Celebrating Our Accomplishments While Planning Next Steps

Celebrating Our Accomplishments While Planning Next Steps

Jonathan S. Berek, MD, MMedSc, FASCO

Dec 23, 2013
It’s an honor tolaunch ASCO’s 50thanniversary with the January 2014 issue of yourmember publication,a fitting forumas the Society’s initiatives and growthhave always been member-focused andmember-led. From the original meetingin 1964 of a small group of diverse physicianswho shared an interest in thefledgling field of cancer chemotherapyto the development 50 years later ofthe revolutionary learning system CancerLinQ™, ASCO members have beenat the heart of defining our professionand creating the systems and standardsthat continually improve careand outcomes for patients.It is remarkable to note the achievementsthe field has collectively madein combatting this disease, as well asthe dynamic role ASCO has played inthese efforts. Our cover story featureshighlights of ASCO’s evolution andleadership perspectives on the futureof oncology and the organization.

Although it is important to take time tonote milestones and accomplishments,ASCO and its members know that thereis still much work to be done; other featuresin this issue cover the launch of the full development phase of CancerLinQ™, the publication of theannual report Clinical Cancer Advances, and the Society’s next “Top Five” list for the Choosing Wisely®campaign, which identifies tests andprocedures of little or no benefit topatients. For more perspectiveon how these initiatives shape thedebate on the future of care, see ASCOPresident Dr. Clifford Hudis’s column on the topic.

We also have an interesting article on the work of Dr. Gina Villani, Chair-Electof ASCO’s Health Disparities Committeeand CEO and Medical Director ofthe Ralph Lauren Center for CancerCare and Prevention. Dr. Villani sharesher frank views on what’s wrongwith the system, as well as specificsteps they are taking at the center toaddress disparity issues.

Finally—congratulations to ASCO’s newly elected officers.

As always, thank you for reading and happy anniversary to ASCO!

Reprinted from the January 2014 ASCO Connection ‘From the Editor’ column.

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