What does it really mean to bring precision medicine to every patient, in every community?

In this inspiring, one-hour episode of the Precision Medicine Podcast, host Karan Cushman sits down with Dr. Arif Kamal, Chief Patient Officer at the American Cancer Society (ACS), for a wide-ranging conversation that reframes how we think about progress in cancer care. With a background in oncology, palliative care and health system innovation—and a personal story shaped by his mother’s metastatic breast cancer diagnosis—Dr. Kamal offers a deeply human perspective on what it means to deliver not just the right treatment, but the right experience for every patient.

Dr. Kamal shares how the ACS is working to make precision medicine more equitable by addressing barriers like geography, affordability, clinician burnout, and fragmented care. He explains the importance of “precision compassion”—the idea that personalized care must also include empathy, listening, and action tailored to the needs of each individual. “We can’t talk about innovation,” he says, “without talking about accessibility.”

From the importance of whole-person care and mobile health units in rural communities, to expanding insurance coverage for biomarker testing and building trust with patients and caregivers, this conversation is full of insight into what it will truly take to change the odds for people facing cancer.

You’ll also hear about the ACS’s bold initiatives:

• The Change the Odds campaign, tackling ZIP code-driven disparities in care
• ACS CAN’s legislative efforts to expand access to biomarker testing
• How the ACS’s roundtables and grassroots partnerships support health systems, clinicians, and researchers nationwide

Dr. Kamal challenges us to think beyond science alone and focus on what really matters to patients—whether that’s more time, better quality of life or simply the ability to hold a grandchild on the beach.

Don’t miss this conversation about how we turn precision medicine from a possibility into a promise—one rooted in empathy, equity and action.

Subscribe here to catch every episode in the series "Bringing Precision Medicine to Everyone." Next, we explore the evolving world of liquid biopsy and its role in expanding access to early cancer detection and precision treatment.

When patients understand their inherited risk for cancer, they’re empowered to take action—often before cancer has a chance to take hold.

In this second episode of our Bringing Precision Medicine to Every Patient series, host Karan Cushman is joined by two trusted experts, Ellen Matloff and Dr. Angella Charnot-Katsikas. Together, they provide clear, practical guidance on how patients and clinicians can identify inherited cancer risk early—and take steps to address it.

Whether you’re a patient wondering where to begin, or a provider navigating limited time and resources, this episode delivers clear takeaways to help you move from uncertainty to informed action.

It’s a timely reminder that precision medicine doesn’t begin with treatment—it begins with knowledge. And with the right tools and support, patients can take control of their health and rewrite the story for generations to come. (Be sure to subscribe here so you don't miss an episode in this important series!)

Ellen Matloff is a nationally recognized genetic counselor, founder and CEO of My Gene Counsel, and a leading voice in digital health and patient-centered genomics. She founded and led the Yale Cancer Genetic Counseling Program and was a plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court case that overturned gene patenting.

Dr. Angella Charnot-Katsikas is Chief Medical Officer at Palmetto GBA and a molecular diagnostics expert who helps guide coverage decisions through her work in precision medicine policy.

They share compelling stories that bring the science to life. Ellen reflects on one of her first BRCA1-positive patients—a healthy young mother who chose preventive surgery based on a powerful family history of cancer and a determination to break the cycle. Dr. Katsikas offers her own experience as both a pre-vivor and survivor, whose early diagnosis was only possible because of proactive testing and screening guided by her family history.

The episode also explains why many patients still miss these opportunities—due to limited awareness, inconsistent risk assessments, and systemic barriers in access. The guests highlight the limitations of consumer tests like 23andMe and the critical role of genetic counselors in interpreting results and guiding decisions.

They offer actionable strategies for integrating family history collection and risk assessment into routine care, including the use of digital tools in busy or resource-limited settings. Reimbursement challenges are discussed, alongside encouraging progress toward making precision medicine standard of care.

Special thanks to our good friend Dr. Kashyap Patel and the No One Left Alone initiative for

collaborating with us on this series. Our goal with Bringing Precision Medicine to Everyone is to equip patients, caregivers and care teams with the knowledge and tools needed to deliver the best of modern cancer care–no matter where a patient lives.

In Episode 66 of the Precision Medicine Podcast, host Karan Cushman kicks off a vital new series, Bringing Precision Medicine to Everyone in collaboration with Dr. Kashyap Patel, a nationally respected community oncologist and founder of the No One Left Alone initiative. This series explores what it takes to close the gap between innovation and access in precision cancer care—especially in community and rural settings where disparities remain greatest.

Dr. Patel, a long-time advocate for equitable oncology care, shares the real-world barriers patients face—from gaps in provider awareness to financial constraints and restrictive payer policies—and how his organization is actively working to address them. He also offers powerful patient stories that highlight the life-saving potential of timely biomarker testing and personalized therapies.

Joining the conversation is Dr. Angella Charnot-Katsikas, a molecular pathologist, policy leader at Palmetto GBA, and breast cancer survivor, who brings a unique perspective from both the clinical and payer sides. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration across care teams, the need for rapid diagnostic turnaround, and the urgency of keeping pace with evolving clinical guidelines.

Together, the guests affirm that precision medicine is the standard of care—but for too many, it’s still not the reality. This episode lays the foundation for a transformative series focused on dismantling systemic barriers and ensuring every patient—regardless of their zip code—can benefit from the best of modern cancer care.