ASCO’s professional networking site, ASCOconnection.org, continues to build depth in areas of interest to the oncology community, adding as its newest commentator ASCO President Michael P. Link, MD, the Lydia J. Lee Professor in Pediatric Oncology at Stanford University School of Medicine, as well as the Society’s first pediatric oncologist to hold the office. Dr. Link’s initial topics have included the application of lessons learned from successes in pediatric oncology to other areas of cancer care and research, a look at the growing force of ASCO’s international initiatives and membership, and a personal look at the need for greater compassion and clarity when communicating with patients and families.
Don S. Dizon, MD, FACP, an Associate Professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Co-Chair of ASCO’s Integrated Media and Technology Committee, is another new voice on the site, providing insight into gynecologic cancer care. Beverly Moy, MD, MPH, Clinical Director of the Breast Oncology Program and a medical oncologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital, is also slated to join the site. Dr. Moy serves as the Chairman of ASCO’s Advisory Group on Health Disparities and Chair-Elect of the Ethics Committee.
These latest commentators join Immediate Past President George W. Sledge, Jr, MD, who continues to write about breakthroughs in research, and Past President Douglas W. Blayney, MD, who raises issues in practice and quality. Health information and technology topics are covered by Peter P. Yu, MD, and Robert S. Miller, MD.
Other columnists and their specialties include ASCO Connection Editor-in-Chief Jonathan S. Berek, MD, MMS (gynecologic cancer); Clement Adabamowo, MD, ScD (international issues); Anees B. Chagpar, MD (breast surgery oncology); John V. Cox, DO, MBA, FACP (Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Oncology Practice); L. Michael Glodé, MD (medical oncology); Heather M. Hylton, MS, PA-C (physician assistant); and Jamie H. Von Roenn, MD (palliative care).
New Option for Creating Groups
ASCOconnection.org recently launched new group functionality, enabling ASCO members and guest account holders to create and join working groups of varying security levels—private, closed, or open. The security level is designated by the group’s creator.
The group tool has been streamlined for ease of use. It avoids Facebook-style social networking and instead focuses on easy ways to post messages and receive group updates by email. An additional advantage to members and guests is the ability to host a working group on the world’s most prestigious oncology site, with ready access to ASCO’s many programs, services, and resources, including ASCO’s Membership Directory (member login required).
Opportunities to Share Accomplishments, Viewpoints
ASCOconnection.org always features the latest interactive electronic version of ASCO’s official member magazine, ASCO Connection, with hyperlinks to references and resources, as well as a complete archive of past issues. Logged-in users are invited to comment on all content (some content is for members only), including new articles on the debate surrounding resident duty hours, breast cancer surveillance for childhood cancer survivors, and ASCO’s new Cancer Survivorship Committee. In addition, ASCO University has launched Tumor Board discussions in the Forum section of ASCOconnection.org.
The site provides a platform for sharing the latest member news, from professional accolades to behind-the-scenes stories, including an online exclusive interview with five-time Jeopardy! winner and ASCO member, Jay Rhee, MD, a medical oncologist from Annapolis, Maryland. ASCO members are invited to submit news and article ideas to ascoconnection@asco.org.
Free Subscriptions by E-mail or RSS
Readers can keep abreast of new content on the site by subscribing to a weekly digest via RSS feed or e-mail (scroll down to the footer on ASCOconnection.org for links to the subscription center). Visitors also have the option to subscribe to RSS feeds to individual bloggers and to specific interest categories, such as international or practice-related content. ■
© 2011. American Society of Clinical Oncology. All Rights Reserved.
