Association of Community Cancer Centers Announces 2022 Annual Award Recipients

Awards recognize significant contributions to oncology care

ROCKVILLE, MD – The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) today announced the 2022 Annual Award recipients at the ACCC 39th Annual National Oncology Conference. Oncology leaders across the country are convening this week at the association’s national conference to discuss innovation and ways to create positive change among clinicians, staff, and patients.

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.

Lola A. Fashoyin-Aje, MD, MPH is the 2022 recipient of the Annual Achievement Award. The Annual Achievement Award honors individuals who have reflected the values of community cancer care through outstanding contributions.

Dr. Fashoyin-Aje is a medical oncologist and Deputy Director in the Division of Oncology 3 in the Office of Oncologic Diseases at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). She provides scientific and policy guidance and oversight to multidisciplinary teams reviewing drugs and biologics under development for the treatment of solid tumor malignancies: gastrointestinal, cutaneous, and sarcoma. Dr. Fashoyin-Aje is also an Associate Director at the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence, leading scientific and policy initiatives to address disparities and other regulatory science issues in oncology drug development. She completed her undergraduate and graduate training at Columbia University and Yale University, respectively, and received her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Carmen Guerra, MD, MSCE, FACP is this year’s recipient of the Clinical Research Award. This award is given to individuals whose research has significantly and positively impacted the oncology patient, family, and/or community.

Dr. Guerra is a general internist, cancer equity researcher, and the Ruth C. and Raymond G. Perelman Professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also the Vice Chair of Diversity and Inclusion for the Department of Medicine and the Associate Director of Diversity and Outreach for the Abramson Cancer Center.

Dr. Guerra’s research is focused on developing and evaluating interventions to increase the participation of underserved populations in cancer screenings and cancer clinical trials. She developed and evaluated several cancer screening patient navigation programs, and implemented the NCI’s colorectal cancer “Screen to Save” program, as well as the CDC’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, mobile mammography program, and a drive-through “Flu-FIT” program in partnership with Philadelphia’s Black churches.

Dr. Guerra co-chaired two ASCO-ACCC workgroups that developed an implicit bias training and a site self-assessment tool for cancer research teams and authored the ASCO-ACCC research statement “Increasing Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Cancer Clinical Trials.”

Leana Chien, MSN, RN, GCNS-BC, GNP-BC is the recipient of the 2022 David King Community Clinical Scientist Award. This award recognizes active community clinical research leaders 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 patients with cancer.

Chien is a nurse practitioner at the City of Hope Center for Cancer and Aging in Duarte, California and specializes in the care of older adults with cancer.

In 2019, with her two advanced practice nurse (APN) colleagues, Chien developed and launched the Aging Wellness Clinic, a Geriatric Oncology clinic. There, a team of APNs provide a holistic approach to wellness, offering specialized care for older adults with cancer. Through a UniHealth grant, Chien also offers telemedicine services to a rural community site to create a model of care for Older Adults with Cancer via telemedicine. Through a Pfizer grant, she co-leads a program to evaluate “Geriatric Oral Adherence and Longevity Surveillance for Older Adults with Metastatic Cancer.” She also provides support in educating oncology nurses to care for older adults. Ms. Chien is an active participant in ACCC's “Multidisciplinary Approaches to Caring for Older Adults with Cancer” program, serving as faculty for several webinars, including the recent “Digital Bridges: Telehealth Solutions for Older Adults.”

More information on the winners and the awards may be found on the ACCC website here.