Welcome to the May 2017 edition of ReFlections, RGA’s global medical newsletter.
This edition includes an update by Dr. Elyssa Del Valle on the current role of genomics in breast cancer management and its implications for insurance medicine. Dr. Dave Rengachary’s article, which focuses on arteriovenous malformations, simplifies the nomenclature of cerebral vascular lesions and provides a risk stratification framework, and Rebecca Abayakoon and Dr. Sheetal Salgaonkar provide a comprehensive update on the role of human papillomavirus testing in cervical cancer screening.
Rounding out this issue, The Longer Life Foundation report focuses on research results of recent grant recipients and their relevance to insurance medicine, and ReCite again presents articles from recent medical literature that are essential reading for underwriters, product developers, claims assessors, and medical directors.
It is with mixed emotions that we announce that this is the last issue of ReFlections for two members of our three-editor team, as Neil Wilkinson, Vice President, Medical Services, and Dr. Philip Smalley, Senior Vice President and Global Chief Medical Officer, are both retiring in May 2017.
Neil and Phil's three decades in this industry (Neil as an underwriter and Phil as a medical director) have seen tremendous changes worldwide, both in the basic work of underwriting and in the products insurers now sell to protect customers. Technology and the philosophy of underwriting are evolving with increasing speed, yielding exciting and challenging times ahead. Stewardship of ReFlections will stay in the hands of Dr. Dan Zimmerman, whose dedication and enthusiasm over the past two years has brought new authors and a greater global focus to ReFlections. Peter Barrett, who leads RGA's Global Claims, Underwriting Quality & Risk Assurance, and Global Medical Services, will join our editorial team with the next issue, and we look forward to his contributions and expertise.
Inside this Issue
