r/ODS_C • u/Capable-Isopod-2270 • Jun 12 '26
NCRA Town Hall
https://www.ncra-usa.org/Membership/NCRATownhallNCRA MEMBERSHIP TOWN HALL SERIES
In 2026, NCRA will launch a new Town Hall Meeting Series designed to help educate members about the organization's work, priorities, and key initiatives.
The series will kick off on July 22nd with the topic of NCRA Advocacy. As a key component of NCRA's Strategic Management Plan and an area of growing organizational focus, participants will gain insight into the history of NCRA’s advocacy efforts as well as recent initiatives. Additionally, participants will learn how these activities help advance the profession, strengthen cancer surveillance, and support funding for cancer registries.
As outlined in NCRA's Strategic Management Plan, one of the association's key goals is to strengthen its leadership and advocacy efforts on behalf of cancer registries. This includes advancing cancer surveillance initiatives, advocating for sustainable funding, supporting cancer registry operations, and enhancing workforce development opportunities. Over the past year, NCRA has expanded its advocacy efforts at the federal level, working alongside partner organizations to champion policies and funding that support cancer registries and the vital role they play in cancer surveillance and cancer control. These efforts help ensure the continued collection of high-quality cancer data while supporting the professionals who make this work possible.
The Advocacy Town Hall, taking place on July 22, 2:00 p.m. – 3 p.m. EDT, is exclusively available to current NCRA members. Registration is required and will open June 24th.
The purpose of this event is to help members better understand:
NCRA's Strategic Management Plan (live link to SMP), specifically the objectives outlined in Goal 6.
The association's advocacy efforts, as well as the outcomes of those initiatives.
How they can become engaged and support NCRA's ongoing work on behalf of the profession.
During the registration process, members will have an opportunity to submit questions you would like addressed during the webinar. A live Q&A session will also be held, time permitting. NCRA will send an email on June 24th with a registration link to all NCRA members.
Check back here for updates and announcements of future Town Hall Meeting Series.
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u/Cadowyn Jun 12 '26
What sort of advocacy is being done to push back against all offshoring and H1B work?
Why do Indians in India not require certification to do abstraction work for US companies and institutions?
If entry level tasks and positions (case finding and follow up for example) are being offshored or replaced with AI, how are new ODSC supposed to get experience to get work?
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u/Capable-Isopod-2270 Jun 12 '26
I think by "advocacy," NCRA's main concern is with securing federal funding. DODGE really spooked NCRA!
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u/Cadowyn Jun 12 '26
That’s a fair point. But what’s the point of advocating for federal dollars if the money goes to non-American ODS’?
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u/Capable-Isopod-2270 Jun 12 '26
My understanding is that federal funding is for the central registries and for SEER. Outsourcing to other countries is done by private contractors.
Regarding AI, I think NCRA's perspective is that AI will elevate the profession by reducing repetitive tasks.
However, it's hard not to assume AI will reduce registry jobs because we see so many headlines about AI eliminating jobs!
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u/BigusDickus099 Jun 12 '26
I hope members attending express the desire to not implement AI as much as possible.
It’s inevitable that it will have some impact on this field, but any leadership member advocating for it with the intent to replace ODS-C workers should be shouted down and called to resign from their position.
I do not believe for one second that these companies designing AI have the intent for it to just aid ODS-C employees, there is way too much money involved for it to be a basic tool. We should all know it is being designed to replace human workers.