MINNEAPOLIS -- When William “Bill” Wachsman, MD, PhD, joined the executive board of the Association of VA Hematology/Oncology earlier this decade, the organization revolved around its annual meeting. Now, AVAHO is expanding its horizons, and Dr. Wachsman plans to push for a wider focus and greater impact as its new president.
“We’re a group of like-minded individuals who came together about 15 years ago and said we want to take better care of our patients, coordinate our services, and better educate ourselves,” said Dr. Wachsman, a hematologist/oncologist with US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) San Diego Health Care System, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, and Moores Cancer Center. “We’re still dedicated to this mission. Moving forward, I want to improve educational opportunities, encourage our interest groups to develop initiatives, and utilize our foundation to support medical professionals and improve patient care within the VA.”
Dr. Wachsman took over as AVAHO’s president on the last day of the organization’s annual meeting in Minneapolis. He replaces immediate past president Mark Klein, MD, and will serve for 1 year.
According to Dr. Wachsman, AVAHO is unique among cancer/hematology associations because it’s not limited to physicians. “Everyone who’s involved with the care of patients with hematologic or oncologic disease can be involved. You don’t need to be an employee of the VA.”
Indeed, AVAHO’s approximately 800 members include medical oncologists and hematologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pharmacists, nurses, nurse practitioners, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, social workers, cancer registrars, and other allied health professionals.
AVAHO is also unique because it’s not a VA organization. “It’s an association of people are interested in better care for patients at the VA,” Dr. Wachsman said.
Over the next year, Dr. Wachsman hopes to form a community advisory board “that can not only give us advice, but reach out to other associations in the VA and in oncology to spread the word about what we’re doing.” Other forms of outreach can help AVAHO gain influence among policymakers, he said.
As for AVAHO’s foundation, he hopes to bring in funding through grants to support fellowship awards and to help VA sites around the nation develop infrastructure to support clinical trials.
On another national level, he said, AVAHO can improve its relationship with the VA with a goal of promoting honest and productive communication that goes both ways. “You have to get to know each other,” he said, “before you jump into the same pool and begin to swim.”
