From the January/February 2016 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine


HCB News: NAPT has traditionally been an educational resource for both providers and patients. Do you see this as the steady course going forward, or will focus shift more onto one of those groups, or somewhere else entirely?
TK: NAPT will continue to engage in public education about proton therapy to ensure that patients, caregivers, providers and policymakers have the latest information to make the best decisions. We’ll continue to share the latest research with providers and to educate patients so they will be able to ask if proton therapy is the right option for them. We’ll also be doing community outreach with partner organizations to help spread the message.

We’re a small association, but we’re looking at a growing base of proton therapy centers in the U.S. I do anticipate growth for the association and its role. We have a small staff and we work to operate the association as efficiently as possible to make the most of our resources. The association depends on its members to implement successful programs and I am very fortunate to have a very motivated and involved membership.
HCB News: What are your predictions about the health of proton therapy a decade from now?
TK: I see a bright future ahead. As we talked about, there’s mounting evidence for the benefits of proton therapy. Opportunities for new centers will result in continued growth and greater access for patients. The technology is continuing to advance and improve. Organizations are adopting proton therapy because they see the great benefits it offers. At the end of the day, it’s going to continue to grow, continue to help save lives. Coverage will expand, cost of the therapy will come down and it will be broadly accepted as a significant tool for fighting cancer.

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