In today’s challenging health care landscape, those in the field of radiation oncology must work together to present a cohesive message about the benefits of radiation therapy amidst the cacophony of dwindling reimbursements and misinformation about our specialty. Together, we can share our stories—who we are and what we do—with members of other medical specialties, policymakers and the general public.
With the development of ASTRO’s new strategic plan, these relationships become even more critical to increase the profile of the specialty.
ASTRO’s Corporate Relations efforts provide opportunities for ASTRO and members of the radiation oncology community to collaborate and form long-term, quality relationships. Through the development of these meaningful partnerships, industry members and ASTRO members are better prepared to meet the challenges of today’s health care marketplace and positively shape the future of radiation oncology.
This relationship is a symbiotic one—ASTRO members benefit as much as corporate members do. For our members, ASTRO’s corporate members provide financial support for the society’s activities. In 2017, the support of these generous companies have helped defray the costs of ASTRO’s educational offerings and other initiatives that further the reach of our Society, such as the development of patient education materials and public awareness campaigns. This year-round support is crucial to our Society’s ability to remain at the forefront of the field of radiation oncology.
Currently, there are more than 100 corporate members, including ASTRO’s 12 Corporate Ambassadors. Now in its 16th year, I am pleased to say that the Corporate Ambassadorship program continues to evolve as one of the most unique and prestigious year-round corporate involvement opportunities. Over the years, the program has advanced to keep pace with the changes in the health care environment, and the benefit enhancements have changed accordingly. Corporate Ambassadors are recognized year-round in ASTROnews, on our website at ASTRO.org and especially at the Annual Meeting.
When we spoke with members after the ASTRO Annual Meeting, nearly 70 percent of ASTRO attending members said they were widely aware of ASTRO’s industry sponsors. ASTRO’s emphasis on offering maximum exposure to its premier sponsors is not overlooked. Read more about Corporate Ambassador benefits here.
We proudly welcome to our newest ambassadors, Novocure and AstraZeneca. A full list of all of ASTRO’s 2017 year-round Corporate Ambassadors can be found on our Corporate Relations webpage.