A blueprint for linking academic oncology and the community

The processes by which academic medicine will train the next generation of physicians and develop new knowledge have brought to the forefront the relationship between academic medical centers and community hospitals and practitioners. Over the past thirteen years, the Harvard Medical School Joint Center for Radiation Therapy (JCRT) has developed an integrated radiation oncology program designed to serve simultaneously the needs of the community, teaching hospitals, medical schools, and faculty. The structure and function of this program are described here, as are the challenges posed by the highly competitive health care marketplace. We believe that long-term vision should guide short-term goals. The success of academic-community collaborative programs depends not only on the good will and vision of the participants but also on the medical administration, academic leadership, policy makers, and politicians who define the principles and rules by which cooperation within the health care industry occurs.