Publications by authors named "Inas Abuali"

Purpose: Medical podcast integration into hematology/oncology fellowship curricula remains largely unstudied. We conducted a multicenter cluster randomized trial to evaluate the educational impact of a podcast-based curriculum (PC) when delivered alongside standard didactics compared with standard didactics alone.

Methods: Twenty-seven US Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited hematology/oncology fellowship programs were randomized to receive either PC plus standard didactics (podcast arm, n = 14) or standard didactics alone (control arm, n = 13).

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Purpose: Trimodal therapy (TMT) is the standard treatment for patients with nonmetastatic inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). TMT consists of neoadjuvant systemic therapy, modified radical mastectomy (MRM), and postmastectomy radiation therapy. Although broadly considered the best approach for IBC, in the United States, only a third of patients receive TMT.

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Though we have made ample advances in the field of medicine in recent years, our idea of professionalism continues to be based on the standard of how white men dressed in the nineteenth century. Such a standard of professionalism not only perpetuates gender bias, but also aims to remove the culture, traditions, and behaviors of minority groups with the goal of molding these individuals to resemble the majority, preventing 'Afro' heritage from entering medicine. By contextualizing our own experiences in the medical setting as physicians of color in the context of a variety of supporting literature, we provide an overview of professionalism, its role in medicine, the double standard faced by women, and how it continues to be weaponized against physicians of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.

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With the escalating incidence and prevalence of cancer worldwide disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries, there is an urgent need for the global oncology community to foster bidirectional partnerships and an equitable exchange of knowledge, resources, and expertise. A dedicated Global Oncology Community of Practice (CoP) can serve as a self-organizing, grassroots approach for members, with common goals and values, to coordinate efforts, maximize impact, and ensure sustainable outcomes. It is imperative, however, when outlining goals and priorities to adhere to an ethical and appropriate framework during community building efforts to avoid perpetuating inequities and power imbalances.

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Cancer is a major public health problem in South America. The cancer mortality burden is increasing in the region due to its presentation at later stages, which is related to limited access to cancer care. This results in a noticeable inequity in provisions of cancer care including specialized screening programs, as well as cancer-related treatments such as personalized medicine, radiation therapy, palliative care, and survivorship services.

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The neoadjuvant use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is being increasingly adopted, but questions about the most appropriate applications remain. Although patients with resectable NSCLC are often treated with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy or targeted therapies +/- radiotherapy, they still have a high risk of recurrence and death. In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) (anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4) have provided a new and effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of advanced NSCLC.

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Purpose: Physician workforce diversity can be a driver of institutional excellence, improving innovation and reducing health disparities. However, the current diversity of the hematology/oncology (HO) workforce does not reflect that of the US population.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of current trainees and faculty within 5 years of completing terminal training in oncology specialties.

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Introduction: Women and underrepresented groups in medicine hold few academic leadership positions in the field of hematology/oncology. In this study, we assessed gender and race/ethnicity representation in editorial board positions in hematology/oncology journals.

Materials And Methods: Editorial leadership board members from 60 major journals in hematology and oncology were reviewed; 54 journals were included in the final analysis.

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Disparities in cancer care disproportionately impact minority groups, members of which face challenges in accessing high-quality cancer care, remain underrepresented in clinical trials, and experience significant financial toxicity and discrimination during their cancer journey. Diversifying our workforce, improving access to trials, and allocating research funding for equitable initiatives should be prioritized.

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Health disparities in multiple myeloma (MM) disproportionately affect minorities. Characterization of health disparities encountered by Hispanic Americans with MM is necessary to identify gaps and inform future strategies to eliminate them. We performed a systematic review of publications that described health disparities relevant to Hispanic Americans with MM through December 2021.

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The Psychiatric Consultation Service at Massachusetts General Hospital sees medical and surgical inpatients with comorbid psychiatric symptoms and conditions. During their twice-weekly rounds, Dr Stern and other members of the Consultation Service discuss diagnosis and management of hospitalized patients with complex medical or surgical problems who also demonstrate psychiatric symptoms or conditions. These discussions have given rise to rounds reports that will prove useful for clinicians practicing at the interface of medicine and psychiatry.

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Adding temozolomide (TMZ) to radiation for patients with newly-diagnosed anaplastic astrocytomas (AAs) is common clinical practice despite the lack of prospective studies demonstrating a survival advantage. Two retrospective studies, each with methodologic limitations, provide conflicting advice regarding treatment. This single-institution retrospective study was conducted to determine survival trends in patients with AA.

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Indolent CNS lymphomas (CNSLs) are rare and no guidelines exist for management. Recent literature highlights the potential for safe and tolerable intrathecal (IT) delivery of rituximab, a large anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, for aggressive CNSL. We report a patient with relapsed indolent CNSL who failed systemic rituximab and could not tolerate IT chemotherapies, but had an objective response of 6 months duration to IT rituximab.

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