LDP participants create awareness of thefar-reaching effects of the Conquer Cancer Foundation

ASCO launched the Leadership Development Program (LDP) in 2009 to help cultivate the next generation of oncology leaders by providing formal leadership training for mid-career oncologists. LDP participants are divided into small groups and given a hands-on opportunity to grapple with a unique need or challenge within ASCO. Participants identify the scope of the project, develop a plan, and make formal recommendations to the ASCO Board of Directors.

This year, a team of four LDP participants focused on the Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology for their project; the group included Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, of The Ohio State University; Sanjay Goel, MD, MS, of Montefiore/Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Michael Thompson, MD, PhD, of Aurora Health Care; Anne Tsao, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; and their mentor, Jamie Von Roenn, MD, of the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

One of the challenges that the group addressed is an apparent lack of awareness about the scope of the Foundation's mission and the significance of its programs to the oncology community. In addition, the team worked with ASCO and Foundation staff to provide a formal rationale for why ASCO members should support the Conquer Cancer Foundation.

Testimony to the Foundation's far-reaching impact

Three of the four members of the LDP team are alumni of the Foundation's Grants and Awards Program, which this year is celebrating 30 years of advancing cancer research. These three past grant recipients—of both the Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO Young Investigator Award (YIA) and Career Development Award (CDA)—emphasized that the effects of receiving Foundation funding go well beyond the monetary value of the grant.

"The Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO YIA and CDA have enabled me to establish a robust clinical and translational program in both mesothelioma research and thoracic oncology," said Dr. Tsao, recipient of a 2003 YIA and 2007 CDA. "These award programs not only provided the seed money to create novel and innovative research studies but also lent a note of credibility to my work, as these are peer-reviewed grants. I credit the Conquer Cancer Foundation and ASCO in helping to support my career in an extremely positive way."

However, despite previous first-hand experiences with the Foundation, the members of the LDP group were still surprised to learn the extent to which the Foundation supports ASCO, including funding key physician education programs such as the ASCO Annual Meeting and thematic meetings. In addition to supporting ASCO's educational programs, the Foundation also fuels the Society's international programs and its patient-information resources, including Cancer.Net. The Foundation is also playing a key role in building support for ASCO's revolutionary new CancerLinQ™ rapid learning system.

Supporting the mission

After completing their project, the LDP group presented a formal recommendation to the ASCO Board of Directors at its May meeting. However, before the meeting took place, the members of the LDP group wanted to find a more personal way to support ASCO and the Foundation's mission. The group decided to create and personally contribute to a Leadership Development Program Young Investigator Award (YIA) Fund not only to convey the importance of supporting the Foundation, but also to help further support cancer research.

For 30 years, the Grants and Awards Program has supported more than 1,000 young investigators. The LDP group looks forward to continuing to support the important work of the Foundation, as well as the work of its grant recipients.

"Through the ASCO Leadership Development Program, I have learned more about the history of the ASCO mission and the Conquer Cancer Foundation," said Dr. Thompson. "The Foundation supports so many of ASCO's programs to help patients and physicians through education and research. I have received support from the Foundation as a YIA and in the LDP. Giving to the Foundation is a natural outgrowth of my increasing involvement with ASCO."

The 2013 Leadership Development Program participants invite you to join them in supporting the Conquer Cancer Foundation and the mission of ASCO.

For a complete list of the 2012-2013 Leadership Development Program participants, visit asco.org/professional-development/2012-2013-class-participants.