Fellows of ASCO (FASCO) Recipients For This Quarter

The following members have earned the distinguished Fellows of ASCO (FASCO) recognition this quarter. This distinction acknowledges their extraordinary volunteer service, dedication, and commitment to ASCO.

The Fellows of ASCO (FASCO) distinction, launched in 2007 and previously known as the ASCO Statesman Award, recognizes members for their extraordinary volunteer service, engagement, and dedication to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). This prestigious award honors ASCO’s most engaged members and aims to inspire more individuals to get involved in ASCO activities. The FASCO designation is conferred to eligible members who accumulate 100 or more points through various volunteer services and engagement activities with ASCO.

Eligibility for the FASCO distinction is based on a points system, with members earning points for their involvement in ASCO activities. Points are awarded for various volunteer and engagement roles, and eligibility is limited to ASCO members.

In 2022, the FASCO program underwent updates to streamline the award process. The volunteer point structure was simplified, reducing the number of point values from 17 to 4, making it easier for members to understand how points are awarded for specific opportunities. Additionally, the program now recognizes engagement activities as a valid means to earn points, broadening the scope of ways members can contribute to ASCO and be acknowledged for their service.

Here are the Recipients of the FASCO Award For This Quarter:

Janet L. Abrahm

Janet L. Abrahm, M.D. is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is both a former practicing oncologist and an expert in the palliative care needs of patients with cancer. She has over 20 years’ experience in the forefront of palliative care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She is the author of four comprehensive books on supportive and palliative care for patients with cancer and cancer pain management, and she is an award-winning clinician and educator in palliative care.

George J. Chang

Dr. George J. Chang is a renowned surgeon and academic specializing in colon and rectal surgery. He is currently serving as the Department Chair ad interim of the Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. In addition to his role as a professor in the same department, Dr. Chang is also the Associate Vice President for Regional Surgery Strategy at MD Anderson.

Dr. Chang is recognized for his significant contributions to the field of colorectal surgery, particularly in the treatment of colon and rectal cancers. He is known for his expertise in minimally invasive surgical techniques and his research into improving outcomes for patients with gastrointestinal cancers. Dr. Chang’s work spans both clinical and academic domains, where he has been influential in advancing surgery strategies and regional surgical initiatives at MD Anderson Cancer Center. His commitment to excellence in patient care and innovative research makes him a leading figure in colorectal surgery.

Melvin L.K. Chua

Dr. Melvin L.K. Chua is a Clinician-Scientist at the NCCS and Duke-NUS Medical School, and Principal Investigator of the Precision Radiotherapeutics and Oncology Programme, Division of Medical Sciences, supported by the NMRC Clinician-Scientist Award. He is also the Head of Department and Senior Consultant for Head and Neck and Thoracic Cancers, Division of Radiation Oncology, and Director of the Data and Computational Science Core at the NCCS. His research is focused on phase 2-3 trials in nasopharynx (NPC) and prostate cancers (PCa).

He is also on the scientific advisory board for the NPC Guangzhou-Singapore Trial Network, a board member on the Head Neck Cancer International Group (HNCIG), and the Clinical Trials Scientific Committee Chair of HNCIG. Dr. Chuaam’s other academic activities include his present role as the Editor-in-Chief, Annals of Nasopharynx Cancer and his previous role as the Associate Senior Editor for the Head and Neck Cancer Section of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics – Official journal of the American Society of Radiation Oncology.

Christine M. Lovly

Christine M. Lovly is an associate professor of medicine with tenure at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center. Dr. Lovly is also an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) and a member of the Editorial Board for Cancer Discovery and JCO Precision Oncology.

She is a member of the Board of the American Association for Cancer Research. She serves on the Scientific Leadership Boards for the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer Research (where she also serves as SLB director), the LUNGevity Foundation, and the Lung Cancer Research Foundation. She is co-director of the AACR Molecular Biology in Clinical Oncology course and serves on the AACR Science Policy and Government Affairs committee. In 2021, she was awarded the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group Young Investigator Award. Dr. Lovly is the co-Editor-in-Chief for My Cancer Genome.

Bishal Gyawali

Bishal Gyawali, MD, PhD, is a medical oncologist from Nepal. Currently an Associate Professor at Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada, and affiliated with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, USA, he is involved in global oncology initiatives. Dr. Gyawali serves on several committees, including the WHO Essential Medicines List Cancer Medicines Working Group and ASCO’s Health Equity and Outcomes Committee, contributing significantly to cancer policy and evidence-based oncology.

Nasser Hanna

Nasser Hanna is the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation Professor of Lung Cancer Clinical Research and a physician at IU School of Medicine. Dr. Hanna specializes in cancer treatment at the Multi-D Oncology Clinic.

Sheetal Kircher

Dr. Sheetal Kircher is a medical oncologist and assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at Northwestern University. She obtained her medical degree from the Rush Medical College and completed her fellowship in medical oncology at Northwestern University. During her research fellowship at the Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs, focusing on health services, she also obtained a Master’s degree in Health and Health Outcomes from the University of Michigan. She currently serves as the Medical Director of the Survivorship Institute of Northwestern where she oversees programmatic aspects of delivering survivorship care.

Eric Bernicker

Eric Bernicker, FASCO, serves as the Enterprise Executive Medical Director for Medical Oncology at CommonSpirit Health and Centura Health. He is board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine, with extensive clinical experience in treating cancer patients. Previously, he held the position of Director of Thoracic Medical Oncology at Houston Methodist Cancer Center.

Yanin Chávarri-Guerra

Yanin Chávarri-Guerra is currently affiliated with the Department of Hematology and Oncology at the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán. Her research focuses on breast cancer, healthcare disparities, and cancer genetics.

Rebecca Dent

Rebecca Dent serves as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Clinical) and Senior Consultant at the National Cancer Centre Singapore, specializing in medical oncology with a clinical focus on breast cancer. Her primary research interests include locally advanced breast cancer and triple-negative/basal-like breast cancers. Previously, she chaired the locally advanced breast cancer program and led Breast Cancer Clinical Trials at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Christopher S. Lathan

Dr. Christopher S. Lathan, MD, MS, MPH, FASCO, serves as the Chief Clinical Access and Equity Officer at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He also holds the Christopher and Constance Hadley Family Chair at Dana-Farber. Dr. Lathan is a clinical oncologist specializing in lung cancer and is the founding Director of the Cancer Care Equity Program. His work focuses on addressing cancer care disparities, particularly among historically marginalized populations, by expanding access and ensuring equitable distribution of innovative treatments. 

Mary K. Gospodarowicz Evans

Mary K. Gospodarowicz Evans is a Canadian oncologist and University Professor at the University of Toronto. She is the former Medical Director of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Her research focuses on precision radiation therapy, prognostic factor classification, and global cancer control. Her work includes studies on image-guided precision radiotherapy and the use of modern information and communication technologies in cancer management. Dr. Gospodarowicz has a longstanding interest in cancer classification, particularly in staging and prognostic factors.

A. Craig Lockhart

Dr. A. Craig Lockhart, MD, FASCO, is Chief of Hematology/Oncology, Associate Director for Clinical Sciences at Hollings Cancer Center, and Chief of the Oncology Service Line at MUSC. He is also a Tenured Professor of Medicine. Dr. Lockhart specializes in gastric, esophageal, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, focusing on clinical trials and personalized medicine to develop new therapies. Previously, he held leadership roles at the University of Miami, Washington University/Siteman Cancer Center, and Vanderbilt University/Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

Jason J. Luke

Dr. Jason J. Luke, MD, FACP, FASCO, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He serves as the Associate Director for Clinical Research at Hillman Cancer Center and Director of the Immunotherapy and Drug Development Center. Dr. Luke specializes in early-phase drug development, particularly novel immunotherapeutics and biomarkers, with a focus on solid tumors and malignant melanoma. His clinical interests include Phase I trials, cancer immunotherapy, and drug development.

Issam Makhoul

Dr. Issam Makhoul, MD, FASCO, is the Medical Director of Clinical Research at CARTI Cancer Center in Little Rock. He specializes in Hematology/Oncology and Internal Medicine. Dr. Makhoul is affiliated with the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and the American Association for Cancer Research.

Rita Nanda

Dr. Rita Nanda, MD, FASCO, is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Breast Oncology Program at UChicago Medicine Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine in Hyde Park. She specializes in treating all types of breast cancer, with a focus on triple-negative, hereditary, locally advanced, and metastatic breast cancers. Dr. Nanda advocates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy to assess tumor response and tailor treatment to individual patients. Her research centers on developing new and improved treatments for breast cancer, and she leads UChicago Medicine’s breast cancer clinical trial program.

Ian Olver

Professor Ian N. Olver, MD, PhD, FRACP, FASCO, is a Professorial Research Fellow in the School of Psychology and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Adelaide. Trained as a medical oncologist, cancer researcher, and bioethicist, Dr. Olver’s research focuses on psycho-oncology, supportive cancer care, and bioethics. He has authored numerous journal articles and frequently comments on cancer-related issues both in Australia and internationally. He previously served as Chair of the Australian Health Ethics Committee of NHMRC and was a member of the NHMRC Council. He is a past President of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer.

Tycel Phillips

Dr. Tycel J. Phillips, MD, FASCO, is an Associate Professor in the Division of Lymphoma within the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, CA. Dr. Phillips specializes in hematology and the treatment of lymphoma, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and Hodgkin lymphoma. His research focuses on hematology and hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Deepa Rangachari

Dr. Deepa Rangachari, MD, FASCO, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an Attending Physician in Medical Oncology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She is also the Director of Hematology/Oncology Graduate Medical Education at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Rangachari specializes in thoracic cancers, focusing on the management of advanced and metastatic lung cancer using targeted and immune therapies. She is a member of the DFHCC Lung Cancer Program.

Lecia Sequist

Dr. Lecia V. Sequist, MD, MPH, FASCO, is a Medical Oncologist and the Program Director of the Cancer Early Detection and Diagnostics Clinic. She is the Landry Family Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Her research centers on targeted therapeutics for lung cancer and the development of non-invasive diagnostic tools, such as circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA, for the detection and treatment of lung cancer.

Surendranath Shastri

Dr. Surendranath S. Shastri, MD, DPH, FASCO, is a Professor in the Department of Health Disparities Research, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Dr. Shastri co-founded the Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control and initiated the Smokefree Mumbai Campaign, which led to the strict enforcement of a public smoking ban in Mumbai. His research focuses on cervical, breast, and tobacco-related cancers.

Davendra Sohal

Dr. Davendra Sohal, MD, MPH, FASCO, is a Physician and Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati. He is a Medical Oncologist specializing in clinical care and research for gastrointestinal malignancies and precision oncology. Prior to this role, Dr. Sohal was a physician at the Cleveland Clinic.

Joseph Sparano

Dr. Joseph A. Sparano, MD, FACP, FASCO, is the Ezra M. Greenspan, M.D. Professor in Clinical Cancer Therapeutics, Chief of the Division of Hematology Oncology, and Deputy Director of the Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York. Dr. Sparano’s research focuses on cancer disparities in vulnerable populations. He has studied higher rates of taxane-induced neuropathy in Black women and genetic variants associated with this risk, leading to strategies to minimize it.

Laura Tenner

Dr. Laura L. Tenner, MD, MPH, FASCO, is an associate professor in the Division of Oncology and Hematology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Her clinical focus includes gastrointestinal cancers, particularly colorectal, neuroendocrine, gastric, esophageal, and hepatobiliary cancers. Dr. Tenner has specialized training in oncology ethics and population sciences research. She is actively involved in medical practice, teaching, consulting, and clinical research.

Gina Villani

Dr. Gina M. Villani, MD, MPH, FASCO, is the Chief of Hematology and Oncology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Queens (NYP-Q). Previously, she was an Attending Physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and served as CEO and Chief Medical Officer of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention in Harlem. She specializes in cancer care and education for low-resourced, underserved populations, with expertise in treating lymphoma, lung cancer, chronic leukemia, and other conditions.

Yun Yen

Dr. Yun Yen, MD, PhD, FACP, FASCO, is the President and Chair Professor at Taipei Medical University in Taiwan and an Affiliate Professor at the California Institute of Technology. He is a professor in Medical Oncology and serves as the Director of Clinical and Molecular Pharmacology in the Division of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, as well as the Associate Cancer Center Director for Translational Research. His research interests include cancer research and translational medicine.

Melissa Loh

Melissa (Kah Poh) Loh, MBBCh BAO, MS, FACCC, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Rochester/Strong Memorial Hospital, specializing in malignant hematology and geriatric oncology. Dr. Loh’s research focuses on developing and evaluating mobile health interventions to support older adults with cancer. Her additional interests include decision-making in older adults with acute myeloid leukemia, communication and understanding of advanced cancer, and the use of critical care and palliative therapies.

FASCO Recipients for this quarter – Part 1.
FASCO Recipients for this quarter – Part 2.