Healthcare Unfiltered

In this cross-collaboration episode, Drs. Sam Armstrong and Karine Tawagi—hosts of the “Two Onc Docs” podcast—join the show to share their personal journeys into oncology and the inspiration behind launching a podcast for the oncology community. The conversation then expands into a candid, practical discussion of oncology career paths, offering fellows and early-career physicians real-world guidance on choosing a first job, negotiating contracts and compensation, evaluating mentorship, and balancing professional goals with life outside of medicine. From academic practice to alternative stakeholder roles, this honest dialogue unpacks the many decisions that shape a sustainable and fulfilling career in medicine.Listen to “Two Onc Doc” episodes.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-onc-docs/id1616541733Check out Chadi’s website for all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes and other content. www.chadinabhan.com/Watch all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes on YouTube. www.youtube.com/channel/UCjiJPTpIJdIiukcq0UaMFsA

VK Gadi, MD, PhD, of the University of Illinois Cancer Center, joins the show for a deep dive into antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in breast cancer, tracing the history and basic science that fueled their development and early interest in the field. Dr. Gadi breaks down where ADCs currently fit in breast cancer care, including key toxicities, evolving data presented at ESMO, and findings that may support FDA approval in early-stage and neoadjuvant HER2-positive disease. The conversation also explores advances in TROP-2–expressing and HER2-low disease, along with practical insights on incorporating and sequencing these agents in earlier lines of therapy.Check out Chadi’s website for all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes and other content. www.chadinabhan.com/Watch all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes on YouTube. www.youtube.com/channel/UCjiJPTpIJdIiukcq0UaMFsA

Returning guest Megan Melody, MD—lymphoma and CAR-T hematologist at Tampa General Hospital and the University of South Florida—joins the show for a practical, data-driven discussion on the evolving role of measurable residual disease (MRD) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in lymphoma. The conversation explores which lymphoma subtypes benefit most from MRD assessment, the available commercial assays and their sensitivity and specificity, how MRD and PET imaging should be used together (or not), and how to manage real-world scenarios such as PET-positive/ctDNA-negative patients at the end of therapy. Dr. Melody also reviews NCCN guidance, emerging frontline data in large B-cell lymphoma, and how both academic and community clinicians can translate these tools into everyday treatment decisions.Check out Chadi’s website for all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes and other content. www.chadinabhan.com/Watch all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes on YouTube. www.youtube.com/channel/UCjiJPTpIJdIiukcq0UaMFsA

Returning guest Doug Flora, MD, LSSBB, practicing oncologist and healthcare innovator, joins the show to discuss his new book Rebooting Cancer Care and his pragmatic vision for how artificial intelligence is reshaping oncology today. Dr. Flora explores how AI is already being leveraged to accelerate drug discovery and development, redesign smarter clinical trials, and support more informed, efficient decision-making—while emphasizing that these tools are meant to augment and “save” the oncologist, not replace them. Written for clinicians, industry leaders, patients, and caregivers alike, his book breaks down complex technology into accessible insights, highlighting how AI can reduce burnout, restore human connection in care, and help build a more sustainable, patient-centered cancer ecosystem.View more about the book.www.dougflora.com/Check out Chadi’s website for all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes and other content. www.chadinabhan.com/Watch all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes on YouTube. www.youtube.com/channel/UCjiJPTpIJdIiukcq0UaMFsA

Chadi sits down with Gregory Vidal, MD, PhD, medical oncologist at the West Cancer Center, for a comprehensive, state-of-the-field discussion on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Dr. Vidal walks listeners through how TNBC emerged as a diagnosis of exclusion, who is most commonly affected, current treatment paradigms and sequencing in early-stage and metastatic disease, and key considerations around surgery, recurrence risk, and unresolved questions. The conversation also explores modern decision-making in metastatic TNBC, including PD-L1 testing, first- and second-line strategies, antibody–drug conjugates versus chemotherapy, PARP inhibitors for BRCA-mutated disease, and the critical role of clinical trials in shaping the future of care.Check out Chadi’s website for all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes and other content. www.chadinabhan.com/Watch all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes on YouTube. www.youtube.com/channel/UCjiJPTpIJdIiukcq0UaMFsA

Jonathan Chen, MD, PhD—Assistant Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Informatics at Stanford University—joins the show and offers a pragmatic look at how data science and AI can be meaningfully integrated into everyday medical practice. He breaks down how complex clinical data can be translated into intuitive, real-world use cases, from algorithm-driven decision support in cancer diagnosis to recommendations that fit seamlessly into day-to-day clinician workflows. The conversation also explores whether these approaches can scale across specialties and procedures, while thoughtfully addressing the ethical considerations that come with deploying AI in clinical care.Check out Chadi’s website for all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes and other content. www.chadinabhan.com/Watch all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes on YouTube. www.youtube.com/channel/UCjiJPTpIJdIiukcq0UaMFsA

Chadi sits down with Sanjay Juneja, MD—board-certified hematologist/oncologist, healthcare futurist, and physician executive—to demystify artificial intelligence and explain what it truly means for patient care today and in the years ahead. Dr. Juneja breaks down how AI is already influencing healthcare broadly and oncology specifically, from generative AI applications to emerging tools that can analyze voice patterns to estimate physiologic markers like glucose levels. They also explore where AI is headed over the next 5–10 years, the risks and potential for misuse outside of medicine, strategies to minimize AI error, and whether human experts will continue to play a critical role between AI and patients.Check out Chadi’s website for all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes and other content. www.chadinabhan.com/Watch all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes on YouTube. www.youtube.com/channel/UCjiJPTpIJdIiukcq0UaMFsA

In this reflective and wide-ranging conversation, ASCO President Robin Zon, MD, FACP, FASCO, looks back on the formative moments that led her to oncology and the grit required to build a thriving community-based research program while balancing the demands of leadership, motherhood, and clinical practice. She shares the path that took her from ASCO member and fellow in 1997 to the presidency, unpacking the three-pillar theme she crafted for her term and the accomplishments she’s most proud of, especially those rooted in her identity as a community oncologist connecting with colleagues nationwide. Dr. Zon also weighs in on emerging innovations like AI, the evolving realities of community practice, and the broader challenges she believes oncology and the healthcare system must confront in the years ahead.Check out Chadi’s website for all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes and other content. www.chadinabhan.com/Watch all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes on YouTube. www.youtube.com/channel/UCjiJPTpIJdIiukcq0UaMFsA

Chadi sits down with Dr. Sairah Ahmed just ahead of the ASH Annual Meeting for a comprehensive deep dive into the state of Hodgkin Lymphoma management in 2026. Dr. Ahmed walks through how clinicians should interpret the newest data releases, revisits whether histologic subtyping still influences decision-making in an era increasingly shaped by biomarkers, and details her practical framework for approaching patients with stage I/II disease—including when and how radiation therapy still plays a meaningful role. She further explores the strength and limitations of interim PET, whether treatment should truly pivot based on those scans, and how nivolumab is now being deployed across frontline, relapsed/refractory, and post-transplant settings. Rounding out the discussion, Dr. Ahmed outlines how she manages advanced-stage disease with particular attention to insights and implications from SWOG S1826, highlights immune-related toxicities clinicians must watch for, clarifies the evolving role of autologous transplant and the preferred sequence of prior therapies, and offers an inside look at the most important agents and strategies moving through the Hodgkin Lymphoma pipeline.Check out Chadi’s website for all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes and other content. www.chadinabhan.com/Watch all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes on YouTube. www.youtube.com/channel/UCjiJPTpIJdIiukcq0UaMFsA

Journalist Erin O'Hearn, a mother and caregiver with a rich background in broadcast reporting, shares her poignant journey as both a patient with Crohn's disease and a long-term caregiver. She highlights how AI could have alleviated the emotional and logistical challenges in her care experience. Erin discusses the MAHA movement and emphasizes the importance of combining AI with genuine human connection. She offers practical advice for caregivers, advocating for open conversations and the need to seek support during tough times.