Onc Now | Episode 9
This week, Jonathan Sackier is joined by Janet Abrahm, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Institute Physician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, to break stigmas around palliative care and explore the evolution of supportive oncology.
Spotify | Apple | Amazon Music | Download MP3 (40 mins)
Janet Abrahm obtained a medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco, and completed her internship, residency, and fellowship in hematology and oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital and University of Pennsylvania. She served as Chief Resident at UCSF’s Moffitt Hospital and pursued additional training in pain assessment and quality management.
Now, Abrahm is Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Institute Physician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, practicing palliative care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
A trailblazer in supportive and palliative oncology, Abrahm founded the first palliative care service and fellowship at both the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Abrahm’s work has earned numerous accolades, including the 2024 ASCO Walther Cancer Foundation Supportive Oncology Award.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
03:55 – Abrahm’s journey into palliative care
09:10 – A perspective on cannabinoids
12:21 – The evolution of palliative oncology
16:39 – Breaking stigma around palliative care
20:20 – Differences in global approaches to palliative care
25:43 – Medical aid in dying
35:08 – Advice to young doctors
37:03 – Abrahm’s three wishes for healthcare
