Lori J. Pierce Awarded the 2024 ASCO Excellence in Equity Award, Endowed by the American Cancer Society

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has announced Lori J. Pierce, MD, FASTRO, FASCO, as the recipient of the 2024 ASCO Excellence in Equity Award, Endowed by the American Cancer Society. This award acknowledges Dr. Pierce’s dedication and contributions to the field of global oncology.

Dr. Lori Pierce attended Duke University School of Medicine and completed a Radiation Oncology residency and chief residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She then was appointed as a Senior Investigator at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD from 1990-1992. In 1992, Dr. Pierce joined the faculty of the University of Michigan where she is currently Professor with tenure in Radiation Oncology. Since coming to Michigan, she has served as residency director and clinical director in the Department of Radiation Oncology. In August 2005, Dr. Pierce was appointed by the University of Michigan Board of Regents to be Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs, a position she still holds.

Dr. Pierce has dedicated her career to the treatment of breast cancer patients. Her research focuses on the use of radiotherapy in the multi-modality treatment of breast cancer, with emphasis on intensity modulated radiotherapy in node positive breast cancer, the use of radiosensitizing agents, and the outcomes of women treated with radiation for breast cancer who are carriers of a BRCA1/2 breast cancer susceptibility gene. She serves as Director of the Michigan Radiation Oncology Quality Consortium (MROQC), a quality consortium of radiation oncology practices across the state of Michigan that seeks to establish best practices in the treatment of breast and lung cancers. This initiative is funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network.

Dr. Pierce has published over 200 manuscripts and book chapters and has received numerous teaching awards from the University of Michigan and multiple national organizations. Honors include receipt of the European Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology travel award, the American Medical Association Women Physician Mentor Award, the American Association for Women Radiologists’ Marie Curie Award, the Conquer Cancer Foundation Endowed Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award, and selection as a Susan G. Komen for the Cure Scholar. Most recently, she was the recipient of the 2021 Association of Community Cancer Centers Annual Achievement Award and the 2021 American Society for Radiation Oncology Gold Medal Award. In 2018, she was elected president-elect of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the largest organization of oncology professionals in the world, and served as president in 2020-2021. She is currently Chair of the Board.

About the ASCO Excellence in Equity Award, Endowed by the American Cancer Society

Created in 2021, this award recognizes ASCO members who have made significant and measurable contributions towards increasing equity, diversity and inclusion within the field of oncology, or increasing access to equitable care for cancer patients. Recipients of this award have demonstrated their dedication to activities that foster and promote equitable treatment and care for historically under-represented groups through efforts within their practice, advocacy, applied research, volunteer, mentorship or other activities that create equitable, sustainable, and measurable change in the field of oncology.