The Medical Oncology Association of Southern California (MOASC) entered 2026 under new leadership with the appointment of Dr. Sumanta K. Pal, MD, FASCO, as president.
As a regional professional organization representing oncologists across Southern California, MOASC plays an important role in continuing education, policy engagement, and collaboration in cancer care. The transition in leadership coincides with a period of rapid scientific and clinical developments in oncology, placing renewed attention on the experience and priorities of its new president.
MOASC Welcomes Sumanta Kumar Pal as Their President
“I am honored to begin my term as President of the Medical Oncology Association of Southern California. Inspired by 2024- 2025 ASCO President Robin Zon, MD, and her emphasis on the vital role of state societies, I have seen firsthand the power of education, advocacy, and community to strengthen our field.
My presidential theme, “Navigating the Maze of Oncology: From Fellowship to the Finish Line,” reflects a central goal: building enduring mentorship that connects seasoned leaders with newly trained oncologists and expands meaningful opportunities for career development. Through initiatives like the MOASC Young Investigator Award, we are investing in the future of oncology in Southern California. I look forward to working with colleagues across our community to advance this shared mission. “
Sumanta K. Pal: Professional Background
Dr. Sumanta K. Pal is a medical oncologist specializing in genitourinary malignancies, with a particular focus on kidney cancer. He is based at City of Hope, where he holds multiple academic and administrative roles within the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research. His appointments include Co-director of the Kidney Cancer Program, Professor in the department, and Vice Chair of Academic Affairs.
In his clinical practice, Dr. Pal treats patients with kidney and other urologic cancers, while also participating in multidisciplinary care teams. His work integrates patient care with research activities, including clinical trials and studies designed to improve therapeutic strategies for advanced malignancies. Over the course of his career, he has contributed extensively to peer-reviewed publications and collaborative research initiatives.
The Medical Oncology Association of Southern California (MOASC)
The Medical Oncology Association of Southern California is a professional organization representing oncologists and hematologists practicing across the region. Established in 1990, MOASC functions as a forum for professional education, policy engagement, and collaboration among physicians working in both community-based and academic settings.
The organization’s activities include continuing medical education programs, advocacy on healthcare policy issues affecting oncology practice, and initiatives intended to improve the delivery of cancer care. MOASC also serves as a regional network through which physicians exchange clinical knowledge and discuss evolving standards of treatment. Its membership encompasses a broad range of specialties within oncology, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of cancer care.
The MOASC Annual Summit 2026
The MOASC Annual Oncology Leadership & Research Summit 2026 was held on March 21, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel, located at 4500 MacArthur Boulevard in Newport Beach, California. The one-day meeting brought together oncology professionals from across Southern California during the first year of Dr. Sumanta K. Pal’s presidency of the organization.
As one of MOASC’s principal annual gatherings, the summit serves as a forum for the exchange of scientific knowledge, clinical experience, and perspectives on healthcare policy affecting oncology practice. The program included presentations on recent developments in cancer research, emerging therapeutic approaches, and issues related to the delivery of cancer care. Attendees represented a range of practice settings, including community oncology clinics, academic medical centers, and affiliated healthcare sectors.
Social Media Commentary and Professional Engagement
In the period surrounding the 2026 Annual Oncology Leadership & Research Summit, MOASC President Dr. Sumanta K. Pal maintained an active presence on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where he shared multiple posts related to the organization’s activities.
“Led my first board meeting for MOASC today! A terrific group of folks from City of Hope, UC Irvine, Keck Medicine of USC ,Cancer at Cedars-Sinai & some of the largest community practice groups in our region. Terrific discussions around initiatives for fellows & junior faculty, which will be my main focus over the next 2 years! Looking fwd to seeing many of you tomorrow – will have a spectacular program w Marla Lipsyc, Mina S. Sedrak, Dr. Amrita Krishnan, Charles Nguyen, Jason Zell & Sandip Patel MD FASCO ! “
“Kicking off in just under at hour – the MOASC Annual Oncology Leadership & Research Summit! Delighted to welcome an all-star cast including Mina S. Sedrak delivering our keynote address on “Cancer & Aging”, followed by Marla Lipsyc MD, Charles Nguyen, Jason Zell, Dr. Amrita Krishnan and then Sandip Patel MD FASCO. Can’t wait to get things kicked off!”
“Proud of Dani Castillo MD who has done tremendous work mentoring a range of students (from high school to residency), all presenting terrific data at our MOASC Annual Summit!”
“No one gives a talk quite like Mina S. Sedrak. He has amassed multiple grants (NIH K76, R03, R21 & TWO R01s!) to define mechanisms that link cancer & aging. Extremely exciting to see prospective studies assessing exercise paired with fisetin (a potential senolytic) to modulate the consequences of cancer therapy. Brilliant!”
“A stellar talk from Marla Lipsyc MD at the MOASC Annual Summit. Together with Mina S. Sedrak, we began the morning with stellar talks related to breast cancer, hers related to the emerging role of ctDNA in this disease. Exciting to see her publications in Journal of Clinical Oncology & presentations at ASCO & SABCS driving research in this area!”
“One of the highlights of the MOASC meeting for me was seeing all of the brilliant trainees in the room. Hats off to Dani Castillo MD
City of Hope for bringing multiple fellows, residents, and medical students. Proud of her mentee Nancy Nguyen who won first place in our clinical research competition!”
“Agree! One of the highlights of the MOASC Annual Summit was meeting all of the brilliant trainees. Hats off to Dani Castillo for bringing multiple fellows, residents & med students. Proud of her mentee Nancy Nguyen who took home first place in our clinical research competition!”
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Written by Nare Hovhannisyan, MD