Incoming ASTRO head plans to build on present leader’s momentum
The American Society for Radiation Oncology has found its next CEO.
It’s radiation oncologist Vivek Kavadi, MD, MBA, whom the society named to the post June 20 after conducting a nationwide search, according to ASTRO’s announcement.
Kavadi will take the wheel Nov. 1, succeeding Laura Thevenot, who has led ASTRO since 2002 and announced in January that she’d be retiring this year.
Kavadi is presently serving as chief radiation oncology officer at the US Oncology Network. He’s been an ASTRO member since 1994 and previously held longtime clinical and leadership positions at Texas Oncology.
His clinical concentrations are in breast and prostate cancers, and he currently serves on ASTRO’s board of directors. The organization named him a fellow in 2019.
The announcement quotes ASTRO board chair Jeff Michalski, MD, MBA.
“The appointment of a physician from our specialty with firsthand experience of the challenges that practicing physicians face each day marks an important milestone for ASTRO,” Michalski says. Dr. Kavadi’s expertise, he adds, “will be valuable as we navigate the legislative landscape with the recent introduction of the Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) Value-Based Payment Program Act as well as a myriad of issues important to our 10,000 members, including physician education, guideline development, scientific advances and industry partnerships.”
For his part, Kavadi acknowledges the contributions of outgoing CEO Thevenot and says he does not take lightly “the challenge of leaving my current role in community cancer care to lead a national organization.”
“I know I will be at the helm of a healthy, thriving organization,” Kavadi adds, “and I am committed to fostering further collaboration, scientific advancement and excellence within our specialty.”
ASTRO notes that Kavadi earned his MBA from The Wharton School, his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Rice University. He completed his radiation oncology training at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he was chief resident and served on the faculty.
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.