ASCO's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan

A Legacy of Commitment, A Future of Promise for All Individuals with Cancer
Diversity Strategy

ASCO’s mission – conquering cancer through research, education, and promotion of the highest quality, equitable patient care – reflects our commitment to equity.

To deliver on this enduring commitment, the ASCO Board of Directors approved an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan, which details priority activities in each of our mission pillars: Research, Education, and Quality.

Read the Action Plan and see how EDI is infused into all of ASCO’s efforts.

ASCO-ACCC Initiative to Increase Racial & Ethnic Diversity in Clinical Trials

ASCO and the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) joined forces to ensure that cancer clinical trials better reflect the diversity of people with cancer. After receiving ideas from the oncology community, and pilot testing resources, ASCO and ACCC released influential, free, and practical resources for research sites to help make changes in cancer clinical trials. These include:

ASCO and ACCC also jointly published a research statement in the Journal of Clinical Oncology: “Increasing Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Cancer Clinical Trials: An American Society of Clinical Oncology and Association of Community Cancer Centers Joint Research Statement.” This research statement details specific actions to engage the entire cancer clinical trial ecosystem in expanding the participation of underrepresented individuals in research that advances progress against cancer. Review the overview of the recommendations and read the full research statement.

Learn more about the ASCO-ACCC Collaboration and utilize the resources!

2022 Annual Meeting

Equity is a vital part of everything we do at ASCO, and this was reflected through many of the abstracts and presentations at our Annual Meeting.

Watch the KFF & ASCO Web Event

ASCO and KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) hosted a web event: “Understanding and Addressing Racial Disparities in Cancer Outcomes, Care, and Treatment.” It featured oncologists, patient advocates, and policy researchers with expertise in equity and cancer care to examine persistent racial disparities in cancer. Expert panelists provided context on a new KFF brief presenting the latest data on racial cancer disparities and discussed a range of actions to help ensure that all individuals with cancer receive the highest quality, equitable cancer care.

Watch the Recording

Join Us in Delivering on Our Commitment to All Patients

Learn more about health equity by:

Want to do more? You can take action to support ASCO’s EDI efforts by

ASCO has developed a wide range of resources to help its members and the larger cancer community better understand and address health equity issues in cancer research and care. Check back for the latest updates.

Remembering Global Health Giant Dr. Paul Farmer

ASCO is deeply saddened by the passing of Paul Farmer, MD, PhD, on February 21, 2022, at age 62.

Dr. Farmer, an infectious disease physician and medical anthropologist by training, was a leading voice in the movement for global health equity. At the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting, Dr. Farmer spoke at the Opening Session about global health and cancer care in resource-limited settings. As ASCO mourns the passing of Dr. Farmer, we renew our commitment to our shared mission of ensuring that everyone around the world can access the highest quality, equitable cancer care.

Read the tribute to Dr. Farmer by ASCO Chief Medical Officer, Executive Vice President, Julie R. Gralow, FACP, FASCO, MD in The Cancer Letter. 

Diversity in Oncology Workforce Initiative

Increasing the diversity of health care providers is essential to ensure high-quality cancer care is delivered to every person. ASCO has a range of programs, including mentoring and other educational initiatives, to increase the diversity of the oncology workforce and support an oncology workforce in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

ASCO has two programs for fostering diversity among the global workforce:

  • International Development & Education Award (IDEA) program – Pairs IDEA recipients with a leading member mentor to develop long-term relationships and facilitate information sharing to improve cancer care in their countries.
  • Long-term International Fellowship (LIFe) – One-year fellowship for early-career oncologists in LMICs to provide support and resources to advance their training by deepening their relationship with a mentor at a host institution in the United States, Canada, or Europe.

Global Health Equity 

ASCO collaborates with members and organizations around the world to address inequalities in access to quality cancer care.

Global Health Equity: Grants

Through Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, the Society funds breakthrough research that addresses global inequalities in cancer care.

  • The International Innovation Grant (IIG) – Provides research funding in support of novel and innovative projects that can have a significant impact on cancer control in LMICs.
  • The Global Oncology Young Investigator Award (GO YIA) – Provides research funding to early-career investigators to encourage and promote quality research in global oncology and to develop the next generation of researchers to address global health needs.

Public Events & Media

ASCO shapes the public discussion on equity, diversity, and inclusion in cancer care and research through high-profile public events, commentaries, and media interviews.

For the Patient Community 

ASCO offers a variety of articles and podcasts about health equity through its patient education website, Cancer.Net, including:

Policy and Position Statements

ASCO has developed an extensive portfolio of policy and position statements focused on equity in cancer care in research. Statements include:

Equity Cancer Research

Recent studies, articles, and research initiatives focused on health equities in cancer care:

ASCO and Conquer Cancer would like to thank the following donors of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative.

AbbVie Oncology
Association of Northern California Oncologists
AstraZeneca
Breast Cancer Research Foundation®
Bristol Myers Squibb
Christine Luckscheiter
Colleagues, Friends, and Family of Dr. Gladys Rodriguez and Dr. Narjust Duma
Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.
Eisai Inc.
EQRx
Exelixis, Inc.
Flatiron Health, Inc.
Genentech BioOncology(TM)
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Janssen Oncology
Janssen Research & Development, LLC
Judith  Mayzel 
Katherine Y. Look, MD
Lilly
Massachusetts Society of Clinical Oncologists
McKesson Foundation
Michiana Hematology Oncology
Moulder Family Foundation
Nebraska Oncology Society
New Rhein Healthcare, LLC
Nina Lesavoy Brady
Northern New England Clinical Oncology Society
Novartis Oncology
Novocure
Pfizer Oncology
Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company and Janssen Biotech, Inc.
R & D Impact Foundation 
Swim Across America
TAIHO Oncology, Inc.
The Hearst Foundation, Inc.
The Vose Family
Tomasello Family
Truist Charitable Fund
Vaniam Group LLC
Women Leaders in Oncology LLC

*This list is current as of August 15, 2022.