Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Summary

Episode: Dr. Chandler Wilfong & Dr. Edward Cho of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Program at OSF Healthcare
Date: November 27, 2025
Host: Elizabeth Gregerson
Guests: Dr. Chandler Wilfong & Dr. Edward Cho, HPB (Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary) Surgeons, OSF Healthcare

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the growth, impact, and future direction of the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) surgical program at OSF Healthcare, as discussed by Dr. Chandler Wilfong and Dr. Edward Cho. The conversation covers rural cancer care disparities, the role of the OSF Cancer Institute, multidisciplinary approaches, advancements in cancer treatment, and the hopeful future of oncology, especially in the context of HPB cancers such as pancreatic, liver, and biliary cancer.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introductions & Program Background

[00:37 – 01:43]

• Dr. Wilfong: Seven years at OSF in Peoria, Illinois, leading the development of a complex oncology and HPB program serving a broad region.
• Dr. Cho: Joined OSF around two years ago, coming from Texas and Oklahoma, echoing the commitment to expanding access to world-class HPB care in the region.

2. The Role of the HPB Program in Regional Healthcare

[02:11 – 04:45]

• Scope of Surgeries: The program provides advanced surgeries for both benign and cancerous conditions involving the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, stomach, and bile duct.
• Rural Outreach: About 80% of patients come from rural areas within a 100-mile radius, addressing disparities in cancer outcomes between rural and urban populations.
• Mission Statement:
  • “The goal here is to provide easier access to the patients rather than going to a complex urban center, while providing a world class care to these patients.” – Dr. Cho [03:42]
• Rising Incidence: Pancreatic cancer now ranks as the third leading cause of cancer death, with increasing incidence, making local expertise even more crucial.

3. Impact of the OSF Cancer Institute

[05:21 – 07:56]

• Enhanced Capabilities: Access to cutting-edge technology, research opportunities, and national clinical trials.
• Multidisciplinary Model:
  • Notable programs include nursing navigation (coordinated, same-day testing), nutrition and physical therapy, and broad patient/family support—all streamlined under the Institute's umbrella.
  • “It takes a village to take care of these cancer patients… that kind of multidisciplinary, a multimodal approach to patient care is what’s successful.” – Dr. Cho [06:46]

4. Supportive Care & Program Highlights

[08:08 – 09:10]

• Beyond Surgery: The real strength of the program lies in supportive care: nutritional counseling, teaching kitchens, massage therapy, etc.
• Holistic Patient Support:
  • “[Supportive care] is the highlight of our institution’s program.” – Dr. Wilfong [08:08]

5. Future Goals & Expansion

[09:47 – 12:24]

• Three Pillars:
  1. Clinical Expansion: Increasing patient volume and regional reach—higher volume ties to better outcomes.
  2. Research Leadership: Participation in national trials, with goals for wider research impact and future breakthroughs.
  3. Educational Investment: Grow training for future surgeons and clinicians.
• Alignment & Growth: Teamwork with leadership and focus on ensuring continued access, expertise, and innovation.

6. Innovation & Hope in Oncology

[12:24 – 16:41]

• Dr. Wilfong: Enthused by advances in immunology and biologic therapies, especially their potential for difficult-to-treat cancers like pancreatic, liver, and bile duct cancers.
  • “I’m hopeful that as we work to find better treatments for these diseases, earlier detection strategies, that with a combination of better ways to detect these cancers early, hopefully new treatment modalities outside of just surgery...” – Dr. Wilfong [12:56]
• Dr. Cho: Highlights a dramatic turnaround in metastatic colorectal cancer, citing improved survival rates (now over 50% for liver metastasis, up from under 10%) due to systemic and local-regional advances.
  • “When patients hear [‘stage four’], they think of it as a death sentence… we’ve actually improved that… The five-year survival has now improved to over 50%... The problem is our patients don’t know this.” – Dr. Cho [14:28]
• Outreach Is Key: Emphasizes the need to educate rural populations that advances can mean different, more hopeful outcomes even for advanced disease.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On rural disparities:

  • “There’s a big disparity in cancer outcomes in rural areas versus urban settings... about 80% of our population comes from rural areas.” – Dr. Wilfong [02:11]

• On program philosophy:

  • “We want to be an institute that serves our population, but we also want to invest in the future with future clinicians and surgeons…” – Dr. Cho [11:17]

• On advancements giving new hope:

  • “A lot of the patients don’t have the ability to seek an HPV surgeon for consultation to get these information and to get all these kind of treatment modalities... to tell them, yes, they may be stage four, but that doesn’t mean [end of hope] anymore…” – Dr. Cho [15:38]

Important Timestamps

• Introductions: [00:37 – 01:43]
• Program scope & rural focus: [02:11 – 04:45]
• OSF Cancer Institute’s impact: [05:21 – 07:56]
• Multidisciplinary highlights: [08:08 – 09:10]
• Future vision: [09:47 – 12:24]
• Sources of optimism in oncology: [12:24 – 16:41]

Episode Takeaways

• OSF’s HPB program fills a vital need for complex cancer care in rural Illinois, bridging outcome disparities.
• Multidisciplinary, patient-centered care—spanning surgery, research, and holistic support—is central to their approach.
• Recent and ongoing advances in immunotherapy and surgical techniques are boosting survival rates, even for advanced cancers once thought untreatable.
• The program’s future is grounded in expanding its clinical, research, and educational missions, with a strong commitment to regional access and leadership in innovation.