Since August 26, 2023, Women’s Equality Day in the United States has marked the beginning of a special OncoDaily tradition – the 100 Influential Women in Oncology. On this day, we launched an initiative to recognize 100 inspiring women making a difference in oncology around the world, highlighting 10 remarkable women each week.
And this year, we’re continuing the journey with our 2026 list of 100 Influential Women in Oncology, showcasing the remarkable efforts made by these inspiring women across the world to improve cancer care.
There are so many incredible women in oncology whose work deserves to be seen and celebrated, and we know that one list can never include everyone. This is an ongoing initiative, and we’d love to hear your suggestions for the 100 Influential Women in Oncology in 2026 list. We’ll be sharing the nomination link soon.
We are proud to introduce the next 10 women featured in our 2026 list of 100 Influential Women in Oncology:
Ishtar Espejo
Ishtar Espejo is the Executive Director of Fundación Aladina, one of Spain’s leading organizations supporting children and adolescents with cancer and their families. Under her leadership, the foundation provides psychological, emotional, and material assistance while investing in pediatric oncology facilities and programs across Spain and internationally. Aladina has invested €27 million to date and supports approximately 2,000 young patients and their families each year. A former UICC Young Leader, Espejo has also helped advance international pediatric oncology initiatives and humanitarian support for children with cancer in vulnerable settings.
Ophira Ginsburg
Ophira Ginsburg is a medical oncologist and global cancer-control leader whose work has focused on reducing inequities, particularly, in low- and middle-income countries. She is the founding Chair of The Lancet Commission on Women, Power, and Cancer, which has brought global attention to the ways gender and structural inequalities shape cancer risk, access, caregiving, and leadership. Ginsburg previously served as Senior Advisor for Clinical Research at the U.S. National Cancer Institute’s Center for Global Health and as a medical officer at WHO and is currently a Provost’s Visiting Professor of Global Cancer Equity at Imperial College London. Her contributions to equitable cancer care were recognized with the 2022 ASCO Humanitarian Award.
Alicia Zhou
Alicia Zhou is the Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Research Institute, where she leads efforts to accelerate lifesaving cancer immunotherapy research. A scientist and healthcare executive with experience in cancer research, precision medicine, and health innovation, she has strengthened CRI’s support for investigators pursuing bold and potentially transformative ideas. In 2026, CRI committed a record $34.4 million through 93 awards – the largest annual grantmaking total in its history – supporting scientists at 50 institutions across five countries. Through this investment, Zhou is helping sustain the research ecosystem behind the next generation of cancer immunotherapies.
Erika Ruiz García
Erika Ruiz-García, MD, MS, FASCO, is a Mexican gastrointestinal oncologist and Director of Education at Mexico’s National Cancer Institute (INCan), where she also leads translational research focused on gastrointestinal cancers and precision oncology. She has become an influential voice for strengthening oncology research, education, and clinical-trial access across Latin America, while contributing to international efforts to adapt cancer-care standards to resource-limited settings. As ASCO Education Program Chair-Elect for 2025–2026, she is also helping shape oncology education while strengthening research collaboration between Latin America and the wider global cancer community.
Nagashree Seetharamu
Nagashree Seetharamu, MD, MBBS, FASCO, is a thoracic and head and neck medical oncologist and Professor of Medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, where she serves as system head for thoracic and head and neck medical oncology at Northwell Health Cancer Institute. She is a celebrated mentor among many of her trainees. A breast cancer survivor herself, Seetharamu has spoken about how her diagnosis strengthened her connection with patients and commitment to patient-centered oncology. In 2026, she was named a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO) in recognition of her sustained service and engagement with ASCO and the oncology community.
Shushan Hovsepyan
Shushan Hovsepyan is a paediatric oncologist, Senior Vice President of OncoDaily and Co-Editor-in-Chief of OncoDaily Medical Journal, and a candidate for UICC Board of Directors for the 2026 – 2028 term. She is Co-Chair of the SIOP Global Health Network Research and Innovation Working Group, Innovation and Development Director at the Immune Oncology Research Institute, and Co-Lead of the European Soft Tissue Sarcoma Group Rhabdoid Tumour Working Group. She also serves on the ASCO Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee for Pediatric Oncology and has received the Global Women in Healthcare Rising Star Award and the Young SIOP Rising Star Award.
Sandra P. D’Angelo
Sandra P. D’Angelo is a sarcoma medical oncologist and cellular-therapy specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center whose research is expanding the role of immunotherapy in rare solid tumors. She led the pivotal clinical research of afamitresgene autoleucel, or afami-cel, the first engineered T-cell therapy approved for a solid tumor. In 2026, the FDA granted the therapy full approval for synovial sarcoma and expanded its use to patients aged 12 and older. By translating immune-based discoveries into meaningful options for people with difficult-to-treat sarcomas, D’Angelo is helping open a new chapter in solid-tumor cellular therapy.
Rawad Rihani
Rawad Rihani is a Jordanian pediatric hematologist-oncologist and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at King Hussein Cancer Center. She is President-Elect and Scientific Chair of the Pediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean (POEM) Group, serves on the SIOP Asia Executive Board and SIOP Women Leaders in Paediatric Oncology Network, and is leading development of a pediatric CAR-T cell therapy program at KHCC. Rihani also directs the St. Jude Global–KHCC Regional Qualitative Research Center and has led regional work addressing childhood cancer care in humanitarian settings, including care for displaced children from Gaza and Syria.
Joanna Metzner-Sadurski
Joanna Metzner-Sadurski is a hematologist-oncologist at Self Regional Healthcare in South Carolina whose work centers on community and rural oncology, health literacy, and equitable access to cancer care. She is the Executive Director of Oncology101.org, an educational initiative designed to help patients understand cancer and navigate treatment more confidently and is active in ASCO health-policy and advocacy efforts, particularly around access to clinical trials and care for rural and older populations. In 2026, she received the OncoDaily Community Oncology Yvonne Award, an ASCO Health Policy Asha Dhanarajan Award, and VCOM Preceptor of the Year.
Pat Garcia-Gonzalez
Pat Garcia-Gonzalez is the co-founder and CEO of The Max Foundation, a global health organization dedicated to expanding access to cancer care in low- and middle-income countries. Under her leadership, the Foundation has built a network spanning more than 80 countries and nearly 1,000 healthcare partners, channeling over 10 million doses of life-extending cancer treatment each year to patients who otherwise might not have access. She also chairs the Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition Council. Her contributions have been recognized with the NCI Global Cancer Medicine Humanitarian Award, UICC’s CEO Award, the International CML Foundation’s inaugural ERSAP Prize, and the 2023 Global Hero Award.
Don’t miss the previous parts of 100 Influential Women in Oncology in 2026: Key Opinion Leaders in Social Media and Beyond.
Watch on OncoDaily TV: “We can, we will — that is the spirit that drives this” – Ishtar Espejo
More from OncoDaily 100:
