Centering Compassion in Cancer Care

In this episode of Oncology Unscripted, hosts Mark Liu and Deirdre Saulet speak with Arif Kamal, MD, Chief Patient Officer at the American Cancer Society (ACS). Dr. Kamal discusses his recent appointment to this inaugural role at ACS, leading into a conversation about how he expects the cancer care field to evolve. Namely, a shift for providers toward building a skillset for compassionate patient conversations, a shift toward self-administered treatment modalities whenever possible, and new payment models for multi-cancer early detection tests. Dr. Kamal also shares how ACS's recently launched Access to Clinical Trials and Support program—an education-forward initiative designed is helping to reduce the challenges and barriers patients face when enrolling in clinical trials. "When you think about...the goal of cancer care...it's about more and better days. It is a false choice to choose between one or the other...As we're getting people to the other side [of treatment], are we leaving them financially devastated, significantly lonely, without support around them?" – Arif Kamal, MD Arif Kamal, MD Chief Patient Officer American Cancer Society To submit a topic of discussion to the podcast, please email [email protected] and [email protected]. The 2026 Oncology Unscripted series is exclusively sponsored by Advarra. Resources Spirituality and Cultural Humility: Core Components of Comprehensive Palliative Care Together As One: Advancing Joy, Resilience, and Peer Support in Oncology Care Oncology Unscripted: Transforming Palliative Care in Oncology