Oncology Voice Network (OVN) Podcast

How do we ensure groundbreaking oncology science reaches and benefits patients in the real world? 

Join Dr. Kirk Shepard as he sits down with Rob Matheis, President and CEO of ISMPP, for a pinpoint discussion about the hidden breakdowns in cancer drug development. They cut through the complexity to expose why generating evidence is just the beginning—and why fragmented communication can derail even the best science. 

In this episode of the Oncology Voice Network podcast, you’ll learn why alignment—not just data—is oncology’s toughest challenge, how nuanced scientific details often get lost between...

Can rivalry actually unlock true collaboration in cancer drug development?

In this episode of the Oncology Voice Network podcast, Dr. Kirk Shepard sits down with Tim Mikhelashvili, CEO and cofounder of Amedea Pharma and the mastermind behind the Medical Innovation Olympics. They challenge conventional wisdom, revealing how competition and recognition can strengthen, not sabotage, teamwork in oncology.

Hear the inside story of the Medical Innovation Olympics—where leaders from rival companies present side-by-side, sparking bold ideas and even unexpected partnerships. Tim Mikhelashvili pulls back the curtain on why most collaboration barriers are about people, not sc...

Who truly speaks for the patient when they’re not there to speak for themselves?

In this eye-opening episode of Oncology Voice Network, host Dr. Kirk Shepard is joined by Elizabeth Franklin, Head of US Public Affairs and Patient Advocacy for Oncology at Sanofi. Drawing on a career spanning frontline social work, policy, nonprofit advocacy, and industry leadership, Elizabeth Franklin reveals the real reasons the “patient voice” often gets lost when critical decisions are made in cancer care.

Go beyond surface-level buzzwords as they unpack where patient advocacy can break through organizational resistance, how early decisi...

Why do so many teams invest in oncology training, but see little change when it truly matters?

In this episode of Oncology Voice Network, host Dr. Kirk Shepard sits down with Gregg Terry, President and CEO of Educational Resource Systems, for a candid exploration of why life sciences training often falls short and what actually drives real behavior change in the field.

Drawing on decades of experience launching over 150 products, Gregg Terry shares eye-opening stories and lessons learned from the front lines of pharmaceutical education. Discover why teams “check the box” on learning but still stru...

Discover how trust, culture, and teamwork lift oncology drug development to new heights.

In this episode of the Oncology Voice Network Podcast, Host Dr. Kirk Shepard interviews Tina Beamon, a respected legal and compliance leader whose career spans pharma, biotech, and patient advocacy. Drawing from firsthand experience, Tina shares her journey from editing patient stories at the height of the AIDS epidemic to helping launch life-changing oncology drugs.

Together, they discuss the real difference between legal and compliance, reveal how compliance becomes a strategic advantage in drug development, and explain why an effective compliance program...

How do leading pharma and biotech teams keep up with oncology’s relentless pace?

In this episode of the Oncology Voice Network, Dr. Kirk Shepard sits down with Spencer Weneck and Christian Camp to break down what truly makes an oncology organization resilient, competitive, and future-ready.

Hear firsthand insights into today’s most urgent challenges: navigating the shift from an employer to a candidate-driven market, adapting to patent cliffs and M&A waves, and outsmarting the industry’s unparalleled war for talent. Discover why talent development, cultural fit, and cross-functional leadership are make-or-break factors—and why so m...

What does it take to transform scientific discovery into real-world cancer care? Explore the critical, yet often misunderstood, role of field medical professionals in oncology.

In this episode of the Oncology Voice Network Podcast, Host Dr. Kirk Shepard welcomes Robin Winter-Sperry, a trailblazer, advocate, and chapter co-author in the Voices of Oncology book. Together, they dive into the evolution of field medical teams, revealing how scientific exchange, mentorship, and communication lead to better patient outcomes.

Robin shares her unique journey from clinical practice to industry leadership, explaining how field medical professionals bridge the gap between...

Think the best oncology leadership teams just happen?

In this episode of the Oncology Voice Network podcast, host Dr. Kirk Shepard sits down with executive search leader Michael Pietrack for a candid exploration of what really fuels effective executive hiring in oncology drug development.

Discover why time perception differences between candidates and hiring managers often derail the process, how the traditional "buyer and seller" interview dynamic actually works, and why so many companies end up hiring from the same limited pool—risking cultural homogeneity and stunted growth. Michael Pietrack shares how companies can avoid these pi...

What does it take to advance cancer care—not just in the lab, but in real lives? 

In this episode of the Oncology Voice Network Podcast, Host Dr. Kirk Shepard welcomes Christi Shaw and Shelley Shaw, sisters, industry leaders, and co-founders of the More Moments, More Memories Foundation.

Inspired by personal loss and driven by empathy, the Shaw sisters share their intertwined journeys as executives, caregivers, and advocates determined to create more time and hope for families facing cancer. Hear how their mother and sister’s experiences led them to champion access to clinical trials, break...

Ever wonder why some medical affairs professionals consistently rise to the top?

In this episode of Oncology Voice Network podcast, host Dr. Kirk Shepard talks with Tom Caravela, whose three decades in life sciences and hundreds of placements have revealed what really moves careers forward in medical affairs—especially in the world of oncology.

Explore how the Medical Science Liaison role has evolved from generalist to subject matter expert, why your network is as crucial as your scientific expertise, and the career advice you should never follow. Tom Caravela shares how developing intentional relationships, effective cr...

How do world-changing cancer treatments go from concept to reality? 

In this episode of the Oncology Voice Network Podcast, host Dr. Kirk Shepard welcomes Dr. Roy Baynes, the Chief Medical Officer of ICON Therapeutics and the architect behind the clinical strategy for Keytruda (pembrolizumab), one of the most transformative cancer therapies of our time.

Listen as Dr. Baynes shares his personal journey from academia to industry, his leadership and collaboration philosophy, and the critical decisions that accelerated one drug to impact millions. He reveals how adaptive trials, bold partnerships, clear strategy, and relentless patient focus s...

What does it mean to be the true “voice of commercial” in oncology, and why does it matter more than ever?

In this episode of Oncology Voice Network Podcast, join Dr. Kirk Shepard as he welcomes Daniel Switzer, Head of U.S. Oncology at Daiichi Sankyo, for a revealing look inside the commercial engine that drives cancer innovation from the lab all the way to the patient. With two decades of leading launches, transformations, and cross-functional teams, Daniel Switzer shares his most pivotal moments, from high-stakes encounters with patients to standing ovations at ASCO Congress.

Disc...

Is AI the answer or just another obstacle in hiring the talent that transforms cancer care?

In this episode of Oncology Voice Network Podcast, Host Dr. Kirk Shepard welcomes Stacey Benefiel, PharmD, Head of Global Clinical and Medical Affairs at Canopy, for a candid exploration of what it really takes to build the future oncology workforce. With 25+ years across pharma and biotech, Stacey shares her personal journey through layoffs, hiring, and the challenge of finding the right fit.

Together, they dig into how COVID, downsizing, financial pressures, and the rise of AI have turned talent...

How does real innovation in cancer therapy begin? Step into the world of preclinical drug discovery, where every molecule—and every lesson—matters. 

In this episode of Oncology Voice Network Podcast, Host Dr. Kirk Shepard sits down with Dr. Jay Fine, a renowned immunologist and President of R&D at Evolve Immune Therapeutics and a Forbes-published author in Voices of Oncology, for a candid look at how discovery truly connects to patient care. 

Together, they explore how personal stories, cross-functional teamwork, and the willingness to share both successes and failures can reshape outcomes for cancer patien...

What happens when true experts break down walls to speed up cancer cures?

In this episode of the Oncology Voice Network Podcast, host Dr. Kirk Shepard welcomes Rebecca Goldstein, VP of Strategy and Communications at OVN and a self-described “oncology lifer.” Dive into a raw, real-world conversation about the often-overlooked role of innovation partners in pushing oncology drug development forward.

Rebecca shares her journey from the lab bench to shaping cross-sector collaboration, revealing what sets innovation partners apart from traditional service providers. She and Dr. Shepard explore why transparent and timely communication isn’t just nice-t...

What happens when the brightest minds in oncology drug development unite around a single goal: to break down silos and transform cancer care?

In the premiere episode of the Oncology Voice Network Podcast, hosts Dr. Ramin Farhood and Dr. Kirk Shepard reveal the origins of the OVN movement and the inspiration behind their book, Voices of Oncology. Hear how interviewing 33 trailblazers, spanning pharma, biotech, advocacy, and academia, led to the creation of a living network designed to share best practices and accelerate innovation.

Discover why collaboration is crucial, what unique challenges face oncology teams, and...

Are you ready to hear how tomorrow’s cancer breakthroughs begin?

Welcome to the Oncology Voice Network Podcast. On this show, hosts Dr. Kirk Shepard and Dr. Ramin Farhood unite influential voices from every corner of oncology drug development: clinical research, regulatory, safety, advocacy, commercial, and beyond. Dive into powerful, real stories that fuel change, and discover the bold ideas and lessons learned that propel innovation and deepen collaboration between disciplines.

Each episode takes you beyond the pages of medical journals and the walls of conference rooms, revealing oncology’s human side — where passion, partnership, and em...