Lidia Schapira, MD, FASCO, of Harvard Medical School and Mas­sachusetts Gen­eral Hospital Cancer Center, has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of Cancer.Net, ASCO’s patient information web­site. Dr. Schapira will assume the role at the 2015 ASCO Annual Meeting.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Schapira as Editor-in-Chief of Cancer.Net,” said ASCO CEO Allen S. Lichter, MD, FASCO. “As a long-standing mem­ber of Cancer.Net’s Editorial Board, she has played a key role in growing the site’s psychosocial oncology con­tent. In addition to being an interna­tional expert on doctor-patient com­munication, she is passionate about educating patients and their families. We look forward to working with her in this new role.” Dr. Schapira succeeds Robert S. Miller, MD, FACP, FASCO, who recently joined ASCO as the Senior Director of Quality and Guidelines and Medical Director of the Institute for Quality (iQ).

As Cancer.Net’s Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Schapira will continue her innovative work in patient communication. She has collaborated with experts in neu­roscience and psychology, investigated new ways to improve the therapeutic connection between patients and clinicians, and worked with cancer researchers, social scientists, and patient advocates to explore and address some of the root causes of disparities in cancer care. As a result of her work, Dr. Schapira developed workshops for community health work­ers designed to raise awareness of and interest in cancer clinical trials among underserved minorities.

"Dr. Schapira is a known champion for strengthening the doctor-patient relationship, in particular, through patient education," said ASCO Immediate Past President Peter Paul Yu, MD, FACP, FASCO. "Ensuring that people are well-informed and have access to accurate information they can trust is fundamental, and her expertise in understanding the complete needs of a patient is sure to result in continued enhancements to the tremendous resource that is Cancer.Net."

An all-around activist and volunteer

Dr. Schapira is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a medical oncologist at the Mas­sachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center with a practice focused on breast cancer. She also serves as a senior investigator in research focused on young women with breast cancer. An ASCO member since 1998, Dr. Schapira has been a committed volunteer. She currently serves as Consultant Editor for the Journal of Clinical Oncology and is actively involved in ASCO’s efforts to improve access to cancer care in low- and middle-income coun­tries through mentoring and educa­tional programs.

“I am honored and delighted to have this opportunity to play a part in shap­ing the content and future direction of Cancer. Net,” said Dr. Schapira. “As oncologists, we strive to provide information, guidance, and support to patients living with cancer and their caregivers. Patients who are well informed are prepared to take a more active role in choosing a treatment that is right for them. Cancer.Net is our best partner in helping patients access information that is current and vet­ted by experts. It also provides useful information about coping with cancer and dealing with many frequent prob­lems, such as the cost of care. Cancer.Net affirms ASCO’s mission to serve the cancer community and to foster a partnership with patients, their care­givers, and the oncologists who care for them.”