On February 28, 2025, approximately 150 healthcare professionals gathered at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center in Gainesville for a landmark event: the 55th UF Radiation Oncology Research Seminar.
The seminar brought together a diverse group of attendees, including physicians, research coordinators, nurses, medical physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists, and students, who participated in concurrent sessions for physicians, and radiation therapists and oncology nurses.
The 2025 Keynote Speaker was Ramesh Rengan, MD, PhD, FASTRO, Professor and Chair in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Washington, and Senior Vice President and Director of the Radiation Oncology Division, Fred Hutch Cancer Center. Dr. Rengan specializes in the treatment of thoracic malignancies, ocular tumors, renal cell carcinoma, and prostate cancer.
Dr. Rengan’s presentation, “The Evolving Value Proposition of Radiotherapy in the Era of Precision Oncology”, given to the physician audience, provided an overview of radiation oncology treatment intensification and survival efforts, treatment outcomes with other modalities, and the future role of radiation therapy in a new paradigm.
Other physician program topics included “Exploring the Feasibility and Utility of Competency-based Curriculum in United States Radiation Oncology Training”, with Ryan Brisson, MD; “Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treated with Proton Beam Radiotherapy”, with Tony Casper, DO; “A Retrospective Analysis of Outcomes of Unresectable Pediatric Meningiomas Treated with Proton Therapy”, with Ellie Thompson, MD; “The Changing Landscape of Stage III NSCLC Management,” with Tithi Biswas, MD; and “Clinician-patient Communication about Cancer Treatment Misinformation: The Misinformation Response Model”, with Carma L. Bylund, PhD.
Case study presentations and discussion focusing on the importance of local control in lung fostered a rich exchange of ideas and expertise during the “From Consult to Cure: The Patient 360” panel, provided for all attendees. Dr. Rengan was joined by Dr. Hiren Mehta, Professor, UF Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine; Romaine Charles Nichols, Jr., MD, Professor, UF Health Proton Therapy Institute; Devika Das, MD, MSHQS, Associate Professor of Medicine and Research Lead, Thoracic DSG, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Florida; William B. Weir, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Florida; Sarah Graciani, RN, BSN, Oncology Nurse Navigator; and Derly C. Munoz, PT, physical therapist.
Radiation Therapists’ and Oncology Nursing Seminar talks included an “Introduction to Radiopharmaceuticals”, with Kathryn E. Hitchcock, MD, PhD; “Is Surgery Necessary in the Treatment of Locally-Advanced Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OC-SCC)?”, given by Ryan Brisson, MD ; “Unity through Division: Moving Forward with MRgRT”, with Luke Maloney, PhD; “Tumor Treating Fields MOA and Recent Updates”, given by Tisdrey Torres APRN, AOCNP and Kari Ann Pandyra BSN, RN; and “Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema Updates”, with Derly C. Munoz, PT.
The event was supported by UF Health, Naveris, Novocure, Xofigo, Servier, Novaritis, DCISionRT by Prelude Dx, Boston Scientific, and the Lung Cancer Research Foundation.
“We are extremely grateful to all of our presenters, sponsors, attendees and staff who made our milestone 55th seminar such a success,” said Professor William M. Mendenhall, MD, FACR, seminar coordinator. “The field of radiotherapy has evolved dramatically over the last five decades, and this program allows us not only to keep pace, but to help lead radiation oncologists into the next decade of cancer research and treatment.”
