In his latest “Health Care Heart to Heart” podcast, now streaming, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, speaks with Joann Sweasy, PhD, director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine.
Dr. Sweasy speaks about the origin of her desire to fight cancer, her goals for the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and the Eppley Institute and what convinced her that Omaha was a place where she could make a difference in the battle against the disease.
“The first thing I noticed was the energy, and everyone is all in,” Dr. Sweasy says. “There’s commitment at every single level from the scientists, the clinicians, the institution. This is one of the few institutions where cancer is actually in the strategic plan. The science is impactful, cutting-edge clinical research. It’s just an incredible place, community support and state support for cancer research. I don’t think there’s a better place in the United States, maybe the world, to do cancer research.”
They also discuss the importance of screening as a cancer prevention tool.
“It is very important to keep up with cancer screening, to be screened, to have your annual mammography, to be screened for colonoscopies, to visit your primary care physician and make sure that all of your cancer screenings are up-to-date and your vaccinations are up to date,” she says. “We can treat cancer. And the good news is, there are so many cancer survivors now.”
“Health Care Heart to Heart” posts new podcasts every other week, as Dr. Gold speaks to national, regional and local health care leaders on issues of importance. On each new episode, Dr. Gold and his guests will share information, explore health care challenges and opportunities and leave listeners thinking about how they, too, can make a difference.
“Health Care Heart to Heart” episodes will be updated on the official podcast website and can be streamed on the following platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.