Federal Practitioner: What are the top priorities for AVAHO in 2015/2016.
Dr. Aggarwal: I am looking forward to working with the AVAHO members, board members, and various subcommittee members who have made this annual symposium successful. With their help, AVAHO has grown to 700 members in the past 11 years.
The AVAHO annual symposium has become one of the must go-to meetings for all hematology/oncology professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, physician assistants, tumor registrars, and social workers. The symposium is an opportunity not just for education, but also for social networking that is unique to those who are working in the VA health care system.
As president of AVAHO, I would like to see AVAHO grow not only its memberships, but also in other areas, such as research. I would like to develop an active and productive funded research program.
The VHA is one of the largest and unique health care systems, and there are 40,000 new cancers diagnosed each year in the VHA. The database contains 11 million veterans’ longitudinal medical data, and much can be learned from the data.
I will put my efforts into diversifying AVAHO’s funding sources, in addition to our kind and generous industry sponsors. As president, among many other priorities, I will make sure to keep up the high standard of education that AVAHO provides.
Federal Practitioner: How can people get more involved in AVAHO?
Dr. Aggarwal: You can all help us keep AVAHO growing in terms of its education and funding:
- Tell your friends and colleagues to join AVAHO
- Be an AVAHO ambassador for your facility and specialty
- Let us know how we can help you improve your professional development
- Commit yourself to one or more of the AVAHO committees
- Donate money to AVAHO
- Give us suggestions to make this meeting better
- Send articles to Federal Practitioner for the journal, the AVAHO website, and the newsletter
Federal Practitioner: Are there any new or ongoing significant AVAHO research projects?
Dr. Aggarwal: There are at least 2 multisite research groups as a result of AVAHO networking:(1) VA breast health research group; and (2) AVAHO: Health Services Research subcommittee.
They are actively involved in research studies and publishing. I am hoping that more groups get involved in research, and I’m hoping to have some research funding, to encourage our budding investigators.
