For Immediate Release:
January 5, 2010
Contact:
Aaron Tallent
(571) 483-1371
aaron.tallent@asco.org
ALEXANDRIA, Va.— Michael P. Link, MD, a leader in the field of pediatric oncology, has been elected President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for a one-year term beginning in June 2011. He will take office as President-Elect during ASCO’s 46th Annual Meeting in Chicago in June 2010. Additionally, five new members were elected to the ASCO Board of Directors and two new members to the ASCO Nominating Committee beginning in June 2010.
“I am truly honored to have been elected to serve as ASCO President and I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with the Board of Directors as this organization continues to focus on advancing research and policies to improve the oncology community,” said Dr. Link. “ASCO is dedicated to making real progress in improving cancer care and prevention while working to ensure every patient gets access to the highest quality cancer care available.”
Dr. Link currently serves as the Lydia J. Lee Professor of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Stanford University School of Medicine and Director of the Bass Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at the Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. He joined the faculty of Stanford University in 1979, after completing his residency and fellowship at Children’s Hospital in Boston and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. He received his undergraduate degree from Columbia College and his medical degree from Stanford University. His research interests include the biology and management of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Hodgkin’s disease in children and the treatment of sarcomas of bone and soft tissue
“Each year, the Board of Directors welcomes new members from diverse backgrounds who help shape the Society’s goals and practices in remarkable ways,” said Allen S. Lichter, MD, Chief Executive Officer of ASCO. “I am looking forward to working with Dr. Link in his endeavor to continue moving ASCO forward and accomplishing our goal to improve cancer care.”
Since joining ASCO in 1982, Dr. Link has provided distinguished service and leadership to the Society. He served on the ASCO Board of Directors from 1999 to 2002 and as a member of the Board’s Executive Committee from 2001 to 2002. He also was Chair of the Membership Committee from 2005 to 2006 and Chair of the Cancer Research Committee from 2007-2008
Additionally, Dr. Link has served as a member of the Cancer.Net Advisory Board, the Public Issues Committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee. He is currently an Associate Editor for the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Dr. Link is a member of the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee of the Food and Drug Administration, a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and an Associate Chair of the Children’s Oncology Group. He recently completed a term as a member of the Board of Scientific Advisors of the National Cancer Institute.
Dr. Link has received many awards and honors, most recently The ASCO Statesman Award (2008), The Brent Ely Visiting Professor in Pediatric Oncology, University of Colorado Center and The Children’s Hospital, Denver (2009), and the 12th Annual Pediatric Center Research Foundation, Memorial Lectureship (2004).
Newly Elected ASCO Board Members
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 (unless otherwise noted) as members of ASCO’s Board of Directors on June 7, 2010:
Julie Vose, MD, has been elected to the Undesignated Specialty seat. Dr. Vose is the Neumann M. and Mildred E. Harris Professorial Chair and is the current Chief of the Oncology/Hematology Section in the Department of Internal Medicine at University of Nebraska Medical Center.
James Abbruzzese, MD, has been elected to the Medical Oncologist seat. Dr. Abbruzzese is the Chair of the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas and holds the Annie Laurie Howard Research Distinguished Professorship.
Robin Zon, MD, has been elected to the Community Oncologist seat. Dr. Zon is Vice President/Partner, Medical Oncology for Michiana Hematology-Oncology, P.C. She also serves as Medical Director for Oncology Research, Memorial Hospital of South Bend in Indiana, and as Lead Investigator for the Northern Indiana Cancer Research Consortium.
Lori Pierce, MD, has been elected to the Radiation Oncologist seat (4-year term). Dr. Pierce is Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs for the University of Michigan and a Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Michigan School of Medicine.
Frances Shepherd, MD, has been elected to the Non-US Oncologist seat (4-year term). Dr. Shepherd is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She is also a staff physician at Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network.
New Members of ASCO Nominating Committee
Two newly elected ASCO Nominating Committee members will serve three-year terms beginning in June 2010:
Howard Burris, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer and Director of Drug Development for the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville, Tennessee. Having received the highest number of votes, Dr. Burris will serve as the Nominating Committee Chair in 2012-2013.
Roy Herbst, MD, PhD, is Chief of the Section of Thoracic Medical Oncology in the Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology and holds the Barnhart Family Distinguished Professor in Targeted Therapies at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
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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. Patient-oriented cancer information is available at www.Cancer.Net.
