Introducing Oncology Unscripted

Between workforce shortages, an ever-growing patient and survivor population, rising burnout rates, and institutional challenges, it is undeniable that cancer care is at a crossroads. Yet oncology professionals recognize that the most important conversations are not happening in white papers, but among peers who understand firsthand the most pressing barriers to high-quality, equitable cancer care.

Introducing Oncology Unscripted, ACCC’s new CANCER BUZZ podcast, which offers unfiltered, honest dialogue about the future of cancer care delivery, hosted by Mark Liu, MHA, senior director of oncology strategy, transformation & analytics, Mount Sinai Health System, and Deirdre Saulet, PhD, chief strategy officer, Jasper Health. Each episode will dive into operational, cultural, financial, and clinical challenges experienced by members of the multidisciplinary care team, offering fresh perspectives on how oncology professionals can think bigger, lead smarter, and act bolder—even amid an uncertain future and unpredictable headwinds.

In this inaugural episode, Liu and Saulet lay out why they are doing the show and what listeners can expect from it. “Often in oncology, we're so busy. We're doing our own things, our day jobs are busy,” said Liu. “[We want to] create an opportunity to have a conversation about all the hot topics and challenges we’re facing in cancer care today.”

“We’re in an unpredictable, complex, and challenging time right now in health care, especially in cancer care,” Saulet added. “...This is going to be a safe space for us to discuss those challenges, those barriers, very openly, but then also talk about the paths to move forward. How do we think about hope and the reason why so many of us are in cancer care?” Liu agreed, stressing that amid uncertainty, it’s crucial to look at the positives and discuss what providers can do in these challenging situations.

Another guiding tenet of the podcast is breaking down and disseminating the wide array of new information constantly being made available in oncology to share it with the ACCC membership and the broader oncology community. “I think so many of us enjoy being in the cancer space because of the pace of change,” said Saulet. “[There are] so many challenges, but also so many opportunities.”

“We know all too well that cancer is not one thing,” Liu commented. “The longer I work in cancer, the more complicated the delivery of cancer care has gotten. We've been privileged to have all the scientific breakthroughs that we've had, but at the same time, the learning never stops.” Liu hopes that conversations in Oncology Unscripted will be immensely valuable as a way for providers to digest some of the information learned through research and at national meetings and make sense of it all. “There are many levers that we operate within, [both] internal and external. Breaking down that information is really important.”

“It’s so easy to get wrapped up in our very myopic world and not think bigger picture or realize the things we can learn from other folks [who are] doing really cool and innovative things,” Saulet agreed.

Liu and Saulet briefly previewed some upcoming podcast topics of interest—including the delivery of palliative care, goals of care conversations, collaboration among the multidisciplinary team, and trends in reimbursement models—for which they are excited to bring on a variety of guest speakers.

In an unprecedented time in cancer care, tune into Oncology Unscripted in 2026 for a space to explore how oncology professionals can support one another, continue to hold important conversations, and act as agents of change in oncology. If there are any topics you’d like to see represented in the podcast, please email them to mark.liu@mountsinai.org and deirdre.saulet@hellojasper.com.