COA Fellows Initiative

The COA Fellows Initiative seeks to engage and educate oncology/hematology fellows on the value of practicing in the community setting. As fellows begin to make decisions about where to practice, the initiative is designed to explore, in detail, the opportunities community oncology presents.

Community oncology practices enable cancer patients to receive quality, affordable care in their own community. This is why the majority of Americans battling cancer choose to be treated in the community setting. However, recent estimates have shown that the country is facing a shortage of as many as 3,800 oncologists. At the same time, with the aging population and growing number of survivors due to the increased efficacy of cancer treatment, there will be a significant increase in the need for oncology services.

As physicians complete their three-year oncology and/or hematology fellowship, they have a choice of how and where they will practice. Unfortunately, the community setting is frequently overlooked as a career option by oncology/hematology fellows. The COA Fellows Initiative seeks to change this by educating fellows on present practice options and discuss the many factors to consider when making those decisions.

How Do I Get Involved?

Becoming a member of the COA Fellows Initiative is free and exclusively available to fellows interested in pursuing community oncology practices.

Sign up to Be a Part of the Fellows Initiative

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Advisory Board

The COA Fellows Initiative is honored to be under the leadership of these inspiring individuals.
  • Richard L. Martin III, MD, MPH
    Tennessee Oncology
    Tennessee Oncology Nashville, TN
  • Ted Arrowsmith, MD
    Tennessee Oncology
    Chattanooga, TN
  • Miriam J. Atkins, MD, FACP
    AO Multispecialty Clinic
    Augusta, GA
  • Davey Daniel, MD
    Tennessee Oncology
    Chattanooga, TN
  • Stephen “Fred” Divers, MD
    Genesis Cancer & Blood Institute
    Hot Springs, AR
  • David Eagle, MD
    New York Cancer & Blood Specialists
    Patchogue, NY
  • Bobby Green, MD
    Thyme Care
    Nashville, TN
  • Richard Ingram, MD
    Shenandoah Oncology
    Winchester, VA
  • Edward Licitra, MD, PhD
    Astera Health Partners/Astera Cancer Care
    East Brunswick, NJ
  • Joseph Lynch, MD
    Geisinger Medical Center
    Danville, PA
  • Rick McDonough, MD
    Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
    Land O’ Lakes, FL
  • Michael Diaz, MD
    Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
    St. Petersburg, FL
  • Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA, FASCO
    Texas Oncology
    Austin, TX
  • Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA
    Tennessee Oncology
    Nashville, TN
  • Fred Schnell, MD, FACP
    Community Oncology Alliance; National Cancer Treatment Alliance; Cancer Center Of Middle Georgia
    Warner Robins, GA
  • Mark Thompson, MD
    Community Oncology Alliance
    Washington, DC
  • Emily Touloukian, DO
    Coastal Cancer Center
    Myrtle Beach, SC
  • Harsha Vyas, MD, FACP
    Cancer Center of Middle Georgia
    Dublin, GA

Advisory Board

COA Fellows is honored to be under the leadership of these inspiring individuals.
  • Richard L. Martin III, MD, MPH
    Tennessee Oncology
    Tennessee Oncology Nashville, TN
  • Ted Arrowsmith, MD
    Tennessee Oncology
    Chattanooga, TN
  • Miriam J. Atkins, MD, FACP
    AO Multispecialty Clinic
    Augusta, GA
  • Davey Daniel, MD
    Tennessee Oncology
    Chattanooga, TN
  • Stephen “Fred” Divers, MD
    Genesis Cancer & Blood Institute
    Hot Springs, AR
  • David Eagle, MD
    New York Cancer & Blood Specialists
    Patchogue, NY
  • Bobby Green, MD
    Thyme Care
    Nashville, TN
  • Richard Ingram, MD
    Shenandoah Oncology
    Winchester, VA
  • Edward Licitra, MD, PhD
    Astera Health Partners/Astera Cancer Care
    East Brunswick, NJ
  • Joseph Lynch, MD
    Geisinger Medical Center
    Danville, PA
  • Rick McDonough, MD
    Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
    Land O’ Lakes, FL
  • Michael Diaz, MD
    Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
    St. Petersburg, FL
  • Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA, FASCO
    Texas Oncology
    Austin, TX
  • Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA
    Tennessee Oncology
    Nashville, TN
  • Fred Schnell, MD, FACP
    Community Oncology Alliance; National Cancer Treatment Alliance; Cancer Center Of Middle Georgia
    Warner Robins, GA
  • Mark Thompson, MD
    Community Oncology Alliance
    Washington, DC
  • Emily Touloukian, DO
    Coastal Cancer Center
    Myrtle Beach, SC
  • Harsha Vyas, MD, FACP
    Cancer Center of Middle Georgia
    Dublin, GA

The Community Oncology Alliance

COA is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for community oncology practices and, most importantly, the patients they serve. COA is the only organization dedicated solely to community oncology where the majority of Americans with cancer are treated.

The mission of COA is to ensure that cancer patients receive quality, affordable, and accessible cancer care in their own communities. More than 1.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer each year and deaths from the disease have been steadily declining due to earlier detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

Cancer treatment can be intense and span many years, requiring regular physician visits for chemotherapy and checkups. Keeping patients close to their homes, families, and support networks lessens the burden of this devastating disease. With the majority of Americans battling cancer receiving treatment in the community setting, it is imperative that the vitality of the community cancer care delivery system be preserved.

For more than 15 years, COA has built a national grassroots network of community oncology practices to advocate for public policies that benefit patients. Individuals from all levels of the cancer care delivery team – oncologists, hematologists, pharmacists, mid-level providers, oncology nurses, patients and survivors – volunteer their time on a regular basis to lead COA and serve on its committees.

By offering innovative solutions to Congress and policymakers, empowering patients, and working closely with other health care stakeholders, COA is helping to shape a future where all Americans have access to quality, affordable cancer care.