Both Sides Now: Reflections from NAPT 2026

Seven months into my role at Mevion Medical Systems, I arrived at the National Proton Conference (NPC), hosted by the The National Association for Proton Therapy , with a real sense of anticipation.

This wasn’t just another conference—it was my first NPC representing a corporate partner after 16 years at Penn Medicine, where I built and led a patient engagement program. I knew this experience would feel different.

The question was: how different?

As I walked into the conference, I couldn’t help but hear Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now.” It stayed with me in that moment.

I’ve spent most of my career on one side—deeply embedded in the academic medical system, focused on patients, clinicians, and care delivery. Now, stepping into this meeting from the “vendor side,” I was acutely aware of the shift in perspective.

And yes, in some ways, it was different.

The conversations naturally included more focus on commercial development, business strategy, and long-term growth.

But what struck me immediately—what truly defined the experience—was something else entirely:

Familiarity.

Community.

A warm welcome.

I was surrounded by people I’ve long considered colleagues—and friends—who welcomed me with enthusiasm and genuine support in my new role as Sr. Director of Strategic Communications and Market Development at Mevion.

It reminded me that while our roles may evolve, our shared purpose does not.

NPC is always a whirlwind—packed schedules, dynamic conversations, constant movement.

But this year felt different.

I had the opportunity to engage in new and meaningful discussions, reconnect with longtime colleagues, and connect with customers—many of them new adopters of the MEVION S250-FIT Proton Therapy System™.

Hearing their perspectives, ambitions, and commitment to advancing care reinforced something deeply important:

We are all working toward the same goal.

Expanding access to proton therapy for patients around the world.

How amazing is that?

This shared mission was especially evident in Mevion’s strong presence at this year’s conference.

We were proud to showcase both innovation and clinical leadership in meaningful ways.

Highlights included:

• Ignite Session contributions from Lionel Bouchet, Ph.D. and Mel Piantino, MS DABR

• A lunchtime symposium on upgrading radiation therapy infrastructure without interrupting care, featuring an outstanding panel of clinical and industry leaders

• Our Mevion User Meeting, where customers came together to share best practices, exchange insights, and strengthen partnerships

It was inspiring to see institutions learning from one another while building lasting connections.

One theme stood out clearly:

Healthcare systems are increasingly integrating compact proton therapy into existing environments—without disrupting patient care.

This signals a broader shift:

Moving away from large, standalone facilities

Toward flexible, scalable solutions

Expanding access and meeting patients where they are

I couldn’t have been more proud to be part of a team that showed up with such thought leadership, collaboration, and purpose.

So yes—I came to NPC this year seeing things from “both sides now.”

And what I found is that the sides are not as different as they might seem.

At the heart of it all—whether in an academic medical center or an industry role—is a shared commitment:

To patients

To access

To advocacy

To engagement

To moving this field forward—together

I left Nashville feeling energized, grateful, and incredibly hopeful.

I’m proud to be part of the proton community—but even more than that, I’m thrilled to be part of the Mevion team, a team clearly leading the way toward a new era of proton therapy.

I’m excited for what’s ahead as we continue working together to expand patient access, strengthen advocacy, and deepen engagement.

And that, to me, is what truly matters.