Don Dizon, MD, FACP, Immediate Past Chair of the Integrated Media & Technology Committee is an academic medical oncologist specializing in breast and gynecologic malignancies as well as sexuality and intimacy issues for cancer survivors at Massachusetts General Hospital, Gillette Center for Women’s Cancers. Dr. Dizon has recently been appointed as Editor of the ASCO Educational Book and sat down to share his recent thoughts about his appointment for what’s new in 2013.

What’s new in 2013 for the Educational Book?

The ASCO Educational Book, which is published in conjunction with the ASCO Annual Meeting, publishes peer reviewed manuscripts by Meeting faculty on a variety of topics related to cancer, highlighting both standards of care and therapeutic possibilities. The ASCO Educational Book has recently been accepted for indexing in the National Library of Medicine’s MEDLINE database, making all ASCO Educational Book articles citable and discoverable via PubMed.

What are your ideas for expanding its scope during your term as editor?

Dr. Dizon explains, “Now that the ASCO Educational Book has been accepted by the National Library of Medicine, this provides an amazing opportunity to expand the scope of this resource for all oncology care providers from fellows to attending physicians.”

Articles from the 2013 ASCO Educational Book and related materials will form the basis of developing an Ed Book Essentials course that will be hosted on ASCO University. This online course will be available in July and will focus on key articles related to treatment of the newly diagnosed patients with early breast cancer and bridging technological advances with clinical practice. Additionally, a new Flashcard course will be developed focusing on important concepts from key articles related to the Pediatric Oncology track. 

Why is this new initiative being implemented?

By using an online format, these new courses will provide a modern look for the ASCO Educational Book and provide an opportunity to include lifelong learning tools that are accessible to larger audience which is especially important given ASCO’s global reach. Further, this course complements the ASCO Annual Meeting by providing content that is available in an easily accessible learning format.