Association of Community Cancer Centers Presents 2021 Annual Awards for Significant Contributions to Oncology Care

Rockville, MD — The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) presented its 2021 Annual Awards at this week’s ACCC 38th [Virtual] National Oncology Conference. The prestigious awards honor distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions to patient care, the practice of clinical care and research, and the greater oncology community.

Lori J. Pierce, MD, FASTRO, FASCO, has received the Annual Achievement Award, which recognizes individuals or an organization who have made outstanding contributions, nationally and/or internationally, to cancer care and to patients with cancer.

Pierce is a radiation oncologist, professor, and Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs at the University of Michigan. She is also director of the Michigan Radiation Oncology Quality Consortium. A national leader in breast cancer research, Dr. Pierce was previously a Senior Investigator at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health and in 1992, joined the faculty at the University of Michigan where she has focused her career primarily on the treatment of breast cancer. Dr. Pierce is also the board chair of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), where she made health equity her theme during her recent presidential term.

In her acceptance of the award Dr. Pierce said, “It is so special to think that others in cancer think that my work has made a difference to patients. Equity in cancer care is critical along the care continuum: prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, recovery and survivorship, and end of life care.” She also praised the “extremely important” ASCO-ACCC Initiative to Increase Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Clinical Trials.

Richard L. Schilsky, MD, FACP, FSCT, FASC, is the recipient of the Clinical Research Award, given to individuals whose research has significantly and positively impacted the oncology patient, family, and/or community.

Schilsky is Professor emeritus at the University of Chicago, having recently retired from his position of Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of ASCO. Dr. Schilsky is also a Past President of ASCO, having served in the role during 2008-2009, and a former Board

member of Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation. Before joining ASCO in 2013, Dr. Schilsky spent most of his career at the University of Chicago where he joined the faculty in 1984.

He has worked towards broadening eligibility criteria to make clinical trials more representative. In his remarks to ACCC conference participants, Dr. Schilsky reviewed his efforts in establishing ASCO’s TAPUR (Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registration) Study. He also shared the mission and vision for CENTRA (ASCO Center for Research and Analytics), which aims to conquer cancer by generating, integrating, analyzing, and sharing oncology data to foster innovation in research and patient care. “I’m very proud of this work; I think it’s been very impactful.”

B. Lee Green, PhD, is this year’s recipient of the David King Community Clinical Scientist Award, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated leadership in the development, participation, and evaluation of clinical studies and/or are active in the development of new screening, risk assessment, treatment, or supportive care programs for cancer patients.

Green currently serves as vice president of Diversity, Public Relations, and Strategic Communications for Moffitt Cancer Center. He is also a professor in the Health Outcomes and Behavior Program at Moffitt. As VP for Diversity, Dr. Green is responsible for ensuring that Moffitt is responsive and actively creating a culture of diversity and inclusion as it strives to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

Dr. Green shared a patient-focused comprehensive plan for diversity, equity, and inclusion at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. “What I’m trying to focus on in my work is making sure that every single patient who is diagnosed with cancer has the opportunity to come to a comprehensive cancer center that will give them the best possible outcome for their diagnosis. This is regardless of how much money they have, what side of town they live on, who they love, what God they serve, the color of their skin, or how much influence they might have.” More information on the winners and the awards may be found on the ACCC website here.