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.
Here are the first 10 women featured in our 2026 list of 100 Influential Women in Oncology.
Karen Knudsen
Karen E. Knudsen, MBA, PhD, is a globally recognized cancer scientist and healthcare leader who currently serves as CEO and Board Member of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, where she leads efforts to accelerate the translation of breakthrough immunotherapy discoveries into new treatments for patients. Previously, she served as CEO of the American Cancer Society and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, becoming the first woman to lead the organizations, and earlier directed the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Health while overseeing oncology services across the health system.
Fatima Maada
Fatima Maada Bio is the First Lady of Sierra Leone and President of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) for 2025–2027, using her regional platform to advocate for women’s health and cancer prevention across Africa. In Sierra Leone, her partnership with the Merck Foundation helped provide specialist medical training, including scholarships that supported the development of the country’s first locally trained oncologists and cancer-care workforce. She has also championed breast cancer awareness and early detection, most recently bringing an African perspective to the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative at the 2026 World Health Assembly.
Elizabeth Mittendorf
Elizabeth A. Mittendorf, MD, PhD, MHCM, FASCO, is a breast surgical oncologist and President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for 2026–2027. She serves as Chief of Multidisciplinary Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and co-leads both the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at Dana-Farber and the Breast Program of the Harvard Cancer Consortium. A former U.S. Air Force surgeon, Mittendorf has also been a longstanding ASCO leader, previously serving on its Board of Directors and as Society Treasurer, and now leads the organization at a pivotal time for cancer research, equitable care, and clinical innovation.
Yelena Janjigian
Yelena Y. Janjigian, MD, is an internationally recognized gastrointestinal medical oncologist and Chief of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), where she also holds the Carroll and Milton Petrie Chair and directs the Gastroesophageal Cancer Therapeutics Accelerator. A leading name on gastric and esophageal cancers, Dr Janjigian has led pivotal trials that have transformed first-line treatment of upper GI cancers. AS one of the most recognized names in GI oncology worldwide, her leadership and influence extends across major oncological communities including ASCO, AACR and ESMO.
Lacy Hubbard
Lacy Hubbard, MBA is the President and CEO of the Elekta Foundation. Drawing on more than two decades of leadership in the radiotherapy industry, she has helped develop scalable models for women’s cancer care, including the Foundation’s FAST cervical cancer screening model, which has screened more than 180,000 women in Rwanda and contributed to the country’s Mission 2027 initiative to accelerate progress toward cervical cancer elimination. She has also led the development of an integrated breast cancer screening model that has reached nearly 150,000 women, while supporting workforce training and broader access to radiotherapy across low- and middle-income countries.
Evis Sala
Evis Sala, MD, PhD, FRCR, FRCP is the Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Albania. In this role, she has placed oncology at the center of national health reform, advancing the creation of a National Oncology Institute and Cancer Network, introducing new standardized cancer-treatment protocols, expanding regional chemotherapy and radiotherapy capacity, increasing funding for anticancer medicines, and strengthening cervical cancer screening and HPV prevention. She is also a Professor of Radiology at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome and previously chaired the Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCC.
Cesaltina Ferreira Lorenzoni
Cesaltina Ferreira Lorenzoni, MD, PhD, is a Mozambican pathologist, cancer epidemiologist, and President of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) for 2025–2027. She also leads Mozambique’s National Cancer Control Programme and has played a major role in strengthening cervical cancer prevention, cancer registries, oncology training, and research capacity in the country. Her work has focused on building sustainable cancer-control systems suited to resource-limited settings, earning her international recognition including the 2022 IGCS Award for Community Advancement in Resource-Limited Settings.
Clarissa Mathias
Clarissa Mathias, MD, PhD, MBA, FASCO, is a Brazilian medical oncologist and internationally recognized leader in thoracic oncology and global cancer care. A former President of the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology (SBOC) and the Brazilian Thoracic Oncology Group, she became the first Brazilian woman named a Fellow of ASCO and has served on the ASCO Board of Directors and as Chair of its International Affairs Committee. In 2025, she received the SBOC Award for Women’s Leadership in Oncology, recognizing a career dedicated to advancing cancer research, medical education, equitable access to care, and the leadership of women in oncology in Brazil and internationally.
Hedvig Hricak
Hedvig Hricak is a radiologist focused on genitourinary and gynecologic cancers. She served as Chair of Radiology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center from 1999 to 2023 and remained the Carroll and Milton Petrie Chair until her retirement in 2025. She contributed to efforts leading to the 2025 World Health Assembly resolution on strengthening medical imaging capacity for underserved health systems. Hricak received the 2025 Distinguished Global Oncology Leader Award and the American College of Radiology Gold Medal in 2026, adding to numerous international honors for her scientific and global health leadership. She has also contributed to the Biden Cancer Moonshot’s global cancer efforts, serving as an expert at the White House Africa Cancer Care Forum.
Beatrice Wiafe Addai
Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, MD, PhD is a Ghanaian breast surgeon, cancer advocate, and Founder and President of Breast Care International (BCI), one of Ghana’s leading organizations dedicated to breast cancer awareness, screening, treatment support, and survivorship. Recognized as Ghana’s first female specialist general surgeon, she also founded the Peace and Love Hospitals and previously served as President of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC). She has challenged stigma surrounding breast cancer, expanded access to early detection, and built a survivor network of more than 900 women. In 2026, she continues to advocate for stronger cancer infrastructure in Ghana, including development of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Excellence.
We thank all women in oncology regardless of any recognitions, working behind the scenes, out of spotlight, for the unmatched work they do in their settings.
Follow us every week as we will be featuring 10 of 100 Influential Women in Oncology each week, and don’t forget to nominate a someone you would like to see in OncoDaily 100.
See also:
100 Influential Women in Oncology in 2023.
100 Influential Women in Oncology in 2024.
100 Influential Women in Oncology in 2025.
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