Starting on August 26, 2023, in honor of Women’s Equality Day in the United States, which commemorates the 1920 law granting women the right to vote, OncoDaily launched an initiative to spotlight 100 remarkable female leaders in oncology worldwide. Each week, 10 inspiring women were introduced, culminating in the full list and an updated edition in 2024.
Continuing this tradition, we are proud to present the 2025 list of 100 Influential Women in Oncology to Follow on Social Media.
While there are countless exceptional women leaders in oncology who deserve recognition, we acknowledge that we couldn’t feature everyone. This initiative is ongoing, and we look forward to your nominations for 2026. We’ll be sharing the submission link soon.
Here are the second 10 of 100 Influential Women in Oncology to follow in 2025:
Helena Mas Santuré is the Minister of Health of Andorra. A psychologist by training, she previously served as Secretary of State for Health, where she coordinated national health policies and played a leading role during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In her current role, she has prioritized oncology and mental health, launching Andorra’s first breast cancer unit, establishing a National Oncology Plan, and expanding access to cancer care and prevention services. Her leadership continues to shape the country’s health system with a strong focus on cancer care and public health innovation.
Follow Helena Mas Santure on LinkedIn.
Alejandra Gere is a publicist, philanthropist, and activist committed to humanitarian causes. She co-founded the Beautiful Life Fund to support refugee children, victims of war, and homeless youth, and has worked with the Real Madrid Foundation and RAIS Foundation to improve opportunities for underprivileged communities.
In 2025, she and her husband, Richard Gere, delivered a video message for the Second Global OncoThon, joining OncoDaily’s worldwide effort to raise funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research.
Follow Alejandra Gere on X.
Debra Patt is the Executive Vice President for Texas Oncology, leading public policy, academic affairs, and strategic initiatives. A breast cancer expert, she has led clinical trials in community practice since 2006. Board certified in medical oncology and clinical informatics, she drives research in AI, telemedicine, remote symptom monitoring, and digital health tools to improve cancer care. She serves as President of the Community Oncology Alliance, chairs ASCO’s AI Task Force, is a member of ASCO Board of Directors, guiding national efforts to advance oncology care.
Follow Dr. Debra Patt on X and LinkedIn.
Miriam Mutebi is a breast surgical oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. She is the President of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), and past president for Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO) and on the Board of Directors of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). She is the co-founder of the Pan African Women’s Association of Surgeons and is part of the Kenya Association of Women Surgeons.
She is an avid supporter for the education and support for women, especially in surgery and she aims to provide mentorship for women in surgery and to improve women’s health and surgical care in Africa. In recognition of her profound impact on equitable cancer care in Africa, she received the 2024 ASCO Humanitarian Award and the 2023 Global Health Catalyst Distinguished Leadership (LMIC) Award.
Follow Dr Miriam Mutebi on X and LinkedIn.
Barbara Jereczek-Fossa is a Full Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Milan and Head of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the European Institute of Oncology IRCCS (IEO) in Milan, Italy. She was recently elected President-Elect of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) and will assume the presidency in 2026.
A leading authority in radiation oncology, her research focuses on radiotherapy, AI and radiomics, and improving patients’ quality of life. Prof. Jereczek-Fossa is deeply engaged in international oncology education through ESTRO, ESO, EAU, AIRO, SIURO, and AIOM, and she has contributed to numerous consensus guidelines and masterclasses worldwide.
Follow Dr Barbara Jereczek-Fossa on X and LinkedIn.
Françoise Meunier has dedicated her career to improving the survival and quality of life of cancer patients. Formerly Director General of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) from 1991 to 2015, she transformed the organization into a world-class clinical research infrastructure and later served as EORTC Director of Special Projects until 2018. A Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (UK) and a member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine, she was conferred the title of Baroness in 2007 by King Albert II of Belgium.
Since 2014, Dr. Meunier has spearheaded the Right to be Forgotten initiative, advocating for harmonized European legislation to end financial and social discrimination against cancer survivors. In 2018, she founded the European Initiative on Ending Financial Discrimination Against Cancer Survivors, which continues to drive policy change across Europe. Her work remains pivotal in shaping survivorship rights and promoting equity in oncology.
Follow Dr Françoise Meunier on LinkedIn.
Shushan Hovsepyan is a pediatric oncologist and leading innovator in global pediatric cancer care. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the SIOP Global Health Network’s Research & Innovation Working Group (term: 2024-2027), Editor-in-Chief of the OncoDaily Medical Journal, Senior Vice President of OncoDaily, and Innovation & Development Director at the Immune Oncology Research Institute in Armenia. An Adjunct Assistant Professor at Yerevan State Medical University, she also co-leads the EpSSG Rhabdoid Tumor Working Group.
Dr. Hovsepyan has recently been honored with Global Women in Healthcare Rising Star Award and SIOP’s 2025 Rising Star Award recipient, recognizing her early-career contributions to pediatric oncology.
Follow Dr Shushan Hovsepyan on X and LinkedIn.
Jennifer Plichta is E. Fulton Brylawski Associate Professor in Women’s Health and Associate Professor of Surgery and Population Health Sciences at Duke University. She serves as Director of the Breast Risk Assessment Clinic at the Duke Cancer Institute, where her clinical and research focus is on breast cancer risk assessment, genetic predisposition and personalized management for high-risk women.
Dr. Plichta is the creator of Duke’s annual community breast health program “What’s Best for Breasts?” and is actively involved in mentoring residents and fellows in surgical oncology. She has been recognized with the Association of Women Surgeons Kim Ephgrave Visiting Professor Award (2024) and serves on the Editorial Board of the Annals of Surgical Oncology.
Follow Dr Jennifer Plichta on X and LinkedIn.
Manette Le Grange is a medical scientist and healthcare leader who serves as Corporate Social Responsibility Project Lead for Servier’s ICONIC initiative and is a member of the OncoDaily Editorial Board. She is leading the ACT For Children, a global partnership with WHO, SIOP, and St. Jude aimed at expanding access to essential cancer medicines for children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
She has been actively involved in advancing pediatric oncology through international collaborations, including OncoDaily’s global forum on essential medicines for children with cancer. Her work continues to shape efforts in equitable access, global cancer policy, and child health advocacy.
Follow Manette Le Grange on LinkedIn.
Mandy Davis Aitken is the Vice President of Meetings Services at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Since joining ASCO in 2001, she has played a central role in shaping the Society’s global meetings program.
From 2006 to 2017, she directed all aspects of the ASCO Annual Meeting, and since 2017, she has overseen the full portfolio of ASCO meetings—including the Annual Meeting, specialized symposia, and ASCO’s in-house conference center. Her leadership focuses on integrating best practices, member feedback, and innovative technologies to advance the impact and reach of ASCO events worldwide.
Follow Mandy Davis Aitken X on LinkedIn.
Stay tuned as we share 10 of these inspiring women leaders each week.
See also:
100 Influential Women in Oncology: Key Opinion Leaders to Follow on Social Media in 2025 – Part 1
100 Influential Women in Oncology: Key Opinion Leaders to follow on Social Media in 2023
100 Influential Women in Oncology: Key Opinion Leaders to follow on Social Media in 2024
“Moving Mountains with Passion”: The Life and Legacy of Baroness Françoise Meunier – in Cancerworld
The Essential Medicines for Children with Cancer: From Access to Action by OncoDaily
