Palliatively Speaking Episode 2 - Compassion: The Key to High Quality Care

Guest: Arif Kamal Guest’s Guest: Christopher Jones Dr. Arif Kamal, an oncologist, palliative care physician and Chief Patient Officer at the American Cancer Society (ACS).  Kamal reflects on his work in oncology and palliative care, emphasizing compassion in cancer care, the role AI assistive intelligence will play in enhancing the role of humans in healthcare, and the importance of a supportive community to help you weather career setbacks. Dr. Kamal discusses how palliative care principles, like understanding a patient’s needs and values, can be integrated into routine oncology care and how this could become easier as the field of medicine incorporates the assistive intelligence aspects of AI that can assist with generating differential diagnoses and treatment considerations.  He advocates for the role of compassionate care such as considering first, who is our patient before determining what the treatment approach should be where healthcare providers prioritize understanding who the patient is before focusing on medical conditions or treatments.

We discuss the future impact of AI in enhancing decision-making in oncology and he calls for a shift in how care providers are incentivized, promoting compassion as an essential component of high-quality healthcare. Dr. Kamal discusses the role of mentors in his life, career setbacks, and personal experiences that shaped his path, highlighting resilience and the importance of finding supportive communities. We welcome his guest, Dr. Christopher Jones, the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Palliative Medicine and the clinical vice chair for Duke Palliative Care.  They discuss operationalizing palliative care interventions, the human side of medicine, the challenges of burnout and the importance of creating a balance between professional responsibilities and personal well-being.