DK: With my new position at Varian, I would like to support the advancement of radiation oncology by supporting clinical trials and educational activities. I want to continue to make the technology safer and more user friendly. And I would like to make sure that new users are properly trained on the proper use of advanced radiation technology. Radiation as one of the most effective and economical treatments for cancer, but it is significantly underutilized. Many of the reasons for this is due to access of the technology or lack of knowledge and I would like to help address these issues in my role as vice president of medical affairs.

DMN: What excites you most about the industry these days?


DK: As the field of oncology evolves, we have noticed treatments becoming more "personalized". There is a tremendous opportunity in personalizing radiation based on the biology of the tumor and not just what it looks like on a CT scan. This field of dynamic adaptive radiotherapy (DART) will allow us to personalize radiation therapy and Varian continues to be one of the leaders in this space to bring this technology to patients worldwide.

Secondly, as health care changes, we are seeing considerable challenges in the reimbursement of advanced technologies. There is an increasing demand for evidence to justify the high cost of new technology. One mechanism of getting this data is by identifying the optimal use of informatics in doing outcomes research. Not only will this help identify the usefulness of new technology, it will also help validate the current use of the technology which, in my mind, is significantly underutilized. As VP of Medical Affairs for Varian Medical Systems, I look forward to working with both our trailblazing staff as well as our luminary collaborators create a world without the fear of cancer.

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