Dr Kathleen Schmeler, Associate Vice President of Global Oncology and Professor of Gynecologic Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, has been named a candidate for the UICC Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term.
Dr Schmeler currently serves on the UICC Board and is seeking a second term. She is among 24 candidates running for 14 Board seats. UICC full-member organisations will elect the new Board during the 2026 UICC General Assembly, which will take place virtually on October 20, 2026. Electronic voting will open on October 13 and close at 14:30 CEST on October 20. UICC
Kathleen Schmeler’s Work in Global Oncology
Based in Houston, Dr Schmeler is a gynecologic oncologist who has worked at MD Anderson Cancer Center for nearly two decades. Her clinical work includes caring for women with gynecologic cancers and providing cervical cancer prevention services through colposcopy clinics.
She also serves as Associate Vice President and co-leader of the MD Anderson Global Oncology Program, where she works with ministries of health, UN agencies, international organisations, and civil society partners to strengthen cancer prevention and treatment globally.
Her work has focused particularly on cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, research, and workforce development in underserved communities.
Dr Schmeler co-leads cervical cancer research and implementation initiatives in Mozambique, Brazil, and Texas. Through the MD Anderson Global Oncology Program, she has also supported health system strengthening through hands-on training and tele-mentoring using Project ECHO.
Her international collaborations include work with UICC, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Why Kathleen Schmeler Is Seeking a Second UICC Board Term
Reflecting on her first term, Dr Schmeler highlighted her work with the UICC Capacity Building and Membership Committees, as well as initiatives including the Cancer Planners Forum, Women’s Cancers Initiative, and Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition.
“It is an honour to be nominated for a second term on the UICC Board of Directors.”
She said her experience on the Board has reinforced her view of UICC’s role in bringing together organisations and stakeholders to advance global cancer control.
Dr Schmeler identified capacity building, member engagement, and implementation of scalable cancer control solutions among the areas she would continue to support if re-elected.
She also highlighted cancer prevention and early detection, women’s cancers, and workforce development as areas of particular interest.
“I am especially passionate about strengthening cancer prevention and early detection programmes, advancing women’s cancer initiatives, and supporting workforce development in resource-constrained settings.”
Building Sustainable Cancer Capacity
A central element of Dr Schmeler’s work has been developing sustainable cancer programmes through partnerships with local leaders and health systems.
She has worked with ministries of health and international organisations to identify practical approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and workforce development in different healthcare settings.
Her work also includes the IGCS Global Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship, which she co-founded. Since its launch in 2017, the programme has expanded to 22 fellowship sites in 16 countries and graduated more than 40 fellows, according to her UICC candidate profile.
“A major focus of my career has been on capacity building.”
The fellowship aims to train gynecologic oncologists in their home countries, supporting the development of local specialist capacity rather than relying solely on external expertise.
Focus on Prevention, Early Detection, and Health Equity
Dr Schmeler’s candidacy places particular emphasis on improving access to evidence-based cancer prevention and early detection, especially in resource-constrained settings.
Her experience across Texas and international programmes has involved working with local healthcare leaders to strengthen services while adapting approaches to the needs of individual health systems.
She said her work with ministries of health and international partners has provided firsthand experience in navigating different healthcare environments and developing practical approaches to complex cancer-care challenges.
“I would bring collaborative leadership, strategic perspective, and a strong commitment to health equity to help translate UICC’s global vision into measurable impact.”
If re-elected, Dr Schmeler said she would continue contributing to UICC’s work in capacity building, member engagement, cancer prevention, women’s cancers, and workforce development.
UICC Board Elections 2026
The 2026 UICC election will determine 14 members of the Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term.
UICC full-member organisations will vote during the virtual General Assembly on October 20, 2026. Electronic voting will open at 00:01 CEST on October 13 and close at 14:30 CEST on October 20, with election results announced shortly afterward. UICC
UICC notes that candidate profiles and campaign materials are provided by the candidates themselves to inform members participating in the election.
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