The Future of Cancer Care
January 15, 2025
Acclaimed pancreatic surgeon Jason B. Fleming, M.D., discusses the importance of strategic leadership in cancer care and the role of inclusivity in team success.
Jason B. Fleming, M.D., who recently joined UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center as Deputy Director for Clinical Affairs and Professor of Surgery, has his eye on the future of cancer care.
Ever increasing expenses and the rapid adoption of digital technology are changing the landscape of cancer care delivery from conventional provider-centric models to team-based ecosystems. The challenge for Simmons Cancer Center will be to embrace the change as an opportunity to recast cancer care with an emphasis on individual goals and the needs of each patient.
“Moving beyond traditional boundaries is essential for effective leadership in cancer care,” says Dr. Fleming, who is a surgical oncologist specializing in pancreatic cancer. “As health care leaders, we must strategically adapt to emerging trends with flexibility, resiliency, and efficiency.”
“Effective teams are built on inclusivity. The cornerstone of fostering inclusivity in health care teams is a backbone of strong leadership.”
Meeting Changing Needs
According to Dr. Fleming, this involves expanding services to meet the changing needs of patients and survivors, striving for equal access to these services, and promoting inclusivity in the workforce.
“In the years ahead, cancer care will continue to progress rapidly, highlighting the need to address the financial aspects of such progress and realign organizational priorities to achieve optimal outcomes,” he says.
In his new role, he has been implementing new patient-centered cancer care strategies, explaining that few institutions prioritize inclusive care to the level that UT Southwestern does. Key aspects include recognizing that staff members have diverse requirements and abilities, honoring the rights of every person, and involving individuals from various backgrounds and communities in all services.
Culture of Cooperation
As Deputy Director, Dr. Fleming partners with Carlos L. Arteaga, M.D., Director of Simmons Cancer Center, and Kyle A. Taylor, Associate Vice President of Clinical Cancer Programs, to oversee all of the clinical services provided to cancer patients, along with affiliated services such as psycho-oncology, physical medicine, palliative care, supportive oncology, and genetics counseling. He manages the entire organizational structure, including distributed care sites and financial aspects of care delivery.
“I work alongside our organizational leaders to ensure cooperation across specialties, foster accountability, and facilitate alignment with strategic priorities,” he explains.
Additionally, in alignment with the Center’s strategic plan, he works to attract and recruit new talent and expert faculty.
“We have a unique organizational culture here that has attracted faculty and researchers of the highest caliber,” Dr. Fleming says. “We grant our teams a high level of autonomy in making decisions about their work and responsibilities. This plays a key role in driving performance.”
Empowering the Next Generation
With over 25 years of leadership experience, Dr. Fleming is passionate about sharing that knowledge, which he says is essential for developing the next generation of administrators.
“Clinicians and researchers are not typically trained in leadership,” Dr. Fleming explains. “In collaboration with other leaders at UT Southwestern, my goal is to equip the best and brightest from within the organization. We want to help our employees advance their careers with us.”
He advises clinicians who are interested in future leadership roles to start taking small steps, like reading the Harvard Business Review or managing a local department. A strong advocate for lifelong learning, Dr. Fleming recommends clinicians and researchers alike treat leadership development as they would academic pursuits.
Putting his own advice into action, he is on track to receive a master's degree program in business administration from the Miami Herbert Business School.
“Just because you excel in surgery or research doesn’t automatically make you a proficient health care administrator,” Dr. Fleming says. “It is important to invest in resources and approach leadership study just like we have learned any other subject.”
Jason B. Fleming, M.D., is Deputy Director for Clinical Affairs at Simmons Cancer Center, where he is a member of the Experimental Therapeutics Research Program. Also a Professor of Surgery at UT Southwestern, he is an internationally recognized surgical oncologist specializing in pancreatic cancer.
