The Augmented Oncologist
Driving Smarter Cancer Care
Picture an oncologist's clinic day: A waiting room full of anxious patients. Hundreds of lab results demanding immediate attention. Complex treatment decisions that could mean the difference between life and death. For over two decades, this was my daily reality—racing against time, wanting to give each patient the focused attention they deserved, yet constantly fighting the clock.
Now, as an executive medical director overseeing multiple cancer centers, I see these challenges magnified across entire health systems. It's like watching thousands of dedicated healthcare professionals trying to navigate rush-hour traffic without real-time updates—each fighting through bottlenecks, searching for shortcuts, hoping they're making the best decisions with limited information.
But here's what makes my perspective unique: I've traveled this road from every possible angle. As a seven-year cancer survivor, I've sat in those same waiting rooms, experienced the anxiety of waiting for test results, felt the weight of life-altering decisions from the other side. It's this journey—from oncologist to executive to patient and back again—that fuels my mission to transform cancer care.
Why This Substack, Why Now?
Imagine if, twenty years ago, someone had told you that a tiny device in your pocket could instantly reroute your drive around an accident, warn you about weather conditions, and find the fastest path to your destination. That's exactly where we stand with AI in cancer care today—on the cusp of a transformation that could help us navigate the complexity of cancer treatment with unprecedented precision and humanity.
As Editor in Chief of AI in Precision Oncology—the only peer-reviewed journal dedicated exclusively to this field—I see the future arriving daily. But like any powerful navigation system, AI needs experienced guides to help interpret its signals. That's why I founded Tensor Black, a boutique AI consultancy and Medical Education Platform, and why I serve on the boards of the American Cancer Society and ACCC.
Your Weekly Navigation System
This newsletter is your personal GPS for the AI-in-oncology landscape. Each week, we'll explore:
🎯 The Breakthroughs
The major developments that cut through the noise—explained with the clarity of someone who has walked the halls of both cancer centers and tech companies.
🚦 Reality Check
Which AI innovations are truly ready for prime time? Think of this as your traffic report, helping you avoid the hype-heavy routes that lead to dead ends.
💡 From the Front Lines
Real-world stories of AI implementation—the victories, the setbacks, and the lessons learned. Consider these your crowd-sourced traffic updates from fellow travelers.
🗺️ Strategic Navigation
Practical guidance for healthcare leaders looking to chart their course through the AI landscape. These are your turn-by-turn directions for implementation success.
The Human Algorithm: Beyond Pure Technology
Remember the last time you used Waze during a traffic jam? The technology didn't eliminate traffic—it helped you navigate it more intelligently, reducing stress and giving you back precious time. That's exactly what AI should do for cancer care: not replace human judgment, but enhance it. Not eliminate human connection, but create more space for it.
This newsletter lives at the intersection of technology and human experience. Every week, we'll explore how to:
- Turn technological advances into more time with patients
- Transform data into insights that make care more personal, not less
- Navigate the future of oncology without losing our humanitarian compass
An Invitation to Navigate Together
Whether you're:
- A clinician drowning in data and administrative demands
- A healthcare leader trying to chart your organization's AI course
- A technologist seeking to understand healthcare's real-world needs
- Someone whose life has been touched by cancer
...this newsletter is your weekly waypoint in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-enabled cancer care.
The Journey Ahead
The future of cancer care isn't about choosing between human touch and artificial intelligence—it's about using one to enhance the other. Like any transformative journey, it helps to have an experienced navigator by your side.
I've been the exhausted clinician, the system leader facing impossible choices, and the patient hoping for better answers. Now, I'm here to help you navigate this transformation, leveraging AI not just to make cancer care smarter, but to make it more human again.
Will you join me on this journey?
Subscribe to The Augmented Oncologist to receive weekly insights that will help you navigate the future of AI-enabled cancer care.
*The views expressed here are my own and don't represent those of my affiliated institutions.*