PET and PET/CT in management of the lymphomas

Within recent years, F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET has become the most important nuclear medicine and radiology imaging modality in the management of lymphoma. FDG-PET detects more disease sites and involved organs than conventional staging procedures, including CT, and has a large influence on staging. FDG-PET performed during and after therapy seems to provide considerable prognostic information. The impact on patient outcome is not clear, however, because no controlled trials have yet been conducted and follow-up periods are generally short

Chapter 22: Medical Education, Radiology Researchers, and The Future of Radiology Research (in the Healthcare Economy)

Dr. Podoloff speaks broadly of advances in radiology research. He first states that conservatism in medical education is the major reason that medicine does not advance rapidly. He talks about the qualities that an innovative researcher must have, reflecting on his own curiosity. He makes final comments on how radiology’s shift in focus from form to function will give rise to entirely different kinds of inquiry in the future. He notes that the biggest influence on research will be changes in the healthcare systems. He talks about healthcare costs and policy.https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/1747/thumbnail.jp

Chapter 23: MD Anderson Growth as an Impact on Institutional Culture and on Radiology

Dr. Podoloff talks about the need for growth at MD Anderson and sketches expansion has had an impact on how radiology is conceptualized as a practice. He first talks about the need for regional care centers to better serve patients, then sketches changes to the institution as it has grown, with particular attention to the increases in regulation. Dr. Podoloff then notes that the field of radiology is addressing a question: Is radiology a legitimate field of medical study or a technology? He gives background on why radiology can be seen as superflouous, and notes that other specialties have their methods of reading films. He talks about strategies for integrating radiologists into multi-disciplinary teams. Dr. Podoloff praises MD Anderson’s method of paying physicians to take the profit motive out of care deliver. He addresses the period of turbulence at the institution since Dr. DePinho became president, noting the he is satisfied with his leadership with one exception.https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/1748/thumbnail.jp

Chapter 16: The Center for Advanced Biomedical Imaging: More on the Story of Establishing CABI

Dr. Podoloff begins by explaining that the Center for Biomedical Imaging is ready to begin promoting its services within MD Anderson. He notes the importance of talking to clinicians and researchers about their imaging needs. He gives the example of how a research project in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery led to a new standard of care. Dr. Podoloff He talks about financial challenges of running CABI and legal challenges involved with acquiring instruments from GE Health. He explains the decision to offer standard of care imaging with research imaging tacked on in order to avoid “hemorrhaging money.” Dr. Podoloff talks about the different between a non-profit and a not-for-profit institution.https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/1741/thumbnail.jp

Chapter 19: Overview of Administrative Roles; The Moon Shots; Translational Research and the Future of Targeted Therapy

Dr. Podoloff covers several topics in this segment. He first sketches his role as Director of Clinical Research and his related work on the Institutional Executive Research Committee. He then sketches his role as Director of Clinical/Translational Research for the Division of Diagnostic Imaging (role assumed in 2010). Dr. Podoloff then sketches the evolution of translational research under Dr. Ronald DePinho and gives his impressions of the Moon Shots program. He talks about early data produced a multi-disciplinary group of diagnostic studies conducted within the Lung Cancer Moon Shot. Next Dr. Podoloff reflects on the evolution of cancer care. He then talks about how the genetic mutability of cancer tumors in relation to tailored therapies and the Moon Shots.https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/1744/thumbnail.jp

Chapter 21: Next Steps --for the Division of Radiology and the Field

Dr. Podoloff sketches what’s on the horizon for radiology at MD Anderson and for the development of the field. He first talks about “big data” advances made via the Quantitative Image Analysis Core by linking molecular and computational imaging. He observes that as Radiology’s focus has shifted from form to function, it is serving a data storage function for many fields. To demonstrate the form to function shift, Dr. Podoloff uses examples from the Lung Cancer Moon Shot and his own research. He talks about the “spin lab” where living systems can be imaged using new technologies. He explains the process.https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/1746/thumbnail.jp

Donald A. Podoloff, MD, Oral History Interview, June 04, 2015

Major Topics Covered: Research culture at MD Anderson Growth at MD Anderson Ethics in medicine and research Faithhttps://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewsessions/1118/thumbnail.jp

Chapter 20: Administrative Roles, Views on the Multi-disciplinary Environment of Centers and Institutes, and A Radiologist’s Contribution to a Care Team

Dr. Podoloff first talks about his role as Chair of the Department of Nuclear Medicine and his related work as Chair of the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff. He explains that as Head of the Division of Radiology he was helped plan occupancy of the Alkek Hospital and the Mays Ambulatory Clinic. He was helped develop strategies to structurally integrate the Centers and Institutes in the Cancer Care System. He then explains that the basic sciences are still organized around departments but the clinical functions are organized in multi-disciplinary care centers and environments. He explains the implications of this structure for Radiology, which does not operate in a multi-disciplinary environment. He sketches the pros and cons of this and talks about the importance of having a radiologist on a clinical team.https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/1745/thumbnail.jp

Chapter 14: The Center for Advanced Biomedical Imaging: an Opportunity to Realize a Vision of Imaging for MD Anderson

After a brief discussion of his role as Deputy Chair of the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Dr. Podoloff tells the story of the Center for Advanced Biomedical Imaging (CABI). He explains that in 2000 conversations with Dr. John Mendelsohn [Oral History Interview] and Joe Hogan, the head of GE Medical resulted in a deal to develop CABI. This was also a recruitment incentive for him to take on the role as head of the Division of Radiology. Dr. Podoloff explains his vision for imaging at MD Anderson, referring to the image below. Dr. Podoloff then explains why he wanted to take the position of Division Head and create the Center for Advanced Biomedical Imaging. He notes that he had the support of both Dr. Mendelsohn and GE Medical.https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/1739/thumbnail.jp

Chapter 02: Chemistry and an Early Mentor Lead to a Focus on Medicine

Dr. Podoloff begins this segment by explaining that he started out in public school, but then shifted to private school. He notes his interest in chemistry, describing the shelf full of chemicals he had in his room. He also talks about the family’s physician, Dr. Lucen, who treated his asthma and inspired his interest in medicine. He explains why, after beginning his undergraduate education at the University of Rochester, he transferred to New York University. He talks briefly about his style of thinking.https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/1727/thumbnail.jp