Report from the field - 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 rela tionship between academic medical centers and community hospitals and pract itioners. Over the past thirteen years, the Harvard Medical School Joint Ce nter for Radiation Therapy (JCRT) has developed an integrated radiation onc ology program designed to serve simultaneously the needs of the community, teaching hospitals, medical schools, and faculty. The structure and functio n of this program are described here, as are the challenges posed by the hi ghly competitive health care marketplace. We believe that long-term vision should guide short-term goals. The success of academic-community collaborat ive programs depends not only on the goad will and vision of the participan ts but also on the medical administration, academic leadership, policy make rs, and politicians who define the principles and rules by which cooperatio n within the health care industry occurs.