'A Source of Hope': President Biden Touts Support for Cancer Doctors, Researchers During Ohio State Visit
President Joe Biden this week brought his passion for cancer research to Ohio State, where he met with doctors to discuss innovation underway at The James — a “source of hope” that continues to break new ground in the nationwide effort to create a cancer-free world.
The president came to The James to mark the 11th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act, the landmark legislation that transformed health coverage in the United States while also providing funds for advancements in medical technology, some of which are now in use at the OSUCCC – James, one of the nation’s leading comprehensive cancer centers.
The president was joined during his visit by James doctors, including Arnab Chakravarti, MD, FASTRO, FACRO, chair and professor of Radiation Oncology and Klotz Family Chair of Cancer Research, who shared details about the impact of the ACA support on patients in central Ohio.
“I just concluded a tour of the radiation oncology department here, which was expanded thanks to a $100 million grant in the Affordable Care Act,” the president said after speaking with Chakravarti and other Ohio State doctors. “Because of our investments, this department has gone from being able to treat 60 to 70 patients a day to nearly 300 a day.
“This place is a source of hope.”
That hope is on display on The James’ radiation oncology floor, where specialists work with patients representing nearly every cancer type.
“The ACA grant award expanded access to care — including historically underserved patient populations — and patient volumes at The James,” Chakravarti says. “It also led to the development of sentinel Radiation Oncology technologies at Ohio State that have already dramatically improved the safety and quality of care for our patients, and which also hold the potential to transform the future of cancer care, especially with the advent of proton therapy and FLASH (a breakthrough, highly targeted proton therapy scheduled to begin use at Ohio State in 2023).”
During his visit, Biden had a lengthy conversation with OSUCCC – James leaders about the latest developments in cancer research, which are a personal passion for the president, whose oldest son, Beau, passed away of glioblastoma — an aggressive form of brain cancer — at the age of 46.
“When I ran, I said I wanted to be a president who would preside over the end of cancer as we know it,” Biden said after touring The James. “And when I see the strides we’ve made … I can tell you, it’s within our reach. I know we can do this.”
The support provided by the ACA has been instrumental in the progress made at The James — and at cancer centers throughout the country — since the bill’s signing. Continuing that partnership with the federal government will be a key in continuing to improve outcomes for cancer patients while also focusing on research that could prevent cases in the future, says James CEO William Farrar, MD.
“We were excited for the opportunity to welcome President Biden to The James, and to discuss our shared vision for a cancer-free world,” Farrar says. “The president has long been a passionate advocate for cancer research, and we look forward to working with his administration to break new ground in cancer care and research right here at Ohio State.”
The chance to see the impact of the ACA in person at The James made an impression on the president, who expressed confidence in — and gratitude toward — Ohio State’s oncology team.
“All of the docs that are here that I got a chance to meet with today — thank you. You’re an incredible group of individuals,” he said. “We have some of the finest minds in the world, and they’re right here — right here at Ohio State.”
Read more about President Biden's visit to the OSUCCC – James.