Meet Our Speakers
Key Note Presentation
The Time for Self Care
1:00 - 1:50 PM
1 CE
Nicole Carter, M.Ed., CHES
Workforce Health Consultant and Educator
Kaiser Permanente
Stress is associated with 90% of all diseases according to the World Health Organization. We can reduce stress by taking an active role in self care. This lecture will cover the need for self are, how it helps and specific actions to take for daily self care including: diet, walking, yoga, meditation, fasting and the regeneration of the parasympathetic nervous system. At the end of the lecture, attendees will be guided through a short meditation session.
8:00 - 8:50 AM
1 CE
Does Service Recovery Impact the Patient Experience
A Radiation Oncology Example
Charles M. Washington, MBA, R.T.(T), FASRT, ARRT
Administrator, Radiation Oncology
Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Patient’s perception of the quality of the service received is an essential part of their radiation oncology cancer management experience. Care quality, as reported in patient reported survey outcomes, can impact financial reimbursement as well as institution reputation. With available benchmarked patient satisfaction survey inability to report real-time data, institutional service recovery efforts to address patient dissatisfaction, may provide a better overall patient experience by quickly addressing the source of dissatisfaction closer to the time of the negative experience. This presentation will explore the potential to improve the patient experience through targeted service recover and potentially improve the patient’s perception of the quality of their care. An exploration of both strategic and tactical tools will be discussed as well as philosophical and practical points to consider.
9:00 - 9:50
1 CE
Deep Inspiration Breath Hold For Early Stage Breast Cancer
Katarina Petras, MD
Radiation Oncology Resident
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Dr. Petras will be examining a research series of 30 early-stage breast cancer patients treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in either the prone position or supine using DIBH. This research includes a dosimetric study looking at the impact on heart and lung dose of different positioning techniques comparing traditional whole-breast fields to external beam, partial breast fields used on the IMPORT LOW Trial.
10:00 - 10:50
1 CE
Controlling Pain in Radiation Therapy Patients
Judith Paice, Ph.D., RN, FAAN
Director, Cancer Pain Program
Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine
Objectives
At the end of this lecture the attendee will be able to:
1. Recognize when a patient may be in pain.
2. Identify medications used to treat pain in cancer patients.
3. Distinguish which medications manage which type of pain.
4. Improve the quality of life of their patients.
At the end of this lecture the attendee will be able to:
1. Recognize when a patient may be in pain.
2. Identify medications used to treat pain in cancer patients.
3. Distinguish which medications manage which type of pain.
4. Improve the quality of life of their patients.
11:00 - 11:50
1 CE
Palliative Radiation Therapy
Can We Do More Than Point And Shoot?
Tim Kruser, MD
Radiation Oncologist
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
This lecture will discuss the palliative treatment of advanced cancer patients, and focus on measures within the radiation oncology clinic that can be addressed beyond palliative radiation. A representative case will be discussed and provide a framework for missed opportunities for discussions about prognosis, end-of-life care options, and formal integration of palliative care services within the radiation oncology clinic.
2:00 - 2:50
1 CE
Medical Art Therapy
Elizabeth A. Smith
Child and Family Therapist
Advocate Christ Hospital
This presentation is designed to educate Radiation Therapists on art therapy which is a field that combines art and psychology. Through the therapeutic relationship with a masters or doctorate level art therapist, a safe space is created to explore emotions, address mental health concerns, improve social skills and raise self-esteem. The presentation will further identify how art therapy is specifically utilized in the medical realm including in radiation therapy. Through research and Elizabeth Smith’s personal experience as a Medical Art Therapist, she will demonstrate the benefits Art Therapists and clients have seen through working with art therapy including but not limited to a reduction in anxiety, depression, and pain. After exploring these topics, the participants will be lead in an art therapy experiential.
3:00 - 3:50
1 CE
Linear Accelerators
Functions, Issues, Troubleshooting, and QA
Serpil Kucker Dogan, Ph.D.
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Jeremy Cates, Ph.D.
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Linear Accelerators are a modern marvel of technology, engineering, and physics. They are the staple of any Radiation Oncology program. However, the complexity of a linac makes it prone to malfunction. Have you ever wondered what those annoying inhibits mean and how to resolve them? When a Linac does require service, how do we know it is functioning properly and delivering the specified dose of radiation? Rest assured, the department’s physics staff are on the case. Northwestern’s Radiation Oncology Physics Residents, Serpil and Jeremy, will provide a brief overview of Linac operations and will describe the many parameters (inhibits) which must be cleared prior to delivering beam. They will also identify, describe, and provide troubleshooting steps for the commonly seen issues. Finally, you will learn what QA tests Physicists perform following service to ensure that the linac is functioning properly.