TRUMBULL, CT, June 26, 2026 – ACCESS Oncology, a division of Talem Health, is pleased to announce that its Prostate Cancer Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO®) CME/CE initiative achieved notable improvements in clinician knowledge and practice behaviors. This targeted education is essential to help clinicians make informed care decisions and ensure equitable delivery of care. Relevant program outcomes were shared at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and the 2026 Rural Oncology Conference (ROC).
Key Takeaways
The Prostate Cancer Project ECHO® initiative resulted in statistically significant improvements across all knowledge and competence outcomes. The longitudinal educational design yielded competency improvements in:
- Genomic/germline testing (41% gain)
- Non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer guideline alignment (46% gain)
- Combination therapy in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (38% gain)
- Non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treatment personalization (41% gain)
- Shared decision-making (40% gain)
Of the participants, 42% reported an intent to make changes to their practice behavior such as treatment sequencing, while more than 50% shared plans to adopt changes in testing practices, evidence integration, and patient engagement.
“The intersection of quantitative and qualitative outcomes clearly demonstrates the profound impact of our Prostate Cancer Project ECHO® initiative—particularly in community settings where the need to expand clinician capacity is highest,” noted Tariqa Ackbarali, PhD, MS, CHCP, President of Talem Health. “By translating complex evidence into locally feasible care pathways, this initiative not only supported equitable care but also offers a scalable model for future oncology education.”
Program Overview
Although 15% to 19% of the US population resides in rural areas, fewer than 10% of oncologists practice in these communities. Those who do face numerous challenges, including scarce access to subspecialists, gaps in multidisciplinary care, and delays in biomarker testing.
To help address care disparities, ACCESS Oncology developed a CME/CE-accredited program for treating prostate cancer. Featuring a 1-hour virtual session at Oncology Congress Spring 2025, a 7-session longitudinal telementoring series, and a 1-hour online activity sharing lessons learned, the program explored topics such as combination therapies, treatment sequencing, and shared decision-making.
Of the 789 clinicians who participated in the educational program, 91% were oncologists, 93% worked in community settings, and 90% served patients in rural or otherwise underserved areas. During the sessions, clinicians had an opportunity to learn how to apply new evidence across multiple patient cases through discussions and problem-solving exercises. As a result, participants reported greater confidence in managing complex cases.
“I care for a pretty high-risk prostate cancer population, both in terms of what their disease pathology looks like and also in their socioeconomic status,” said a community radiation oncologist from upstate New York who attended the program. “Care becomes more challenging when the disease is more advanced or patients live very far, and it’s tough for them to follow through on appointments.”
“I also don’t always have access to all the specialists my patients need. What I learned from this session helped expand the scope of how I can help manage the condition overall,” he added.
About ACCESS Oncology
ACCESS Oncology is a division of Talem Health dedicated to developing and delivering high-quality, solutions-based continuing medical education tailored to the realities of community oncology practice across geographically diverse settings. Grounded in the non-academic care environment in which more than 80% of patients with cancer receive treatment, ACCESS Oncology focuses on educational initiatives that are directly applicable to real-world community practice. Programs are intentionally designed to address the practical challenges faced by community-based clinicians, support the integration of emerging evidence into routine care, and promote shared solutions that strengthen care delivery for patients served in both urban and rural communities.
Contact
For questions or to request additional information, please contact Tariqa Ackbarali, PhD, MS, CHCP, President of Talem Health, at tackbarali@talemhealth.com.