ASCO to honor several researchers

Issue: April 25, 2015

Several researchers and scientists will be honored this summer as part of ASCO’s Special Awards Program.

“This year’s Special Awards recipients have made outstanding contributions to the field of oncology, leading a global effort to transform cancer care and improve the lives of people living with cancer,” Clifford A. Hudis, MD, FACP, immediate past president of ASCO and chair of the Special Awards Selection Committee, said in a press release. “It is our honor to recognize their innovation and dedication with the highest honors that ASCO awards every year.”

All honorees will be recognized during the ASCO Annual Meeting, which will be held May 29-June 2 in Chicago.

This year’s honorees are:

Suzanne L. Topalian

Suzanne L. Topalian, MD, professor of surgery and oncology and director of the melanoma program at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will be honored with the David A. Karnofsky Memorial Award and Lecture, which recognizes an oncologist who has made outstanding contributions to cancer research, diagnosis and/or treatment.

James P. Allison

James P. Allison, PhD, professor and chair of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center department of immunology, will be honored with the Science of Oncology Award and Lecture, which recognizes outstanding contributions to basic or translational research in cancer.

Ernest Hawk, MD, MPH, vice president and head of the division of cancer prevention and population sciences at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, will be honored with the ASCO—American Cancer Society Award and Lecture, which recognizes significant contributions to cancer prevention and control research or practice.

Silvio Monfardini, MD, director of the geriatric oncology program at Istituto Palazzolo, Fondazione Don Gnocchi in Milan, Italy, will be honored with the B.J. Kennedy Award and Lecture for Scientific Excellence in Geriatric Oncology.

George Bosl

George Bosl, MD, the Patrick M. Byrne chair in oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, will receive the Distinguished Achievement Award, which recognizes leadership or mentorship in any subspecialty of oncology that has benefited ASCO members or their patients.

Dean F. Bajorin, MD, FACP, attending physician and member at Memorial Hospital at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, will receive the Excellence in Teaching Award, which recognizes an ASCO member who has had a demonstrable impact on their trainees and inspired and shaped the trainees’ practice of cancer medicine.

Matthew Ellis, MD, PhD, director of the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine, will be honored with the Gianni Bonadonna Breast Cancer Award and Lecture, which recognizes an active clinical and/or translational researcher with a distinguished record of accomplishments in advancing the field of breast cancer, as well as exceptional mentoring abilities.

José Angel Sanchez, MD, hematologic oncologist at Hospital Escuela at University of Honduras, will receive the Humanitarian Award, which recognizes an oncologist who personifies ASCO’s mission and values by providing outstanding patient care through innovative means or exceptional service.

Mary Lou Smith, JD, MBA — who co-founded the Research Advocacy Network in 2003 — will receive the Partners in Progress Award, which recognizes a person involved in patient advocacy activities that impact public awareness about cancer and result in additional legislative or financial support for cancer research, treatment, prevention or care.

Stephen E. Sallan, MD — professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and a pediatric oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children’s Hospital — will be honored with the Pediatric Oncology Award and Lecture, which recognizes the career and achievements of an individual who contributed outstanding scientific work of major importance to the field of pediatric oncology.

Archie Bleyer

Archie Bleyer, MD, clinical research professor at Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University, will receive the Special Recognition Award, which honors achievements of an individual whose research and innovations have had a transforming and lasting effect in areas of clinical oncology, cancer research, clinical trials and patient advocacy.

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Also, several individuals will be recognized as fellows of ASCO, a distinction that recognizes ASCO members for extraordinary volunteer service, dedication and commitment to ASCO. The 2015 honorees are Kathy S. Albain, MD; Craig Earle, MD, MSc;Roscoe F. Morton, MD, FACP;Lori J. Pierce, MD;Lillian S. Siu, MD, FRCPC;Eric J. Small, MD; and Sandra M. Swain, MD, FACP.