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Every cancer case is a story — and cancer registries have been the quiet archivists of those stories for nearly a century. In this episode of the Innovate Oncology Podcast, we sit down with three experts from Elekta to explore how registries grew from early mortality tracking into the modern, mission-critical data engines that inform research, treatment, and public-health decisions.
In the newest episode of the Innovate Oncology Podcast, presented by Azra AI, we get to hear from three seasoned experts from Elekta, Annette Hurlbut, Sandra Gamber, and Robin Bodin, to explore how cancer registries began, how they’ve transformed over time, and what the next decade of innovation will mean for oncology data teams everywhere.
A Century of Progress: The Origins of Cancer Registry Work
The evolution of cancer registries spans hundreds of years—from the Bills of Mortality in 17th-century England to the first U.S. hospital-based registry at Yale New Haven in 1926.
Drawing from nearly 50 years of registry experience, Annette Hurlbut walks listeners through the historical milestones that shaped today’s infrastructure, from the creation of SEER in the 1970s to the expansion of the NPCR in the 1990s. She illustrates how cancer registries matured from basic mortality tracking to comprehensive, standardized systems that help measure trends, survival, and treatment effectiveness.
This foundation paved the way for registries to become one of the most valuable tools in oncology and public health.
The Expanding Role of the Oncology Data Specialist (ODS)
What began as clerical abstraction has grown into a highly skilled profession at the center of cancer care.
In this segment, Elekta’s Sandra Gamber describes the diverse and evolving responsibilities of modern ODS professionals—from hospital and central registries to precision medicine, surveillance, and vendor-side positions.
ODS professionals today are:
- Analysts
- Educators
- Researchers
- Strategic contributors
They collect and interpret data that shapes patient care, informs operational decisions, and drives research efforts. As Annette shares, registrars have set the standard for other medical disciplines in data abstraction and long-term outcomes tracking.
Technology Milestones That Transformed the Registry Profession
From mainframes and dial-up to cloud-based platforms and real-time reporting, technology has fundamentally reshaped the registry workflow.
Annette revisits decades of innovation, spotlighting advances that have made abstraction more accurate, scalable, and standardized. She spotlights advances that have made abstraction more accurate, scalable, and standardized.
But the Elekta team also emphasizes a critical truth: technology only works because of the expertise behind it.
Where AI Is Making a Difference: Augmentation, Not Replacement
This episode highlights how Elekta and Azra AI are working together to reduce burdens on oncology data teams by automating the most manual, repetitive steps in the registry workflow.
Sandra breaks down how this collaboration helps:
- Identify cases quickly and accurately
- Streamline data ingestion
- Improve reporting accuracy
- Reduce backlogs
- Give ODS professionals more time for high-impact work
As she puts it, the goal isn’t to replace oncology data specialists; it’s to empower them.
Building the Future: Registry Informatics and What’s Ahead
The conversation concludes with a look at Elekta’s cloud-based Registry Informatics platform, a next-generation solution designed to serve as the foundation for future innovation.
With advanced security, seamless upgrades, remote access, automated backups, and improved user experience, this platform reflects where cancer registries are headed: toward more intelligent, connected, and efficient data ecosystems.
Robin Bodin frames the opportunity perfectly: with the right infrastructure, registries can unlock insights that make cancer care more efficient, equitable, and informed.
Listen to the Full Conversation
This episode offers a deep look into the evolution of cancer registries from leaders who have shaped the field for decades. If you work in oncology, public health, data science, radiation oncology, or cancer program leadership, this conversation is packed with insight you won’t want to miss.
Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.
About Episode Guests
Annette Hurlbut, RHIT, ODS‑C, Senior Software Quality Engineer, Elekta
Annette has nearly 48 years of experience in cancer registry operations and technology. She has contributed to national standards, authored numerous publications, and presented at major industry conferences. Annette is an active member of NCRA and NAACCR and currently serves as Senior Software Quality Engineer at Elekta.
Sandra Gamber, ODS‑C, Application Support Manager – Cancer Registry, Elekta
Sandra has over 20 years of experience in cancer registry operations and currently serves as Application Support Manager at Elekta. She has held leadership roles including two terms as President of the Pennsylvania Association of Cancer Registrars (PACR) and actively contributes to national standards through NAACCR workgroups and taskforces. Sandra is a dedicated member of NCRA, NAACCR, and PACR.
Robin Bodin, Head of Cancer Registry at Elekta
Robin serves as Head of Cancer Registry at Elekta. With a background spanning multiple roles at Elekta and prior experience in corporate finance and investment banking advisory, Robin brings expertise in software strategy, corporate development, finance management, and leadership. He holds a B.Sc. from Stockholm University and an M.Sc. from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and is fully committed to advancing Elekta’s Cancer Registry business.
Thanks to Annette Hurlbut, Sandra Gamber, and Robin Bodin for sharing decades of experience and a hopeful, practical view of what’s next for cancer registries.
The Innovate Oncology Podcast is presented by Azra AI and available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. Subscribe on your preferred platform so you never miss an episode.
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