Thyme Care Welcomes Oncology Visionary Dr. Ethan Basch to its Scientific Advisory Board

Prolific Researcher on Patient-Reported Outcomes and UNC Chief of Oncology Brings Decades of Experience to Thyme Care as Company Advances Cancer Care Model 

NASHVILLE – December 16, 2024 – Thyme Care, the leading value-based cancer care enabler, today announced Ethan M. Basch, MD, MSc, a renowned oncologist and expert in cancer outcomes research, has joined its newly established scientific advisory board. Dr. Basch serves as the Chief of Oncology and Physician-in-Chief of the Cancer Hospital at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His groundbreaking research on the benefits of digital symptom monitoring to improve health outcomes for cancer patients has been instrumental in motivating Thyme Care’s care model, including the integration of patient-reported outcomes (ePROS) to streamline communications between patients and their care team. 

Dr. Basch’s research demonstrates that proactive symptom monitoring leads to clinically meaningful benefits, including improved survival rates. By tracking patient symptoms and side effects early, care teams can proactively intervene to avoid preventable complications, such as emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and other adverse events. Studies show that up to half of patients' symptoms go undetected by providers, and digital monitoring bridges this gap. Inspired by his work, Thyme Care’s 24/7 virtual care navigation model leverages digital ePROs and wraparound support to proactively address patient needs–from managing treatment side effects to providing clinical, emotional, and logistical assistance–all in close collaboration with a members’ oncologist. 

“Thyme Care has built a model, team, and technology for supporting patient-centered cancer care based on decades of research showing benefits of symptom monitoring and navigation. I believe there is a major opportunity at this moment to leverage these tools towards improving the patient experience -- while simultaneously unburdening the healthcare teams and organizations that support those patients. These tools can also drive meaningful improvements in outcomes and reduce total costs of care. I am delighted to join the advisory board of this mission-driven company,” said Dr. Basch.

Dr. Ethan Basch is Physician-in-Chief of the North Carolina Cancer Hospital and Chief of Oncology at the University of North Carolina, where he is a distinguished professor in Medical Oncology and Health Policy & Management. A leading health services researcher, he focuses on integrating the patient perspective into cancer care and clinical research. His work has shaped national prostate cancer guidelines and led to the development of widely used patient-reported outcome (PRO) tools with the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Basch currently spearheads a multi-institutional initiative to standardize the implementation of electronic PROs (ePROs) in oncology practices nationwide. He has served on the Board of Directors for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the Board of Scientific Advisors for the National Cancer Institute, and as associate editor for oncology at the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Dr. Basch earned his MD from Harvard Medical School, an MSc in Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health, M.Phil. in Literature from Oxford, and completed his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

“Dr. Basch is one of the most established voices advocating for the patient perspective to be at the center of the care delivery process. His research has been instrumental in laying the foundation for Thyme Care’s care model and go-to-market strategy,” said Bobby Green, MD, co-founder, president, and chief medical officer of Thyme Care. “We’re thrilled to welcome Ethan to our scientific advisory board and deeply value the expertise and vision he brings to the table.”

About Thyme Care 

Thyme Care is the leading value-based care enabler, collaborating with payers and providers to transform the experience and outcomes for individuals living with cancer. The company partners with health plans, employers and risk-bearing providers to assume accountability for enhanced care quality, improved health outcomes, and reduced total cost of care. Thyme Care's approach combines a technology-enabled Care Team and seamless integration with more than 800 oncologists in Thyme Care Oncology Partners, creating a hybrid collaborative care model that guides and supports the entire patient journey. Thyme Care empowers oncologists nationwide through purpose-built tech, advanced data analytics, and virtual patient engagement, driving better care and outcomes in value-based arrangements. Thyme Care is a founding member of CancerX, and is backed by leading investors. To learn more about how Thyme Care is enabling the shift to value-based care in oncology, visit www.thymecare.com.

Contact

Kimberly Dreisinger 

Thyme Care Communications 

press@thymecare.com