Announcement • Dec 11
American Oncology Network Appoints Robert J. McDonald, MD, FACNM, as Radiology Medical Director American Oncology Network announced the appointment of Robert J. McDonald, MD, FACNM, as Radiology Medical Director and in-house reading radiologist, effective December 10, 2025. In this role, Dr. McDonald will support AON’s strategic expansion of radiotheranostic services throughout the network and strengthen AON’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge cancer care close to where patients live and work. Dr. McDonald will serve as the primary reading radiologist for AON partner practices Florida Oncology & Hematology in Naples and Fort Myers, and Central Georgia Cancer Care in Macon, providing expert interpretations for PET and CT imaging. He will also perform advanced radiotheranostic therapies at the Naples and Fort Myers location, while overseeing radiology services as Medical Director at each practice he supports. As AON continues to expand its radiotheranostic footprint, Dr. McDonald will play an integral role in developing physicians, supporting future program growth, and bringing advanced RLT treatment options to more AON practice sites in 2026. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires new Authorized Users of radioligand therapies to complete clinical preceptorships, and part of Dr. McDonald’s position includes conducting these preceptorships on-site when needed, helping ensure safe, timely expansion of radioligand expertise across the network. In addition, Dr. McDonald will lead clinical refinement of AON’s RLT protocols and assist in the adoption and rollout of newly FDA-approved radiotheranostic therapies. Dr. McDonald joins AON with more than 30 years of experience in diagnostic imaging and radioligand therapies. He previously served as the Medical Director of Imaging Services for Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, specializing in PET/CT interpretation and therapeutic nuclear medicine. His career includes leadership appointments at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, extensive work with Radiology Regional Center in Southwest Florida, and leadership positions in major medical centers in Oregon and California. He has also held multiple leadership roles within the Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging and is a Fellow of the American College of Nuclear Medicine. Dr. McDonald is a respected researcher, educator, and speaker who has contributed to numerous clinical studies and national presentations advancing nuclear medicine. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia and completed his nuclear medicine residency at the University of California Irvine Medical Center. Announcement • Jul 22
American Oncology Network Offers Bispecific T-Cell Engager Therapies to Patients American Oncology Network (AON) is now offering Bispecific T-cell Engager (BiTE) therapy--also known as BiTE therapy--at more than 40 partner practice clinics in 18 states and Washington, D.C. This advancement brings cutting-edge cancer treatment directly to patients in community settings, expanding access to a promising class of immunotherapies that may offer new hope for those with cancers resistant to standard treatments. Bispecific therapies represent a major breakthrough in cancer care. These innovative therapies engage a patient's own immune system by targeting two different molecules--one on a cancer cell and one on a T cell (a type of immune cell). By binding to both simultaneously, bispecific antibodies act as a bridge, directing the T cell to the tumor and triggering the immune system to attack the cancer directly. How Bispecific Therapies Work: Dual Targeting: Bispecific antibodies are engineered to recognize two targets-- typically a cancer cell marker and a T cell receptor. T Cell Engagement: The therapy draws T cells to the cancer site, increasing immune activity at the tumor. Targeted Immune Activation: This precise approach enhances the immune response, improving the likelihood of destroying cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy tissue. In addition to offering these therapies, AON actively participates in clinical trials and collaborates with leading researchers to explore new applications of bispecific antibodies in oncology. AON partner practices offering bispecific therapies include: Arizona:Cancer & Blood Specialists of Arizona; Arkansas: Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute; Florida: Florida Oncology & Hematology; Georgia: Cancer and Blood Specialists of Georgia; Central Georgia Cancer Care; Low Country Cancer Care; Hawaii: Hawaii Cancer Care; Idaho: Summit Cancer Centers; Indiana: Fort Wayne Medical Oncology and Hematology Hematology Oncology of Indiana; Kansas: MidAmerica Cancer Care; Maryland: Bay Hematology Oncology Oncology; Greater Washington Oncology Associates; The Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders; Missouri: MidAmerica Cancer Care; Nevada: Hope Cancer Care of Nevada; North Carolina: Messino Cancer Centers; Ohio; Zangmeister Cancer Centers; Hematology Center; South Carolina:Low Country Cancer Care; Texas: Lone Star Oncology [24); Virginia: Cancer and Blood specialists of NOVA; Washington State: Summit Cancer Centers; Washington, D.C.: Greater Washington Oncology Associates. Announcement • May 21
American Oncology Network Expands Access to Advanced Radioligand Therapies Across U.S. Network American Oncology Network announced it is expanding access to cutting-edge radioligand therapeutics (RLT), providing more patients with targeted treatment options for certain metastatic and rare cancers. To date, more than 300 treatments have been delivered to nearly 70 patients across five AON partner practices, demonstrating both the growing demand for and success of these advanced therapies. Radioligand therapies are now offered at the following AON practices: Summit Cancer Centers, Cancer & Blood Specialists of Arizona, Woodlands Cancer Institute, Messino Cancer Centers, Zangmeister Cancer Center, Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute. These practices offer three FDA-approved radiopharmaceuticals: Pluvicto - for treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC); Lutathera® - for adults with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs); Xofigo®(radium-223 dichloride) - for symptomatic mCRPC with bone metastases. Radioligand therapy, also know as radiopharmaceutical therapy, involves attaching a radioactive isotope to a targeting molecule that is injected into the bloodstream. This molecule binds to specific receptors on tumor cells, delivering a precise dose of radiation that damages or kills cancerous cells while sparing surrounding tissue. Xofigo™? is the first targeted radioligand therapy approved by the FDA to treat prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive mCRPC. Xofigo® is approved for men with mCRPC that has spread to the bone and who have already received androgen deprivation therapy. Lutathera® remains the only approved radiopharmaceutical for treating adult patients with GEP-NETs--a rare but increasingly diagnosed type of cancer that can develop in theancreas, stomach, intestines or appendix. AON expects continued growth in radioligand therapy utilization as additional sites gain the infrastructure and regulatory clearances needed to administer these specialized treatments. 
