taste and adjust as needed, adding more red pepper flakes for heat, vinegar or tomato paste for richness, coconut milk for creaminess and salt for overall flavor.

6. Serve warm and garnished with parmesan cheese, thinly sliced basil and croutons (optional toppings).

7. Store cooled leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to three to four days or in the freezer for up to one month. Thaw from frozen before reheating. Reheat in the microwave, on the stovetop in a saucepan or pot over medium heat (covered) until thoroughly warmed. Add more broth or water as needed to thin.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION: Serving Size: 1 cup Calories: 303; Total Carbohydrates: 40.4g; Dietary Fiber: 11.7g; Sugars: 9.5g; Protein: 11.3g; Total Fat: 10.9g; Saturated Fat: 6.4g; Sodium: 928mg.

For complete recipe and nutrition facts: Minimalist Baker Winter 2023-24

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PATIENT

STORY

Hollie from Hematology Oncology of Indiana From Oncology Nurse to a Cancer Patient Fighting Multiple Myeloma Hollie (L) with her family

H

ollie still lives in the same small town where she attended high school.

Hollie is blessed that after losing her husband of 37 years, she found love again. At the age of 64, Hollie married Bill, a high school friend from her small graduating class of 52 students.

After Bill’s wife passed away, they reconnected and communicated via text messages and talking on the phone. Their first time seeing each other after 50 years was less than a romantic encounter.

Prior to Hollie’s cancer diagnosis, she had other health issues and underwent

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Inside the Network

several surgeries. Unfortunately, she was alone recovering at home, and she fell out of bed. Having a landline, she redialed the last number expecting the voice on the other end to be her daughter. To her surprise, it was a man that answered. You guessed it, Bill was on the other end of the phone.

Hollie explained while chuckling, “I am on the floor and I can’t get up. I was a mess laying on the floor with surgical drains hanging out everywhere. It was after this encounter where he rescued me from my fall that we started dating. After being the caretaker for his ill wife, I felt bad that he now had to deal with my illness as well.”

After spending 25 years as an oncology nurse, Hollie knows a lot about oncology but expecting to be a cancer patient herself never crossed her mind. She was already a patient of Hematology Oncology of Indiana (HOI), seeing Medical Oncologist Jenelle Miller, MD, for her immune deficiency. When lab results came back showing a spike in her monoclonal protein, “I knew right away it was multiple myeloma,” said Hollie.

Hollie was correct in her selfdiagnosis as Dr. Miller confirmed the results of the bone marrow biopsy showed she has myeloma. Hollie explained, “You’re never prepared for

PEOPLE AND PLACES

this type of news. I was surrounded by a ton of nurses that I’d worked with at the hospital, and we all hugged but that was the last tear I shed about it.”

Dr. Miller explained how they were fortunate to catch Hollie’s disease early in its course and that likely contributed to a more successful outcome to treatment. “I think her background as an oncology nurse and her faith in God go a long way in molding her positive attitude. Overall, she does find the bright side of dark situations, especially after the worst has passed.”

Hollie said, “I wanted Dr. Miller as my doctor because while working as a nurse at the hospital, you just knew not to mess up her orders. She was on top of everything, and I appreciated that. I also got to witness Dr. Miller with her patients, and she is so good with them, such a kind soul.”

Hollie continued while laughing that she is lucky to feel good every day with only a mild ache in her femur, “The only pain I have is in my knees from being an old lady with arthritis.”

When asked how she has such a positive attitude while living with cancer she replied, “I think God is watching out for me.”

Then with a firm voice stating, “And I follow Dr. Miller’s orders, I’m a very compliant patient.”

In addition to her faith, Hollie attributes her well-being to her lifestyle. She spends quality time with her three daughters and seven grandchildren. She shared a funny story about her grandsons, while watching a science fiction movie the main character was an old lady with a bald head called the Ancient One and the grandchildren laughing said, “Nanna that looks like you!”

Jenelle S. Miller, MD HEMATOLOGY ONCOLOGY OF INDIANA

Out of seven grandkids, she was blessed with one granddaughter who is now a senior in high school studying cosmetology. She expresses joy reminiscing back when her granddaughter was just a little girl, and they would always play hair and make-up.

“Hollie is a generous person. Helping at her church preparing and serving dinner to the congregation and young people. She has frequently spoken to me about her friend 'Peachie' who served there with her. Peachie recently passed away at 95. I think Hollie learned some godly life lessons from Peachie,” said Dr. Miller.

Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that develops in plasma cells in the bone marrow — the soft, spongy tissue at the center of your bones.

Hollie focuses on living her life, not on the cancer, and spends her time reading and enjoys playing in the dirt in her garden. She also likes to cook and eats well with lots of fresh garden fruits and vegetables. In fact, recently she and a neighbor had an applesauce marathon making massive amounts, approximately 100 quarts!

“I also got to witness Dr. Miller with her patients, and she is so good with them, such a kind soul.”

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PATIENT STORY Patient Story: Hollie, continued

Hollie with her grandchildren

It’s been four years now since her diagnosis. Hollie states, “Some days I don’t think I have cancer, I just don’t think about it.” Hollie goes to HOI about every two months and is so thankful to still be in remission.

“Everyone at the practice is just wonderful. All the staff is very caring and anytime I call the office, they are all so responsive.”

Although multiple myeloma is not a curable cancer, she is currently in

remission and on a maintenance treatment of oral Revlimid®.

Dr. Miller added, “As I think about the five and a half years that Hollie has been coming here, I am amazed once again by so many of our patients - that month after month and year after year they show up for every test, every appointment and every treatment that we ask of them. This just becomes part of life as it is.

And yet in my mind that does not

Note: Cancer patient outcomes and experiences may vary, even for those with the same type of cancer. An individual patient’s story should not be used as a prediction of how another patient will respond to treatment.

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Inside the Network

minimize the true commitment that they give us. They are not just survivors. They are warriors.”

Hollie concluded in typical fashion highlighting her steadfast attitude, “When you have a cancer diagnosis, its overwhelming, but you have to decide how much time you want to give the cancer to rule your life. I know at some point it will come back, but right now that’s not my concern as I have other things to do.” 

PATIENT TREATED AT:

Thank You!

Your valuable feedback from the magazine survey is our roadmap for an improved reading experience. We have heard you loud and clear and have appreciated your feedback in making our magazine better.

Stay tuned for exciting changes ahead.

AON Marketing Team

Winter 2023-24

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PEOPLE AND PLACES

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1. Dr. Kahn and Desert Hematology Oncology celebrates their two year anniversary. 2. Staff donned their holiday sweaters at an AON Development team building event. 3. Florida Oncology & Hematology are dressed for the holidays. 4. Cancer and Blood Specialists of Arizona Casa Grande are in the holiday spirit. 5. Physician assistant Joshua Atiyeh and Dr. Mehdi of Hope Cancer Care of Nevada celebrating the holiday season.

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Inside the Network

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10 6. Low Country Cancer Care celebrates during Christmas spirit week. 7. Messino Cancer Centers collecting items for Toys for Tots. 8. Gem State Cancer & Blood Specialists hosts a survivors night event. 9. Dr. Sundaram of Zangmeister Cancer Center wraps a holiday gift. 10. AON Pathology/Laboratory staff attend a Christmas party.

Winter 2023-24

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ARE Y’ALL READY?

CLINICAL SUMMIT 2024:

PIONEERING NEW FRONTIERS AWAITS Imagine a world where clinical innovations meet inspiration and where networking with like-minded oncologists and healthcare leaders is more than just a handshake with a friendly “Howdy do.” Welcome to AON’s Clinical Summit 2024: Pioneering New Frontiers, set in the vibrant city of Dallas, Texas, from November 15 through November 16 at The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas.

Stay tuned for more information about Clinical Summit 2024 and prepare for an immersive weekend that promises to be as big and bold as the Lone Star State itself.

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Inside the Network