Florida Society of Clinical Oncology Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Mar 02, 2017

The Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), an active and engaged ASCO State/Regional Affiliate, is celebrating 40 years as a membership-based state society.

FLASCO is committed to improving patient care in Florida by fostering access to quality cancer care, assisting cancer practitioners in providing cost-effective quality care, acting as an advocate for Floridians with cancer and their families, and connecting health professionals to exchange information. 

FLASCO has generously supported two Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO (CCF) Young Investigator Awards (YIAs) for Florida-based investigators, representing the organization’s commitment to attracting the best and brightest oncologists in the nation to serve patients with cancer. The FLASCO YIA recipients are Benjamin C. Creelan, MD, of Moffitt Cancer Center, and Nathalie D. McKenzie, MD, MSPH, of the University of Florida Health Cancer Center – Orlando Health. 

FLASCO has also committed to supporting a 2017 YIA for an early-career investigator in Florida. Prior to becoming a stand-alone YIA sponsor, FLASCO joined with other State/Regional Affiliates and members of ASCO’s Clinical Practice Committee to support a number of awardees.

“CCF and ASCO congratulate FLASCO on its major achievements over the past 40 years. We are grateful for our partnership, which has helped propel cutting-edge cancer research and launched the careers of young investigators in Florida,” said Nancy R. Daly, MS, MPH, CCF executive vice president and chief philanthropic officer.

In honor of FLASCO’s support and its 40th anniversary, ASCO and CCF celebrate some of the society’s major achievements over the past 4 decades:

  • Advocating for legislation and standard-of-care policy to better serve the patients of Florida
  • Growing its membership from 350 to more than 2,400 people in 3 years—all major cancer centers in Florida have 100% membership in FLASCO
  • Fostering partnership and camaraderie among oncology health care workers throughout the state
  • Providing education to oncologists and health professionals in Puerto Rico
  • Offering numerous meetings and cosponsored events each year
  • Enhancing communication with members through weekly newsletters

Patients and caregivers find great value in FLASCO’s patient advocacy events, in which health care experts present on a variety of topics including disease types, treatment plans, patient advocacy, caregiving, and patient assistance programs. At least six sessions, free for patients and caregivers, are planned across Florida for 2017. 

Fellows and trainees in Florida can apply for travel awards offered by FLASCO, which support attendance at the ASCO and American Society of Hematology Annual Meetings. Early-career oncologists are also encouraged to attend FLASCO meetings to present their research, network, learn about employment opportunities, and find mentors. FLASCO offers a “business of oncology” meeting to teach fellows the basics of how to run an oncology practice.

The FLASCO Administrator Network, in its nascent stage, provides bimonthly educational webinars for oncology practice managers and hospital administrators in Florida, and will have a new educational track at the FLASCO Spring Meeting in April.

“We greatly appreciate the support ASCO and CCF have offered over the years. We look forward to our continued relationship as we all strive to find a way to conquer cancer,” said FLASCO executive director Dorothy Green Phillips. 


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