Care without borders – Thesis defense Tom Konert

“Thankfully, we saw a tremendous improvement in the survival rates of lung cancer patients,” Tom Konert says. His PhD research focuses on lung cancer treatment in low- and middle-income countries, where treatment is often inferior to that available in high-income countries. Konert and his colleagues made sure that physicians in countries like Brazil, India, and Jordan could improve their usage of the PET/CT scan. This scan technique can reveal molecular processes that can help physicians adapt their treatment and ensure greater precision in radiation beam delivery. The scans also allow physicians to deliver external beam radiation in combination with chemotherapy, a treatment type that is already the standard treatment in high-income counties. “It is important to me to look beyond the Western world, so everybody will have access to the care they deserve.” Tom will defend his thesis on November 13.