Operationalizing BRIDGE: 5 Pillars for Oncology Care in Young Patients

In an interview with Targeted Oncology, W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, describes how the 5 pillars of Ohio State’s BRIDGE Program—research, comprehensive care, patient and family support, community engagement, and sustainability— translate into day-to-day clinical practice for adolescents, young adults (AYA), and early-onset cancer populations.

Watch part 1 and part 2 of Dr Rathmell’s interview.

Rather than functioning as siloed domains, these pillars are intentionally designed to overlap, creating multiple entry points for clinicians, researchers, and support teams to contribute meaningfully. In practice, this integrated structure allows diverse expertise to converge around a shared patient population. For example, genome scientists studying hereditary risk can engage directly with younger cohorts to better understand cancer predisposition and refine early detection strategies. At the same time, behavioral health specialists can focus on the psychosocial impact of a cancer diagnosis in younger patients, addressing challenges such as anxiety, identity disruption, and long-term survivorship planning.

Clinical care remains anchored in disease-specific expertise, but is augmented by wraparound services tailored to life stage. These include fertility counseling, financial navigation, and family-centered support systems, all of which are essential for this demographic.

Technology also plays a growing role within the BRIDGE framework, enabling more efficient patient engagement, monitoring, and transitions back to everyday life following diagnosis and treatment. Digital tools can support communication, symptom tracking, and survivorship planning, aligning with the program’s goal of minimizing long-term disruption.

Ultimately, Rathmell emphasizes that the 5 pillars serve as both a conceptual guide and a practical infrastructure. By fostering collaboration across disciplines and maintaining flexibility in how stakeholders engage, the BRIDGE Program creates a dynamic ecosystem—one that supports innovation, enhances patient care, and builds a sustainable model for addressing the complex needs of younger oncology populations.

Read the full interview here.