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Tennessee Oncology Launches Rural Telehealth Program to Bridge Digital Divide for Middle Tennessee Cancer Patients

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NEST Program Addresses Barriers Rural Cancer Patients Face to Access Supportive Cancer Care Specialists in 7 Middle Tennessee Counties Tennessee Oncology Kicks Off NEST With Community Advisory Board Recruitment Practice Awarded $1.5 Million from Tennessee Health Department Practice Transformation and Extension Grant to Fund Program Development, Implementation, and Evaluation

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Tennessee Oncology, a nationally recognized independent oncology practice with 35 clinics, has launched a community-based participatory research project to improve breast and prostate cancer patient access to three vital supportive care services via telehealth in seven rural counties in Middle Tennessee. The seven counties are divided into three regions and include Robertson, Dickson, Putnam, Dekalb, Warren, Bedford, and Coffee counties. 

NEST (Navigated, Embedded, Supportive Care, Via Telehealth), which will be implemented through Tennessee Oncology’s McKay Institute for Oncology Transformation, is supported by a $1.5 million Practice Transformation and Extension grant from the Tennessee Department of Health to address barriers rural cancer patients face to see specialists for palliative care, psychology, and integrative oncology services. To kick off the program, Tennessee Oncology is recruiting Middle Tennessee cancer patients, caregivers, survivors, and patient advocates to participate in the program’s design as part of Community Advisory Boards (CABs). CABs will help identify best practices to connect with cancer patients locally.

“Healthcare programs are often very one directional, but with NEST we will be empowering the community we intend to serve, to offer their perspectives on both challenges and solutions to shape the telehealth supportive services program,” said Sandhya Mudumbi, M.D., the medical director of Tennessee Oncology’s palliative care program. “By starting with people in the community, NEST will be an enduring, sustainable program that helps cancer patients in medically underserved communities get the supportive care they need and deserve.”

Dr. Mudumbi serves as the program director for the project and will also lead region 3 (Warren, Bedford, and Coffee counties). Working alongside her are Richard Martin III, M.D., Director of Health Equity and Community Engagement at Tennessee Oncology, leading Region 1 (Robertson and Dickson), and Johnetta Blakely, M.D., Executive Director for Health Economics and Outcomes Research, leading Region 2 (Putnam and Dekalb). 

“Developing supportive services with community-based participatory research has never been done before in community oncology, and we’re proud to be the first to undertake such an innovative and meaningful approach. This will help build a foundation where community engagement is incorporated into other important practice initiatives at Tennessee Oncology,” said Dr. Martin.

A lack of access to smartphones, broadband access, digital literacy, and cultural factors are all barriers that hamper patients living in rural and medically underserved communities from accessing supportive cancer care that can enhance their cancer care journey. To overcome these barriers, Tennessee Oncology’s NEST consists of the following:

Navigated: Telehealth navigators will help patients understand the technology used in a telehealth visit with a doctor and improve patients’ comfort level with these digital telehealth tools.Embedded: Embed telehealth workflows and equipment within seven Tennessee Oncology satellite clinics in Middle Tennessee counties so patients have the necessary broadband connection to have appointments with specialists without having to travel to Nashville or Clarksville to receive these specialized services.  Supportive Care: Palliative care, psychology, and integrative oncology services, together incorporate patient-centered, evidenced-based practices including symptom management, lifestyle changes and counseling, and therapy to improve the patient and caregiver’s quality of life. Together they offer a therapeutic presence and support that enhances the cancer care journey for patients, caregivers, and oncologists.Via Telehealth: Patients will have appointments via a laptop in private rooms staffed by certified Medical Assistants with supportive care physicians, advance practice providers, or psychologists and licensed counselors who are in different clinic locations.

During the Covid-19 pandemic when Tennessee Oncology rapidly deployed telehealth services, patient participation in palliative care, psychology, and integrative oncology grew. And while about 40 percent of these service lines’ patients still have telemedicine appointments, patients in rural communities, who may be struggling financially and experiencing access barriers, often miss out on the full extent of telehealth and accessing these services. In 2022, only 1.5 percent of breast cancer patients and 2.7 percent of prostate cancer patients accessed palliative care in rural and underserved Tennessee counties. And none of these patients had a psychology or integrative oncology appointment.

Tennessee Oncology will collaborate with University of Alabama-Birmingham’s Ronit Elk, Ph.D., a nationally renowned researcher who has deep expertise in community-based participatory research, and in developing culturally appropriate palliative care programs in the deep South, on this project. The program’s year one goals including creating a solid foundation for community engagement by getting CABs organized for all three regions, holding CAB meetings, organizing focus groups and developing the program through their input.

“NEST was born from what we learned using telehealth to connect our patients with cancer care services during the pandemic,” said Natalie Dickson, MD, President and Chief Strategy Officer, Tennessee Oncology. “During the pandemic, practices quickly set up and used telehealth to connect patients to physicians and use of our supportive care services rose. With NEST, we will build on what we learned during the pandemic by engaging community members and building trustful relationships to create best practices that overcome technological and cultural barriers to using telehealth services so patients in hard-to-reach counties can get the cancer care services they need.”

About Tennessee Oncology:
Tennessee Oncology, one of the nation’s largest community-based cancer care practices, is home to one of the leading clinical trial networks in the country. Established 1976 in Nashville, Tennessee Oncology’s mission remains unchanged: To provide access to high-quality cancer care and the expertise of clinical research for all patients, at convenient locations within their community and close to their home. Our growing network of physicians and locations is based on this mission. For more information, visit www.tnoncology.com. 

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SOURCE Tennessee Oncology

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ST Engineering iDirect and MBSat Partner to Build Next-Generation Sovereign Connectivity Services Across Oman and the Middle East

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2 hours ago

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October 25, 2026

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Intuition ground system selected to support MBSat’s planned 2027 service launch, enabling accelerated deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable service growth

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ST Engineering iDirect today announced a strategic partnership with Mohammed Al Barwani Satellite Company (MBSat), part of Mohammed Al Barwani Group, to provide the ground system technology foundation for MBSat’s next-generation satellite gateway and network operations across Oman and the wider Middle East region. Intuition will provide a flexible, software-defined foundation to support sovereign connectivity services, enabling efficient service deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable network operations.

Intuition will deliver a turnkey ground segment solution that accelerates deployment, simplifies operations and gives MBSat the flexibility to scale services as demand grows. The software-defined platform enables dynamic resource management, service automation and seamless integration with existing and future operational systems. The solution also includes Ka-band gateway infrastructure, service provisioning and management capabilities, open API integration frameworks, training and full-lifecycle support. Together, these capabilities will help MBSat launch and operate services efficiently while adapting to evolving market requirements.

The network will leverage capacity from MB Sat-1, a sovereign MicroGEO satellite, with planned service launch in 2027, to support flexible, scalable connectivity services across the region.

The partnership reflects growing investment in sovereign communications infrastructure across the Middle East as operators seek greater control over service delivery, network expansion and long-term technology evolution.

“This partnership represents an important milestone in our efforts to build an advanced satellite communications platform in Oman and the region,” said Ammar Al Rawahi, General Manager, MBSat. “Through our collaboration with ST Engineering iDirect, we are establishing the technical infrastructure required to launch services efficiently, respond to evolving customer needs and expand into new markets, supporting the sustainable long-term growth of our business.”

“We are providing MBSat with a flexible, software-defined ground platform that integrates with its existing operational environment,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, Chief Executive Officer, ST Engineering iDirect. “This enables more efficient service deployment and operations today, with the flexibility to scale, introduce new capabilities and evolve as requirements change.”

About ST Engineering iDirect

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, is a global leader in satellite communications, providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their networks. Through its portfolio of ground infrastructure, intelligent networking and advanced satellite communications solutions, the company supports operators, service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/st-engineering-idirect-and-mbsat-partner-to-build-next-generation-sovereign-connectivity-services-across-oman-and-the-middle-east-302918467.html

SOURCE ST Engineering iDirect

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ST Engineering iDirect and MBSat Partner to Build Next-Generation Sovereign Connectivity Services Across Oman and the Middle East

Published

2 hours ago

on

October 25, 2026

By

Intuition ground system selected to support MBSat’s planned 2027 service launch, enabling accelerated deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable service growth

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ST Engineering iDirect today announced a strategic partnership with Mohammed Al Barwani Satellite Company (MBSat), part of Mohammed Al Barwani Group, to provide the ground system technology foundation for MBSat’s next-generation satellite gateway and network operations across Oman and the wider Middle East region. Intuition will provide a flexible, software-defined foundation to support sovereign connectivity services, enabling efficient service deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable network operations.

Intuition will deliver a turnkey ground segment solution that accelerates deployment, simplifies operations and gives MBSat the flexibility to scale services as demand grows. The software-defined platform enables dynamic resource management, service automation and seamless integration with existing and future operational systems. The solution also includes Ka-band gateway infrastructure, service provisioning and management capabilities, open API integration frameworks, training and full-lifecycle support. Together, these capabilities will help MBSat launch and operate services efficiently while adapting to evolving market requirements.

The network will leverage capacity from MB Sat-1, a sovereign MicroGEO satellite, with planned service launch in 2027, to support flexible, scalable connectivity services across the region.

The partnership reflects growing investment in sovereign communications infrastructure across the Middle East as operators seek greater control over service delivery, network expansion and long-term technology evolution.

“This partnership represents an important milestone in our efforts to build an advanced satellite communications platform in Oman and the region,” said Ammar Al Rawahi, General Manager, MBSat. “Through our collaboration with ST Engineering iDirect, we are establishing the technical infrastructure required to launch services efficiently, respond to evolving customer needs and expand into new markets, supporting the sustainable long-term growth of our business.”

“We are providing MBSat with a flexible, software-defined ground platform that integrates with its existing operational environment,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, Chief Executive Officer, ST Engineering iDirect. “This enables more efficient service deployment and operations today, with the flexibility to scale, introduce new capabilities and evolve as requirements change.”

About ST Engineering iDirect

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, is a global leader in satellite communications, providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their networks. Through its portfolio of ground infrastructure, intelligent networking and advanced satellite communications solutions, the company supports operators, service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/st-engineering-idirect-and-mbsat-partner-to-build-next-generation-sovereign-connectivity-services-across-oman-and-the-middle-east-302918467.html

SOURCE ST Engineering iDirect

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Global Security & Technology Summit Unveils Month-Long Program of Activities Ahead of December Event

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9 hours ago

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October 24, 2026

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Organizing Committee of the Global Security & Technology Summit (GSTS) held an introductory session today at the Ministry of Interior’s headquarters in Riyadh, bringing together representatives from the government, private, and nonprofit sectors to introduce the program of activities leading up to the summit. The upcoming summit will be held in Riyadh under the patronage of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, under the supervision of HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Interior, and organized by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with Tuwaiq Academy.

During the session, the Organizing Committee presented the comprehensive GSTS program, comprising three key components: GSTS Month, running from November 1 to 30, 2026; the Global Security & Innovation Fair (SAIF), taking place from November 24 to 26, 2026; and the main Summit, scheduled for December 18 to 20, 2026, in Riyadh. Together, these events form an integrated program designed to advance security and technology innovation, strengthen national capabilities, and foster international cooperation.

GSTS Month will feature working groups, boot camps, training programs, knowledge-sharing sessions, and technical workshops across Saudi Arabia’s 13 administrative regions, delivered both in person and remotely in collaboration with specialized entities. The month-long program aims to develop national capabilities, identify emerging talent, enrich knowledge-sharing opportunities, and equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to develop innovative solutions to future security and technology challenges.

The main Summit will bring together global leaders, decision-makers, experts, and innovators to explore the future of security and technology, promote the integration of advanced technologies within the security sector, strengthen national capabilities, support innovation, and foster international cooperation, further positioning the Kingdom as a global hub for security and technology.

Showcasing the latest technological breakthroughs and security solutions, the summit will bring together government entities, private sector organizations, academic institutions, and research centers to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration across key fields, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), smart security solutions, emerging technologies, and crisis management. The program will also feature main sessions, specialized discussions, and interactive exhibitions. Registration is available at gsts.sa.

Advisor to HRH the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the GSTS Organizing Committee, Ahmed Altowayan, stated that the summit builds on Saudi Arabia’s efforts to establish an advanced security and technology ecosystem focused on knowledge and innovation, keeping pace with rapid developments and future challenges.

Mr. Altowayan noted that the summit is a global platform for strengthening cooperation and exchanging expertise, anticipating future developments in security and technology, and developing strategic partnerships and innovative solutions that enhance the efficiency and readiness of security systems.

Vice Chairman of the GSTS Organizing Committee, Eng. Abdulaziz Alhammadi, said that the summit will offer a range of integrated programs and activities focused on enhancing national skills, encouraging innovation, and supporting international cooperation.

He added that GSTS Month will help build national capabilities, discover talent, and develop skills, with SAIF providing a platform for innovators and researchers from around the world to showcase leading technological solutions, while the main Summit will bring together leaders and experts to discuss the future of security and technology and explore new strategic partnership opportunities.

SAIF will take place at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, bringing together innovators, researchers, technology talents, and industry experts from around the world to showcase promising innovations and projects across 14 fields of technology and innovation. The fair will provide opportunities to engage with project owners, including students, graduates, and entrepreneurs, and explore the different stages of innovation development through interactive zones, panel discussions on emerging security and innovation trends, and knowledge-sharing workshops led by specialists. Visitor registration is open to participants from within and outside the Kingdom through saifair.sa.

The introductory session also featured contributions from representatives of government, private, and nonprofit sector entities, alongside members of the media. Discussions focused on developing national capabilities in security and technology, strengthening students’ technical expertise, translating scientific research into practical solutions, and supporting Saudi companies in developing security and technology solutions and advancing digital transformation.

Organized by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with Tuwaiq Academy, GSTS is produced by Tahaluf, with the Ministry of Education serving as Strategic Scientific Partner, Tahakom as Founding Partner, and Elm as Principal Partner.

Registration for participants from within and outside the Kingdom is available at gsts.sa.

Click here to view the media kit. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-security–technology-summit-unveils-month-long-program-of-activities-ahead-of-december-event-302918695.html

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