By Joseph A. Sparano, MD, FACP
2018-2019 Chair, ASCO Nominating Committee 

Each year, we call upon the ASCO members to place your votes to select our Society’s future leaders. This year, we are asking that you not only vote for the open leadership positions, but also for a proposed bylaw change.

ASCO’s mission is more urgent than ever in today’s landscape of fast-moving science, health care reform, and cost pressures. To address this, the ASCO Board of Directors has recommended an amendment to the ASCO Bylaws that would provide for reciprocal membership in both ASCO and a new affiliated association that will expand the scope and effectiveness of services and products provided to members. Please take a moment to vote on this very important bylaws change.

The ASCO Nominating Committee, which is itself elected by ASCO members, took on the challenge of selecting this year’s candidates for the open seats on the ASCO Board of Directors and Nominating Committee.

This year, ASCO members submitted over 200 nominations! The Nominating Committee interviewed 36 of those individuals, and ultimately selected 15 nominees for your consideration. You can review their biographies and visions for ASCO and the field of oncology at asco.org/election.

We would like to recognize the individuals who did not make the final ballot but remain essential to the mission of our Society—and we sincerely thank everyone who nominated a colleague for consideration.

We now ask you to cast your vote, thereby shaping the future of ASCO and, in turn, patient care, training, education, policy, and research.

Voting in the ASCO election opens on November 1, 2018, and closes on December 3, 2018. During the voting period, voting-eligible ASCO members can access the secure online proxy ballot using their ASCO.org username and password. Visit asco.org/election to view the slate, learn about the candidates, read about the proposed bylaws amendment, and access the secure online proxy ballot. Election results will be announced in mid-December 2018.

Dr. Sparano is a professor of medicine and obstetrics, gynecology, and women’s health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, associate chairman for clinical research in the Department of Oncology at Montefiore Medical Center, and associate director for clinical research at the Albert Einstein Cancer Center.

Originally published on November 1, 2018.