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US Veterans are at a heightened risk for lung cancer due to service-related exposures. Integrating clinical research into routine oncology care at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can help bring clinical trials closer to where Veterans live and improve access to cutting edge therapies. In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Millie Das, MD, chief of oncology at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, about the collaborations and institutional support that allowed them to launch lung cancer clinical trials and the role industry has played.
“My primary motivation was just to allow veterans access to trials in the same way that I saw my patients at Stanford have access to clinical trials.” - Millie Das, MD
“One of the biggest myths is that you can't work with pharma within the VA and I think just trying to break down some of these old myths was a challenge.” - Millie Das, MD
Guests:
Millie Das, MD
Chief, Oncology
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Clinical Professor
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
Additional Reading/Resources
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s)/faculty member(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of their employer(s) or the Association of Cancer Care Centers.
July 8, 2026
June 30, 2026
At the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting, the Louisiana Oncology Society received the ASCO Jeffrey C Ward Affiliate Advocacy Award for advancing critical advocacy priorities that have translated into meaningful legislative victories. The Iowa Oncology Society and Washington State Medical Oncology Society were also recognized for their advocacy efforts in 2025 at the meeting, receiving second place awards.
