Charting New Paths in Oncology Informatics With Travis Osterman, DO, and Waqas Haque, MD, MPH

Pathway Into Oncology Informatics

Dr. Osterman’s journey into informatics grew out of his dual commitment to medicine and technology. With undergraduate majors in computer science and biology, he originally had no clear plan for how the two would intersect. During residency and fellowship, however, he began to recognize concrete opportunities to apply technical expertise to patient care.

Reflecting on this transition, he explained, “I’ve always had a love for both technology and medicine, and as I went through training, I discovered more and more opportunities to apply those interests in healthcare.” His trajectory demonstrates a path that other oncology trainees can now follow more intentionally as the field of cancer informatics matures.

Next-Generation Sequencing and Clinical Integration

The conversation turned to next-generation sequencing (NGS), which has become a cornerstone of precision oncology. While increasing guideline adoption has helped, implementation challenges remain, particularly in patient access and data flow. Dr. Osterman highlighted these shortcomings: “We can do a better job putting systems in place to help ensure that patients don’t fall through the cracks, because right now, we rely on antiquated paper-based systems that don’t integrate with electronic health records.” The gap between ordering tests and making results actionable underscores the importance of structured data entry and interoperability.

The Role of mCODE

Dr. Osterman also discussed the Minimum Common Oncology Data Elements (mCODE) initiative, which provides a much-needed structure for cancer data. Without a unified standard, researchers and clinicians often improvise, leading to inefficiencies. He summarized the project’s mission by stating, “The goal of mCODE is to create a data standard that leverages what already exists but also fills in the gaps so that we can meaningfully describe a patient with cancer and their treatment journey.” With mCODE now endorsed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for oncology data submissions, clinicians should anticipate increasing exposure to this framework in both practice and research.

Applying AI in Oncology Practice

AI offers practical tools to enhance efficiency in oncology clinics. Dr. Osterman described use cases ranging from ambient scribe technology to radiology prioritization that addresses shortages in the workforce. He emphasized the immediate benefits by noting, “These quality-of-life wins and safety pieces are really where AI can integrate into systems, allowing clinicians to finish documentation during clinic instead of after hours while still protecting patient safety.” The technology is not about replacing clinicians but about augmenting workflows that improve both provider experience and patient care.

Academic Versus Community Practice Adoption

When comparing academic and community practices, Dr. Osterman highlighted disparities in resources and vendor evaluation. While academic centers can devote specialist time toward technology assessment, smaller practices often struggle with the burden. As he put it, “If you are in a smaller practice, wading through all of those opportunities and trying to find something that’s a good fit is a real challenge.” For these practices, adopting solutions that provide an immediate return—such as documentation tools—may be the most pragmatic path forward.

Training and Pathways Into Informatics

Not all oncologists will pursue formal fellowships in informatics, but there are multiple accessible pathways. Options range from board-certified clinical informatics fellowships to applied master’s programs and research degrees. Dr. Osterman also emphasized that system improvement often begins locally. He explained, “Largely, I think about the work I do as creating and fixing systems, and while technology is a part of that, understanding people and processes is just as important.” This perspective highlights that clinicians can engage with informatics on many levels without needing to leave daily practice behind.

Coaching and Mentorship Opportunities

Because informatics mentorship remains limited, Dr. Osterman launched FacultyCoaching.com as a platform for physicians seeking guidance. He frequently meets trainees and junior faculty through the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and saw the clear need for structured advice. He explained, “If you’re at a program that doesn’t have great mentorship, but you have a passion for this area, I’m happy to engage and support the career development of junior faculty members interested in informatics.” This reflects the growing recognition that leadership and mentorship are essential for the future of cancer informatics.

Key Takeaways

• Informatics is becoming integral to oncology, with relevance for clinicians across practice settings.
• Integration of NGS into structured workflows is crucial to realizing the promise of precision oncology.
• Standards like mCODE will increasingly shape national reporting, research, and interoperability.
• AI tools such as scribes and radiology prioritization already provide tangible benefits in oncology clinics.
• Community practice adoption is hampered by resource limitations, making vendor selection and scalability critical.
• Oncologists can enter informatics through formal programs or informal quality improvement initiatives.
• Mentorship and coaching are vital in a still-niche but rapidly expanding domain of cancer care.
• Informatics is shifting from a subspecialty to a core competency in oncology, offering pathways to enhance precision medicine, streamline workflows, and support better patient outcomes.

About the Speakers

Travis Osterman, DO, is the Director of Cancer Clinical Informatics at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. He is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics and the Associate Vice President for Research Informatics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Osterman is a practicing medical oncologist specializing in lung cancer. His research focuses on applying clinical informatics methods across the cancer care continuum and improving the availability of oncology-specific electronic health record (EHR) data to support quality improvement across oncology practices.

Waqas Haque, MD, MPH, is a second-year Hematology/Oncology Fellow at the University of Chicago. He recently completed his Internal Medicine Residency at New York University (NYU) in a Clinical Investigator Track. Dr. Haque has balanced his patient care work with a variety of research projects. During his fellowship training at the University of Chicago, he plans to further his work in innovative clinical trial design, value-based care delivery to cancer patients, and clinical investigation.