FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 5, 2009
CONTACT:
Gaye Walker
571-483-1357
Gaye.walker@asco.org
Alexandria, Va.—George W. Sledge Jr., MD, a pioneer in the development of novel therapies for breast cancer, has been elected to become President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for a one-year term beginning in June 2010. He will take office as President-Elect during ASCO’s 45th Annual Meeting in Orlando in June 2009. Additionally, six new members were elected to the ASCO Board of Directors and two new members to the ASCO Nominating Committee, all for three-year terms beginning in June 2009.
“Being elected to serve as ASCO President is an honor and a privilege. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board of Directors to support all types of cancer research and address the challenges of the modern-day practice of oncology,” said Dr. Sledge. “ASCO institutes real change by uniting all members of the oncology community with the common goal of improving cancer care and prevention and ensuring that all patients with cancer receive the highest quality care.”
Dr. Sledge currently serves as the Ballve-Lantero Professor of Oncology and Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center. He joined Indiana University in 1983, after completing his residency at St. Louis University and his fellowship at the University of Texas, San Antonio. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin and his medical degree from Tulane University. His research interests include molecular and tumor biology, growth factors, and anti-angiogenic therapy related to breast cancer.
“Every new member that is elected to ASCO’s Board of Directors brings a unique perspective that will shape the Society’s future goals and practices,” said Allen S. Lichter, MD, Chief Executive Officer of ASCO. “I am particularly looking forward to working with Dr. Sledge and watching how his 25 years as an ASCO member will define the legacy that he leaves on the Society’s efforts to improve cancer care.”
Since joining ASCO in 1984, Dr. Sledge has demonstrated a comprehensive record of service to the Society. He served on the ASCO Board of Directors from 2005 to 2008 and served as a member of the Nominating Committee from 2000 to 2003, serving as Chair 2002-03.
Additionally, Dr. Sledge has served on the Cancer Education Committee in various capacities, the Scientific Program Committee and the Personnel Committee. He has also served on the Best of ASCO Abstract Selection Committee, the Post-Mastectomy Radiotherapy Expert Panel, the Aspen Conference Planning Committee, and the Government Relations Council.
Dr. Sledge is also an active member of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and serves as Chairman of the Breast Cancer Committee, Hoosier Oncology Group. He currently serves as Chair of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and serves in various capacities for The Breast Cancer Intergroup. He was also Secretary (1997-1998) and a Board of Trustees Member (1995-1998) of the Indiana Medical Oncology Society.
Dr. Sledge has received many awards and honors, most recently The Jill Rose Award – Breast Cancer Research Foundation (2007) and the 2006 Komen Foundation Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction. He is also listed in “America’s Top Doctors” (2001-2007).
Newly Elected ASCO Board Members
Clifford Hudis, MD, has been elected to serve as Treasurer for three years. Dr. Hudis is a medical oncologist and the Chief of the Breast Cancer Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He is also a professor in the Department of Medicine at Cornell Medical College.
ASCO’s Board of Directors is comprised of oncology leaders who are elected to represent one of five distinct areas within the oncology field. The following physicians will begin three-year terms as members of ASCO’s Board of Directors on June 1, 2009:
Eduardo Cazap, MD, has been elected to a Non-U.S. Oncology seat. Dr. Cazap currently serves as President of the Latin American and Caribbean Society of Medical Oncology (SLACOM) and President of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC).
Susan Cohn, MD, has been elected to the Pediatric Oncology seat. Dr. Cohn is the Director of Pediatric Clinical Sciences at Comer Children's Hospital in Chicago and is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Chicago.
Lynn Schuchter, MD, has been elected to an Undesignated Specialty seat. Dr. Schuchter is the Director of the Clinical Research Unit at the Abramson Cancer Center, and was recently appointed to lead the center’s melanoma program. She is also a faculty member at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine.
Everett Vokes, MD, has been elected to an Undesignated Specialty seat. Dr. Vokes is the John Ultmann Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Radiation Oncology and serves as Director of the section of hematology/oncology and Co-Deputy Director of the cancer center at the University of Chicago.
Peter Yu, MD, has been elected to a Community Oncology seat. Dr. Yu is a physician in the hematology department of the Camino Medical Group, which is affiliated with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.
New Members of ASCO Nominating Committee
Two newly elected ASCO Nominating Committee members will serve three-year terms beginning in June 2009:
Scott M. Lippman, MD, is the chair of the Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology and a Professor of Cancer Prevention at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Monica Morrow, MD, is the chief of Breast Service in the Department of Surgery at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. From 2004-2008, she served as chair of the Department of Surgery and the G. Willing Pepper Chair in Cancer Research at the Fox Chase Cancer Center. In 2009, she will commence her position as the Anne Burnett Windfohr Chair of Clinical Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering.
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The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world’s leading professional organization representing physicians who care for people with cancer. With more than 27,000 members, ASCO is committed to improving cancer care through scientific meetings, educational programs and peer-reviewed journals. For ASCO information and resources, visit www.asco.org/presscenter. Patient-oriented cancer information is available at www.cancer.net.
