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Lung Cancer Awareness Q&A with Therapeutic Radiologist Dr. Thomas Hayman

November 15, 2021

As we honor lung awareness month, what do you want our patients and families to pause and remember?

I would like us to remember the patients, families, and caregivers who have been through a past diagnosis of lung cancer. This is an incredibly difficult disease and with their selfless participation in clinical trials we continue to advance our treatment of current and future patients with lung cancer.

How do you collaborate with the entire thoracic oncology team at Smilow Cancer Hospital to care for your patients?

From the initial diagnosis through a patient’s treatment course, the entire thoracic oncology team at Smilow Cancer Hospital is involved in helping patients through this difficult time. We participate in a multidisciplinary tumor board to ensure that patients are receiving the best possible treatment and frequently discuss progress throughout treatment and in follow up.

How do you connect with other clinicians treating patients with lung cancer to bridge laboratory research to clinical care?

As a physician-scientist I work frequently with the multidisciplinary thoracic oncology team clinically, and participate in discussions of new and emerging treatments. Additionally, as a recent recipient of a research grant through the Yale SPORE in Lung Cancer, I am involved in formal and informal discussions regarding our ongoing laboratory research and potential avenues for translation to the clinic.

Mentorship is an important part of clinical research—what is your favorite way to keep your team engaged, and learning from one another?

At Smilow we strive to maintain a continued focus on helping our patients with lung cancer through their diagnosis & treatment. This patient-centered focus promotes unwavering engagement and an environment conducive to continued learning.

Submitted by Emily Montemerlo on November 16, 2021