UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Assistant Professor Kristy Broman, M.D., was selected to receive a 2022 Conquer Cancer Career Development Award (CDA), which will provide $200,000 in funding of her research.
Conquer Cancer is the foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The ASCO notes that Conquer Cancer grants and awards support oncology professionals at every career-stage and medical students and residents to help accelerate breakthroughs in research and build an oncology workforce that more fully represents the diversity of individuals with cancer.
Broman’s particular CDA is a three-year grant that funds clinical investigators in the first to third year of faculty appointment to establish an independent clinical cancer research program.
The research
The grant will fund Broman’s research project “Health System Characteristics and Strategies That Contribute to Evidence-Based Surgical Cancer Care: A mixed methods study proposal.”
Broman’s project was created in response is a rising trend toward consolidation of healthcare facilities into larger networks, or systems, of care. Researchers note that this may result in smaller, more rural local care facilities having relationships with larger hospitals located in urban areas.
Broman notes that this consolidation could make it easier for people to get specialized care for complex diseases like cancer by spreading the knowledge that exists at the system level to healthcare providers who are treating patients close to home.
Though currently research suggests that these healthcare networks do not necessarily improve make or lower cost for patients or healthcare systems, researchers expect significant variability at the health system level, with some high-performing health systems providing informative models.
The impact
Through the proposed study, Broman and team will learn what makes the health systems high- or low-performing and identify things that can be done to improve how health systems care for cancer patients. Researchers propose a change that can be made and tested within their own health system which, if successful, can be used by other health systems moving forward.
Broman is looking forward to the clinical implications that her study may have for cancer patients across the nation.
“As the only NCI designated comprehensive cancer center in the state with a robust network of community cancer affiliate sites serving largely rural populations, UAB Health System is optimally positioned to study and improve how we deliver cancer care throughout the region and the nation.”
“Our novel research strategy will integrate high-level data from US hospitals and health systems with the ‘boots on the ground’ experience of key stakeholders in cancer care delivery through interviews with health system leaders and providers of direct patient care. We expect findings to be far-reaching, applicable to cancer care in health systems throughout the country,” said Broman.”
Broman is board-certified in complex general surgical oncology and treats tumors of the skin and soft tissue, breast, extremities and retroperitoneum. In addition to treatment of primary tumors, she is particularly interested in management of disease with spread to the lymph nodes and in detection and treatment of recurrent disease.
Broman joined the faculty of the UAB Department of Surgery in 2020. She is a physician lead on the UAB Melanoma Tumor Board as well as the vice chair and associate cancer liaison physician for the UAB Cancer Committee within the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. She is also a member of the Institute for Cancer Outcomes & Survivorship.
Broman notes it has been a collaborative effort leading up to the award.
“I am especially grateful to my primary research mentor, Dr. Smita Bhatia, co-mentor Dr. Nataliya Ivankova, and patient advocate, Jessica Sparks, CRNP, for their ongoing support in this project,” said Broman.