Association of Community Cancer Centers Mourns the Passing of John W. Yarbro, MD, PhD, ACCC President 1984-1985

Rockville, MD – The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) is saddened to learn of the death of John W. Yarbro, MD, PhD. Dr. Yarbro served as ACCC President 1984 to 1985. Along with the small group of physicians who came together to found ACCC, Dr. Yarbro was an early advocate for expanding cancer care into the community. He passed away on April 13, 2020, at age 88.

In 1971, then-President Richard Nixon signed the National Cancer Act into law. This critical legislation laid the foundation for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as it’s known today. In signing the legislation, President Nixon launched the country’s “war on cancer,” expanding NCI’s role and providing funding to establish 15 new cancer research centers, local cancer control programs, and an international cancer research databank. 

On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the National Cancer Act in 1986, on behalf of ACCC Dr. Yarbro was tasked with presenting former President Nixon with an award in recognition of his services to the cancer patients and passage of the act. In his remarks, Dr. Yarbro called attention to the global importance of cancer research, “I believe American scientists and doctors are the best in the world. We win more Nobel Prizes than any other country. But we have no monopoly on wisdom. Great medical discoveries are not limited by national boundaries. They should never be limited by national differences. We are waging the war against cancer not just for ourselves alone but for all mankind.”

“Dr. Yarbro was a leader in advocating for patient access to clinical trials in the community. ACCC is grateful and proud to continue Dr. Yarbro’s renowned work matching cancer patients across U.S. communities with innovative cancer treatment trials. This is the best way to serve our patients and this is the way progress in made,” said Randall A. Oyer, MD, ACCC President and Medical Director, Oncology Program, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.

Throughout his career, Dr. Yarbro remained dedicated to oncology and committed to improving care for patients with cancer. Among his many contributions, Dr. Yarbro served as founding director of the Department of Medical Oncology at the American Oncologic Hospital (now the Fox Chase Cancer Center); associate director,  National Cancer Institute (where he headed the National Cancer Centers Program); director of the Missouri Cancer Program; and director of the Regional Cancer Center, Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Illinois. Dr. Yarbro served as secretary-treasurer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and played a pivotal role in launching the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

He was honored to receive the ACCC Annual Achievement Award in 1988. “Dr. Yarbro will be remembered at ACCC as one of the leaders who helped provide the structure for the organization. It’s also significant that he met his wife Connie while he was the president of ACCC and she was a member of the Board of Trustees,” said Christian G.  Downs, JD, MHA, Executive Director of the Association of Community Cancer Centers.

A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Yarbro received a BA with high honors in Chemistry and his MD degree from the University of Louisville. He went on to serve in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, completing an internship at Tripler Army Hospital. Dr. Yarbro trained in Internal Medicine and received a PhD in research in Nucleic Acids at the University of Minnesota.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Connie Yarbro; grandson Paul and his wife Pamela; and great grandchildren Francys and Leonardo. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Francys Elena.

Read more about Dr. Yarbro in The Cancer Letter and ASCO Post.