The 2026 Class of 40 Under 40 in Cancer has been announced, recognizing 40 rising leaders whose work is helping shape the future of oncology across research, clinical care, advocacy, education, industry, nursing, pharmacy, digital health, and patient support.
Selected from a highly competitive nomination pool of 2,800 candidates, this year’s honorees represent a broad and dynamic cross-section of the cancer community. Their achievements reflect the growing impact of early- and mid-career professionals who are advancing cancer care not only through science and medicine, but also through leadership, innovation, communication, and service.
A Celebration of Emerging Leaders in Oncology
The 9th Annual 40 Under 40 in Cancer Awards will be celebrated during the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago, bringing together friends, family members, colleagues, and representatives from across the oncology field to recognize the next generation of cancer leaders.
This year’s 40 Under 40 in Cancer Cocktail Reception will take place on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. at the Palmer House in Chicago, with both virtual and in-person participation available.
The reception offers an opportunity to celebrate the professional journeys and contributions of the 2026 awardees, whose work spans academic cancer centers, community oncology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, patient advocacy organizations, supportive care, diagnostics, health technology, and nonprofit leadership.
Recognizing Excellence Across the Cancer Community
The 40 Under 40 in Cancer program highlights individuals whose careers already show meaningful influence in oncology. This year’s class includes physicians, scientists, nurses, pharmacists, advocates, entrepreneurs, health system leaders, and industry professionals, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of modern cancer care.
The 2026 honorees were chosen for their excellence across several areas, including research, patient care, advocacy, innovation, leadership, and service to the cancer community. Together, they represent the many ways progress in oncology is built — through discovery, clinical expertise, collaboration, policy, education, technology, and patient-centered care.
Their selection also underscores the importance of recognizing emerging voices at a time when cancer care is becoming increasingly complex, global, and collaborative.
Meet the 2026 40 Under 40 in Cancer Awardees
The 2026 Class of 40 Under 40 in Cancer includes:
Jacqueline Aredo, MD, MS — Stanford Cancer Institute
Elham Azizi, PhD — Columbia University
Arianna Baggiolini, PhD — Institute of Oncology Research, Switzerland
Laura Beilke, JD — Triage Cancer
Eric Bent, MD, PhD — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Matthew Berg — Celcuity, Inc.
Joseph Chan, MD, PhD — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Ben Derman, MD — University of Chicago
Alessandro Di Federico, MD — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Aicha Diallo, MPH, CHES — Patient Empowerment Network
Amy Ellis — Northwest Medical Specialties
Vishnukamal Golla, MD, MPH — Evolent
Sundeep Grandhe, MD, CPE, DipABLM, HEC-C, HMDC, FACHE, FAAHPM — Central Valley Hospice Palliative Medicine
Brett Erhardt — OncoHealth
Shawn Griffin, PharmD — UCI Health
Aaron Hannon — Luminate Medical
Jordan Henderson, BSN, RN, OCN, ONN-CG — Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators
Nicholas Hornstein, MD, PhD — Northwell Health Cancer Institute
David Hsieh, MD — University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Puneeth Indurlal, MD — American Oncology Network
Ekemini Isaiah — Daiichi Sankyo
Sanjay Juneja, MD — Tempus AI
Emily Long Sarro, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, CPHON — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Dylan Marando, PhD — Siemens Healthineers
Samantha McCabe — Integra Connect
Kiana Mehring, MBA, PPMC, LION — Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
Michael Menden, PhD — The University of Melbourne
Abner Murray, MD, PhD — University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Victoria Nachar, PharmD, BCOP — Genmab
Meagan O’Neill, MS — Association of Cancer Care Centers
Kara Rayburn — Patient Empowerment Network
Jonathan Rhodes — Daymark Health
Jouliana Sadek, PhD — Kyowa Kirin
Loren Saulsberry, PhD — University of Chicago
Urvi Shah, MD, MS, DipABLM — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Paul Singh, PharmD, BCOP, MBA — AstraZeneca
Paolo Tarantino, MD, PhD — Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Milan Thakor — Colla Mental Health
Ana Velázquez Mañana, MD, MSc, FASCO — University of California, San Francisco
Emma Watson, MPH — Novocure
A Moment to Spotlight Impact
The 40 Under 40 in Cancer Awards continue to serve as a platform for celebrating individuals whose work is already influencing oncology at local, national, and international levels. For many honorees, this recognition reflects years of commitment to patients, science, mentorship, systems improvement, and community engagement.
The 2026 class also demonstrates how cancer progress depends on a wide network of professionals. Breakthroughs in oncology are not driven by one discipline alone. They are shaped by investigators who ask new questions, clinicians who translate evidence into care, nurses and navigators who guide patients through treatment, advocates who elevate patient voices, and innovators who build new tools to improve access, quality, and outcomes.
Event Details
The private 40 Under 40 in Cancer Cocktail Reception will take place during ASCO 2026 in Chicago.
Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
Time: 8:00–11:00 p.m.
Location: Palmer House, Chicago
Format: In-person and virtual
RSVP: https://lnkd.in/emSr7FQN
Honoring the 2026 Class
OncoDaily congratulates all members of the 2026 Class of 40 Under 40 in Cancer on this recognition. Their achievements reflect the depth, diversity, and momentum of the oncology community, and their continued work will help define the future of cancer care.
The celebration is co-hosted by AVBCC, Swim Across America, ONCare Alliance, NCODA, and CancerCare.
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Written by Nare Hovhannisyan,MD