
Orientation to the Comprehensive Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO Series
This session provided an overview of the ECHO model, along with providing a data level-set of the current burden of lung cancer in each state, and provide a brief introduction to lung cancer biomarker testing, including the current guidelines and approved FDA biomarker-driven treatments.
View Resources
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Georgia – 6-9-2021 – Recording
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Georgia – 6-9-2021 – Slides
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Kentucky – 5-27-2021 – Recording
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Kentucky – 5-27-2021 – Slides
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Mississippi – 5-25-2021 – Recording
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Mississippi – 5-25-2021 – Slides
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Session 0 – Resources
Understanding the Barriers to Biomarker Testing
This session will provide an overview of the biomarker continuum through the lens of the critical medical stakeholders, showcasing the coordinated sequence of events that is required and the common gaps at every stage of the multidisciplinary care continuum.
Didactic Presenter
M. Patricia Rivera, MD
Pathways to Biomarker Testing (Patient Lens)
This session will provide an overview of the pathways to biomarker testing, through the lens of the patient, especially emphasizing the steps, the process, and the length of time involved.
Didactic Presenters
Raymond Osarogiagbon, MBBS, FACP
Suresh Ramalingam, MD, FASCO
Ralph Zinner, MD
View Resources
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Georgia – 7-21-2021 – Case Presentation
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Georgia – 7-21-2021 – Recording
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Georgia – 7-21-2021 – Slides
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Kentucky – 8-9-2021 – Case Presentation
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Kentucky – 8-9-2021 – Recording
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Kentucky – 8-9-2021 – Slides
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Mississippi – 7-27-2021 – Case Presentation
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Mississippi – 7-27-2021 – Recording
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Mississippi – 7-27-2021 – Slides
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Session 2 – Resources
Adequate Tissue for Sampling
This session will define the overall role of the multidisciplinary care team, including the coordination by pathologists and medical oncologists to ensure adequate lung cancer tissue is collected for testing. Additionally, it will provide guidance on how to procure adequate tissue samples that allow for accurate characterization of histology, biomarker testing, and the tissue and discuss the approaches of the different proceduralists.
Didactic Presenter
Gerard Silvestri, MD, MS, FCCP
Choice of Panel, Interpretation of Results, and Next Steps
This session will provide guidance and recommendations regarding the appropriate biomarker testing modalities (next-generation sequencing (NGS), Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and blood. Additionally, it will discuss how to interpret the current NGS reports and the appropriate next steps, e.g. recommendations for FDA approved treatments or cancer clinical trials (if no FDA approved treatment exists, etc.).
Didactic Presenter
Ignacio Wistuba, MD
Improving Turnaround Time
This session will offer strategies to reduce turnaround time and present approaches to help ameliorate the patient’s wait time for the results.
Didactic Presenter
Lynette Sholl, MD, FCAP
Georgia- Navigating Insurance Complexities
This session will explore the current coverage policies and reimbursement for single gene tests, as compared to multi-gene panel tests by private and public payers in each state and provide solutions to overcome reimbursement barriers.
Didactic Presenters
Nagla Abdel Karim, MD
Kentucky - Understanding the Payers Perspective an How to Get Approval
This session will explore the current coverage policies and reimbursement for single gene tests, as compared to multi-gene panel tests by private and public payers in each state and provide solutions to overcome reimbursement barriers.
Didactic Presenters
Mark D. Birdwhistell, MPA
Samantha M. O’Bryan
Mississippi - Navigating Insurance Complexities
This session will explore the current coverage policies and reimbursement for single gene tests, as compared to multi-gene panel tests by private and public payers in each state and provide solutions to overcome reimbursement barriers.
Didactic Presenters
Kelly Mrachek, MD
Georgia- Biomarker Testing for Lung cancer: Today and Tomorrow
Didactic Presenters
Suresh Ramalingam, MD, FASCO
Kentucky - The Role of the Molecular Tumor Board
Didactic Presenters
Jill Kolesar, PharmD, MS, BCPS, FCCP
Mississippi - What’s new in Biomarkers Driven Lung Cancer Care in 2021
Didactic Presenters
Pierre De Delva, MD
Our Experts

Susanne Arnold, MD
Associate Director of Clinical Translation

Pierre De Delva, MD
Section Chief of General Thoracic Surgery
Associate Program Director, Cardiothoracic Fellowship Program

Farhood Farjah, MD, MPH, FACS
Associate Professor of Surgery
Endowed Chair in Lung Cancer Research
Associate Medical Director for the Surgical Outcomes Research Center

Eric Flenaugh, MD, FCCP
Director of Advanced Diagnostic Interventional Pulmonary Medicine
Lung Nodule Clinic Physician Director

Zhonglin Hao, MD, PHD
Professor of Medicine and Cancer Biology and Medical Director

Bruce Johnson, MD, FASCO
Chief Clinical Research Officer at Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center
Past-President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology

Adam Jones, MD
Radiation Oncology at Phoebe Putney Health System
Chair of the Georgia Lung Cancer Roundtable

Jill Kolesar, PharmD, MS, BCPS, FCCP
Director of the Precision Medicine Center, Co-Chair of the Molecular Tumor Board, and
Co-Leader of the Developmental Therapeutics Program

Timothy Mullett, MD, MBA, FAC
Medical Director, Markey Cancer Center Network Development

Raymond Osarogiagbon, MBBS, FACP
Director, Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Program

Shadi Qasem, MD, MBA
Associate Professor and Director of Surgical Pathology

Suresh Ramalingam, MD, FASCO
Deputy Director, Winship Cancer Institute
Professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology
Roberto C. Goizueta Distinguished Chair for Cancer Research
Director, Lung Cancer Program

M. Patricia Rivera, MD
Professor of Medicine at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Secretary-Treasurer at the American Thoracic Society

Michal Senitko, MD, DAABIP
Section Chief, Interventional Pulmonology and Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center
Co-Director Lung Cancer Screening Program at UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute


Gerard Silvestri, MD, MS, FCCP
Hillenbrand Professor of Thoracic Oncology at Medical University of South Carolina
Immediate Past President of the American College of Chest Physicians


John Villano, MD, PHD
Director, Clinical Neuro-Oncology Research Program

Ignacio Wistuba, MD
Division Head and interim, Division of Pathology/Lab Medicine Professor
Chair, Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, Division of Pathology/Lab Medicine

Ralph Zinner, MD
Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program


Mark D. Birdwhistell, MPA
Vice President, Health System Administration & Chief of Staff


Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Georgia – 6-9-2021 – Recording
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Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Georgia – 6-9-2021 – Slides
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Kentucky – 5-27-2021 – Recording
View MoreVideo
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Kentucky – 5-27-2021 – Slides
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Mississippi – 5-25-2021 – Recording
View MoreVideo
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Mississippi – 5-25-2021 – Slides
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Session 0 – Resources
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – 6-28-2021 – Case Presentation
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – 6-28-2021 – Recording
View MoreVideo
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – 6-28-2021 – Slides
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Session 1 – Resources
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Georgia – 7-21-2021 – Case Presentation
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Georgia – 7-21-2021 – Recording
View MoreVideo
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Georgia – 7-21-2021 – Slides
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Kentucky – 8-9-2021 – Case Presentation
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Kentucky – 8-9-2021 – Recording
View MoreVideo
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Kentucky – 8-9-2021 – Slides
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Mississippi – 7-27-2021 – Case Presentation
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Mississippi – 7-27-2021 – Recording
View MoreVideo
Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Mississippi – 7-27-2021 – Slides
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Session 2 – Resources
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – 8-26-2021 – Slides
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – 8-26-2021 – Case Presentation
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – Session 3 – Resources
View MoreLung Cancer Biomarker Testing ECHO – 8-26-2021 – Recording
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