ASCO Advocacy Champions of 2025

From April 6–11, 2025, ASCO is hosting its 10th annual Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., with cancer care professionals meeting lawmakers on Capitol Hill to push for policies that improve cancer care and research. At the same time, ASCO is leading a Week of Action nationwide, encouraging members to join the movement from their communities.

This year, ASCO is urging Congress to:

• Support federally funded cancer research by increasing and stabilizing funding for NIH, NCI, and ARPA-H in FY2026.
• Streamline prior authorization by passing the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, reducing delays in Medicare Advantage.
• Address oncology drug shortages by incentivizing U.S. manufacturing, enhancing FDA supply chain oversight, and improving shortage communication.

Each year, ASCO Advocacy Champions are selected to honor members who go above and beyond in advocating for policies that benefit cancer patients and the oncology community. These champions are recognized for their ongoing engagement in advocacy initiatives, including:

• Participating in the Advocacy Summit and Hill meetings
• Engaging in ASCO’s Week of Action
• Responding to ASCO ACT Network alerts
• Meeting with elected officials or their staff in district offices
• Submitting op-eds, letters to the editor, or public comments on key policy issues
• Amplifying advocacy messages on social media

You can be an Advocacy Champion too by getting involved today.

This year, all Advocacy Champions proudly announced their recognition using a unified poster.

Here are this year’s Champions:

Fumiko Ladd Chino

Dr. Fumiko Chino is a cancer researcher and Assistant Professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center focused on financial toxicity, healthcare disparities, and access to care. She co-founded the Affordability Working Group at MSK and is a Director at Costs of Care.

A 2022 ASCO Excellence in Equity Award recipient and incoming Chair of the 2025 ASCO Quality Care Symposium, her work has been featured in JAMA, NEJM, and major media. She has testified before Congress on medical debt and holds editorial roles at JAMA Network Open and JCO Oncology Practice.

Stephanie Graff

Dr. Stephanie Graff is Director of Breast Oncology at Lifespan Cancer Institute and Associate Professor at Brown University. Board-certified in oncology, hematology, and internal medicine, she leads clinical trials and research in genomics and gender bias. An award-winning writer, speaker, and editor for several oncology journals, she has received honors including Healio’s 2022 Woman Disruptor of the Year and the First Humanitarian Award.

Sumanta K. Pal

Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal is an expert in genitourinary cancers and co-director of the Kidney Cancer Program at City of Hope, where he leads the kidney and bladder cancer disease team. Entering college at 13 and medical school at 17, he has authored over 500 publications in top journals like Cancer Discovery, JCO, and Nature Medicine.

Dr. Pal holds patents for prostate cancer drugs, leads a major clinical trial portfolio, and drives interdisciplinary research to develop new therapies. He serves on editorial boards, reviews for major journals, and has received NIH and SWOG funding for his work.

Shaalan Beg

Dr. Shaalan Beg is a nationally recognized physician leader and clinical investigator specializing in early-phase oncology trials. He focuses on leveraging information technology and decentralized clinical trial tools to improve access to cancer research.

Dr. Beg has led clinical research operations at an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and implemented multiple EHR-based decision support tools to enhance both clinical care and research. He currently serves as Senior Advisor for Clinical Research at the National Cancer Institute, Principal Investigator at Science 37, and Adjunct Associate Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Ishwaria Subbiah

Dr. Ishwaria Subbiah is a nationally recognized oncology physician and strategic healthcare leader with over 16 years of patient care experience and more than 13 years of scientific and administrative leadership. She has led enterprise-wide initiatives to expand clinical trial access, palliative care, remote symptom monitoring, and health equity while championing clinician wellbeing.

Known for translating data-driven insights into impactful healthcare strategies, she currently serves as Medical Director of Supportive Care Oncology, Health Equity, and Professional Well-being at The US Oncology Network and as Executive Director of Cancer Care Equity and Professional Wellness at Sarah Cannon Research Institute.

Ivy Riano

Dr. Ivy Riano is a Chief Hematology and Oncology Fellow at Dartmouth Cancer Center and an incoming Thoracic Oncologist and Assistant Professor at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine. Her clinical and research focus is lung cancer, with an emphasis on targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and clinical trials.

She is active in ASCO leadership, serving on the Trainee & Early Career Advisory Group and as State Affiliate Council Liaison. Dr. Riano also leads global oncology research addressing disparities in Latin America and Rwanda and is a strong advocate for gender equity and minority representation in academia.

Devika Das

Dr. Devika Das is a board-certified hematologist and medical oncologist at UF Health, where she serves as Associate Professor of Medicine, Disease Group Lead for Thoracic Oncology, and Division Director of Quality and Safety. With over 12 years of experience in both academic and community oncology, her work focuses on equitable, high-quality lung cancer care and clinical trials.

She previously held leadership roles at the Birmingham VA Medical Center and Parexel and has been active in medical education and lung cancer screening initiatives. Her research emphasizes patient-centered trial design and inclusion of underrepresented populations.

Ana I. Velázquez Mañana

Dr. Ana Velázquez Mañana is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at UCSF, specializing in thoracic oncology at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. A proud Puerto Rican, she advocates for diversity and inclusion, serving as Assistant Director of DEIA for Trainees and co-chairing the Fellowship Diversity Committee.

Her research focuses on cancer disparities, improving clinical trial access, and addressing the social and supportive care needs of underserved lung cancer patients. Dr. Velázquez is supported by multiple organizations, including the NCI, AACR, and ASCO.

Sameer Keole

Dr. Sameer Keole is a Radiation Oncologist at the Mayo Clinic and Medical Director for the West Region of the Mayo Clinic Platform. He specializes in treating pediatric and adult patients with brain, spine, and other central nervous system tumors. As President of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), he continues his longstanding advocacy for fair physician reimbursement and Medicare payment reform. He previously led ASTRO’s Government Relations Council and is actively involved in advancing the Radiation Oncology Case Rates (ROCR) program to promote payment stability through legislative action.

Mark Walshauser

Dr. Mark Walshauser is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist at Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois, primarily seeing patients at the Cancer Care Center of O’Fallon – St. Louis Metro East. He completed his medical degree at Ross University and his fellowship at Loyola University.

A former Chief Resident at Saint Louis University, he has been recognized for his leadership and research, including service on the ASH Trainee Council and publication in journals like Blood and JCO. Dr. Walshauser is also a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and an active member of multiple oncology societies.

Sonam Puri

Dr. Sonam Puri is a thoracic medical oncologist and Assistant Member at Moffitt Cancer Center, where she also serves as Clinical Research Medical Director. She earned her MD in India, completed her residency at the University of Connecticut, and her fellowship at Moffitt.

Previously, she was on faculty at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, where she led the Thoracic Clinical Trial Research Group. Her clinical and research focus includes lung cancers, with an emphasis on immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and novel clinical trials.

The 2025 ASCO Advocacy Champions exemplify what it means to turn passion into action. Through their dedication, they help shape national conversations on cancer research funding, equitable access to care, and sustainable oncology practice.

Stay tuned to OncoDaily for more updates from the ASCO Advocacy Summit 2025.