Correcting the Course: Better Targeting CME Activities in Breast Cancer Care

“Imagination at scale is our only recourse.”۱ “The right measure for successful health care isn’t about the maximum possible for a few, but the average for everyone and the minimum opportunities available to even those with the fewest resources and privileges.”۲ The annual global burdens of breast cancer are currently ۲.۳ million cases and ۷۰۰,۰۰۰ deaths, two thirds of all deaths occurring in Asia and Africa, and these burdens are increasing.۳ Where are we addressing these challenges and where not? We are certainly increasing our understanding of the biology of breast cancer and developing more specific effective therapies, but a dominant goal of medical activities in many countries has become financial gain, and the organizational model of services has become grounded in optimal business practices instead of health care as a human right for all. Consequently, we are failing to serve the majority of women in the world who develop breast cancer. We need to dispassionately consider the shortcomings of our interventions for this disease and take to heart lessons from the COVID pandemic about population health in the CME for breast cancer care.۴ The Continuing Education Program Mission Statement of ASCO focuses on objectivity and rigor in increasing the competence and performance of the oncology team as well as continual assessment of practice gaps.۵ This commentary addresses critical gaps.