2023 Advocacy Accomplishments

A Message From The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Chief Executive Officer 

Since 1991, there has been a 33% reduction in the overall cancer death rate, resulting from research breakthroughs in prevention, detection, and treatment. This is something to celebrate! We are finally gaining ground against deadly cancers such as lung cancer and melanoma. However, many other cancer types raise concern. There is a drift in prostate cancer being diagnosed at later stages, when difficult to treat. Pancreatic cancer rates continue to rise, for which there is no routine screening strategy. Furthermore, cancer disparities are profound. For example, Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as Whites, and Black women are significantly more likely to die from breast cancer, irrespective of stage at diagnosis.      

Because the burden of cancer across the nation is immense, and the extent of cancer disparities so unacceptable, the American Cancer Society (ACS) uses a tripartite strategy to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families. Research is the first part of ACS’ strategy. ACS is the largest funder of cancer research outside the US government, supporting the best and brightest cancer researchers across the nation. Innovation is key to beating cancer; however, research is not enough. Our second pillar, Advocacy, is essential to increase access to cancer breakthroughs through supporting policies and legislation that help cancer patients. By activating grassroots volunteers nationwide, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), our nonprofit nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, fights cancer in city halls, statehouses, and Congress by elevating the patient voice to advance policy change. Finally, our critical third pillar is Patient Support, wherein ACS uses innovation to close the gaps in the cancer care continuum. Through Patient Support, ACS touches more than 55 million lives per year in 5,000 communities across the country, providing education, prevention and screening access, patient navigation, transportation, and lodging.        

Through our commitment to these three areas of focus, ACS is working to ensure everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. On behalf of all of us, and the patients and families we represent, thank you for your continued support of our work to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.    

Karen E. Knudsen, MBA PhD
Chief Executive Officer
American Cancer Society and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Professor - Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Health and Thomas Jefferson University

Greetings ACS CAN Volunteers, Team Members & Supporters,

In 2023, ACS CAN introduced a new mission statement: To advocate for evidence-based public policies to reduce the cancer burden for everyone. Our mission captures our work and drives progress toward achieving our shared vision with the American Cancer Society: To end cancer as we know it,  for everyone. The words, “for everyone” are deliberately repeated in both our  vision and mission because evidence shows that although everyone is impacted by cancer, not all are impacted equally.  We are committed to advocating for all patients, survivors, their families, and everyone impacted by cancer.  Our legislative priorities are embraced across the aisle at all levels of government, and we urge lawmakers and policymakers to join us as a critically important stakeholder in the fight against cancer by supporting cancer research funding, and an array of prevention and early detection services, as well as ensuring equitable access to care and innovative new therapies.        

In 2023, ACS CAN advanced legislation that benefitted all communities impacted by cancer, furthering agendas in 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam. Highlights included achieving Medicare reimbursement for the first time for patient navigation services and partnering with organizations like Black Voters Matter to expand access to care through Medicaid expansion for 600,000 people in North Carolina. We also worked for the passage of ACS CAN’s model legislation that ensures coverage of biomarker testing so that patients can access innovative personalized therapies in an additional 12 states, bringing our total impact of ensuring equitable access to innovative cancer therapy to 14 states across the country.  

ACS CAN grew and diversified our grassroots advocacy network, establishing a new young adult affinity group and celebrating a year of action for ACSí Se Puede Hispanic/Latino Advocacy Alliance and our Asian American & Pacific Islander Volunteer Caucus affinity groups. We also furthered our reach into communities through the ACS CAN Black Volunteer Caucus and our LGBTQ+ and Allies Engagement Group. These groups provided important leadership for our continued advocacy to finalize the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules to prohibit menthol as a flavor in cigarettes and for the passage of the Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-risk Insured Men Act (PSA Screening for HIM Act) in 2023.       

I’m pleased to report that collectively in 2023, we touched 71.71 million lives through our advocacy efforts to advance tobacco control measures, increase access to biomarker testing, expand Medicaid and much more. And through ACS CAN’s new advertising campaign “Fight Cancer. Make Time,” our ads were seen millions of times, raising the voices of constituents, and reminding lawmakers that they have the power to make more time for patient survivors and their loved ones by being a champion in the fight against cancer.      

I am grateful for our ACS CAN volunteers, State Lead Ambassadors (SLAs), Vice SLAs, ACT Leads, volunteer affinity group leaders, board members, and all ACS CAN team members for their shared leadership in what was a milestone year of impact in 2023.    

We enter 2024 with a strong commitment and momentum for our public policy agenda. Cancer Votes, ACS CAN’s electoral program, will be bigger than ever, increasing our power by elevating patient voices to impact public policy, cultivating legislative champions for ACS CAN’s priorities, building relationships with candidates that extend into their legislative and administrative service and holding lawmakers’ accountable post-election.     

Thank you for your contribution to our success in 2023. I look forward to our continued partnership and advocacy in 2024.    

Lisa A. Lacasse, MBA
President, ACS CAN

Lisa A. Lacasse, MBA

2023 ACS CAN Impact at a Glance

For 22 years, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) has engaged volunteers across the country to use their voices to advocate for public policy change to save lives from cancer. In 2023, we again made tremendous strides in achieving impact toward our mission to advocate for evidence-based policies to reduce the cancer burden for everyone. Highlights include:   

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Who We Are

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) advocates for evidence-based public policies to reduce the cancer burden for everyone. We engage volunteers across the country to make their voices heard by policymakers at every level of government. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We stand with our volunteers, working to make cancer a top priority for policymakers in cities, states, and our nation’s capital.     

Volunteers: The Heart of ACS CAN

We engage thousands of dedicated individuals in every congressional district across the country to share their time, skills and their stories to advance ACS CAN’s mission to advocate for evidence-based public policies to reduce the cancer burden for everyone.  Our volunteers are experts in taking action. They engage with their elected officials through phone calls, emails, social media, letters and in-person meetings, and speak out in their communities, halls of government and the media in support of public polices to help end cancer as we know it, for everyone.    

Judicial Advocacy Initiative

We work with attorneys who donate time and incredible legal expertise to help advance our mission by representing ACS CAN in influential court cases, regulatory proceedings, and legislative drafting to further mission goals. In 2023, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of ACS CAN's Judicial Advocacy Initiative (JAI). From its inception in August 2008 until December 2023, the program has resulted in $5.6 million in contributed services from law firms, with over $600,000 contributed in 2023 alone. Learn more about our Judicial Advocacy Initiative.     

Governance Excellence

We leverage the expertise and insight of our Board of Directors, which is comprised of physicians, researchers, public health professionals, civic leaders and experts.      

Coalitions and Partnerships

We lead coalitions and partner with organizations to advance public health policies that benefit people impacted by cancer and other chronic diseases through joint lobby days, congressional briefings, sponsorship and expert participation in conferences and panels. The following are highlights of critical coalitions and partnerships:     

ACS CAN founded and leads the One Voice Against Cancer Coalition (OVAC), a collaboration of over 50 national non-profit organizations advocating for sustained cancer research and prevention program funding. It is the leading cancer coalition in the nation’s capital, representing millions of cancer researchers, physicians, nurses, patients, survivors, and their families.     

ACS CAN founded and leads the Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC), which advocates for palliative care legislation and works to amplify the patient voice.    

ACS CAN is a founding member of the Partnership to Protect Coverage Coalition (PPC), which works to ensure health coverage is affordable, accessible, adequate, and understandable. ACS CAN works with PPC on major legislative and regulatory issues, including Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and coverage issues.    

As a founding and lead partner of the Alliance for Cancer Care Equity (ACCE), ACS CAN works with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) to convene organizations committed to advancing public policy that fosters more equitable cancer outcomes with an intentional focus on racial and ethnic disparities.    

ACS CAN co-chaired the State Access to Innovative Medicines (SAIM) Coalition, which works to advance state legislation that regulates step therapy and reduces out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs.    

ACS CAN is an active member of the All Copays Count Coalition, which works to advance state legislation to restrict the use of copay accumulator adjustment programs and ensure patients receive the full value of prescription drug copay assistance.   

ACS CAN is also an active member and leader in state Medicaid expansion coalitions, such as Cover Alabama, Cover Georgia, and Care4Carolina.   

 

Volunteers:

The Heart of ACS CAN

We engage thousands of dedicated individuals in every congressional district across the country to share their time, skills and their stories to advance ACS CAN’s mission to advocate for evidence-based public policies to reduce the cancer burden for everyone.  Our volunteers are experts in taking action. They engage with their elected officials through phone calls, emails, social media, letters and in-person meetings, and speak out in their communities, halls of government and the media in support of public polices to help end cancer as we know it, for everyone.    

 

Judicial Advocacy Initiative

We work with attorneys who donate time and incredible legal expertise to help advance our mission by representing ACS CAN in influential court cases, regulatory proceedings, and legislative drafting to further mission goals. In 2023, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of ACS CAN's Judicial Advocacy Initiative (JAI). From its inception in August 2008 until December 2023, the program has resulted in over $6.5 million in contributed services from law firms, with more than $915,000 contributed in 2023 alone.  Learn more about our Judicial Advocacy Initiative.     

 

Governance

Excellence

We leverage the expertise and insight of our Board of Directors, which is comprised of physicians, researchers, public health professionals, civic leaders and experts.      

 

Coalitions and Partnerships

We lead coalitions and partner with organizations to advance public health policies that benefit people impacted by cancer and other chronic diseases through joint lobby days, congressional briefings, sponsorship and expert participation in conferences and panels. The following are highlights of critical coalitions and partnerships:     

  • ACS CAN founded and leads the One Voice Against Cancer Coalition (OVAC), a collaboration of over 50 national non-profit organizations advocating for sustained cancer research and prevention program funding. It is the leading cancer coalition in the nation’s capital, representing millions of cancer researchers, physicians, nurses, patients, survivors, and their families.     
  • ACS CAN founded and leads the Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC), which advocates for palliative care legislation and works to amplify the patient voice.    
  • ACS CAN is a founding member of the Partnership to Protect Coverage Coalition (PPC), which works to ensure health coverage is affordable, accessible, adequate, and understandable. ACS CAN works with PPC on major legislative and regulatory issues, including Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and coverage issues.    
  • As a founding and lead partner of the Alliance for Cancer Care Equity (ACCE), ACS CAN works with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) to convene organizations committed to advancing public policy that fosters more equitable cancer outcomes with an intentional focus on racial and ethnic disparities.    
  • ACS CAN co-chaired the State Access to Innovative Medicines (SAIM) Coalition, which works to advance state legislation that regulates step therapy and reduces out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs.    
  • ACS CAN is an active member of the All Copays Count Coalition, which works to advance state legislation to restrict the use of copay accumulator adjustment programs and ensure patients receive the full value of prescription drug copay assistance.   
  • ACS CAN is also an active member and leader in state Medicaid expansion coalitions, such as Cover Alabama, Cover Georgia, and Care4Carolina.  

Change Makers: Volunteers in Action

ACS CAN volunteers play an important role in our mission. They are more than just the heartbeat of our organization – they are change makers.      

In 2023, our advocates and state teams nationwide successfully held 44 state Cancer Action Days, mobilizing more than 800 volunteers to advocate for Medicaid expansion, tobacco control, biomarker testing coverage, funding for breast and cervical cancer early detection programs, and patient navigation funding, just to name a few accomplishments. Our power and voice are undeniable. In 2023, ACS CAN advocates:         

  • Took more than 345,000 online actions in support of advocacy campaigns.      
  • Created a petition signed by approximately 60,000 urging Congress to pass the Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Act.    
  • Contacted their members of Congress 105,000 times, urging them to increase funding for cancer research.      
  • Participated in more than 495,000 @ACSCAN social media engagements from national accounts.     
  • Were featured in over 430 national and state news stories related to our mission priorities.    

Check out a volunteer in action below! ACS CAN State Lead Ambassador Cody Wolf led a virtual lab tour to educate other volunteers and lawmakers on the critical importance of federal funding for research.

Change Makers: Delivering Impact

Blue Shirts at the Capitol      

ACS CAN advocates, including patients, survivors and family members representing all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, and nearly every congressional district participated in our 17th annual Leadership Summit and Lobby Day (LS&LD), creating a sea of blue shirts on Capitol Hill with nearly 700 volunteers.      

Advocates participated in meetings with every Senate office and 361 House offices, including 134 member-level meetings and 183 senior staff-level meetings, including our first-ever lobbying meeting in Spanish, to ask lawmakers to:     

During LS&LD, ACS CAN volunteers also attended the House Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing on increasing seniors’ access to innovative medical care, where members discussed one of our priority pieces of legislation, the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (MCED).    

 

ACS CAN honored loved ones and all those touched by cancer during our 13th annual National Lights of Hope event. With nearly 10,000 decorated bags representing more than 65,000 bags nationwide, and 53 newly designed 7-foot-high story columns highlighting one story from each state and territory, hundreds of advocates and supporters participated in the event at Constitution Gardens on the National Mall. In addition to the display in Washington, D.C., Lights of Hope were displayed in communities across the country. Volunteer fundraising was up 13% with over $870,000 raised in 2023.  

 

 

Light of Hope display at dusk
Lights of Hope 7 foot columns

 

Our voices were amplified through media coverage of Lights of Hope and LS&LD featuring volunteers sharing their personal stories and highlights of their time in the nation’s capital. Volunteers participated in 40 interviews on LS&LD alone through a radio and TV media tour, including multicultural media outlets serving Hispanic/Latino and Black communities. In the days and weeks following the event, we secured coverage in more than 50 media markets. Volunteers also took to our social media platforms to amplify the event with 1,600 posts and, 20,000 engagements, which is a 60% increase from 2022, that reached 3.2 million accounts with an absolute reach of 19.4 million. This marked a significant increase of 150% from LS&LD social media coverage in 2022.     

In conjunction with LS&LD, in 2023 ACS CAN launched a new advertising campaign, “Fight Cancer: Make Time.” The campaign uses patient stories, specifically from our ACS CAN volunteers, to urge lawmakers to prioritize cancer, giving people more time to live longer through advancements in detection and cancer treatment. Our first ads focused on supporting a Medicare reimbursement pathway for MCED tests once FDA-approved and clinical benefit is shown. The ads ran in The New York TimesPOLITICO and other publications in regional markets urging key lawmakers to cosponsor and pass the bill. The ad concept has also run on Capitol Hill and target markets nationwide urging lawmakers to increase cancer research funding. In 2023, our ads generated more than 58 million impressions online, on social media and through print distribution.

Mission Impact

Equitable Access to Care & Judicial Advocacy

ACS CAN fights across the nation to eliminate barriers to help ensure everyone can access evidence-based health care. By elevating the voices of those impacted by a cancer diagnosis, we continue to shed light on the need for action by policymakers at all levels of government. 

  • On March 23, 2023, on the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, the North Carolina legislature voted to expand Medicaid, making North Carolina the 40th state to increase eligibility for Medicaid health coverage for more than 600,000 people. This long-overdue win follows more than a decade of advocacy by ACS CAN, together with cancer patients, survivors and their families who collectively called on the state legislature to take this lifesaving action. Following passage, the North Carolina legislature passed the Fiscal Year 2023 budget in September, including additional funds for Medicaid expansion.   Pictured below is a photo from the North Carolina bill signing event. 
  • Congress voted to pass the Fiscal Responsibility Act just before a looming early June 2023 deadline that avoided inclusion of Medicaid work requirements, which could have erected barriers to care. In the lead-up to the debt ceiling deal, ACS CAN activated our volunteers nationwide to call, visit, and write to their lawmakers, urging them to oppose any debt ceiling proposal that threatened funding for cancer research or created barriers to health insurance through Medicaid. Volunteers made over 3,000 calls and sent nearly 25,000 messages to key Senate offices. We also launched a full-scale advertising campaign in key newspapers, including The Washington Post and The New York Times, as well as regional websites and publications. Through our ad campaign, we generated:      
    • 13.9M impressions in one week and were active across social media channels with the hashtag #NoCutstoCuresorCare.       
    • Across our @ACSCAN social accounts, posts reached 90K accounts and generated over 185K impressions.      
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress put protections in place to ensure that Medicaid enrollees were able to keep their health coverage with no disruptions. The unwinding of these protections in 2023 and the subsequent coverage gaps have a major negative impact on access to care, including necessary prevention and early-detection screenings. ACS CAN is playing a major role to educate those who may be impacted and elevating patient voices of those who are facing coverage disruptions. At least 11 million Medicaid enrollees from all 50 states and the District of Columbia have been disenrolled as of November 27, 2023, based on the most current data. We joined with our partners in the Protect Patient Access to Coverage and Connecting to Coverage coalitions to take action.  ACS CAN worked alongside the American Cancer Society to ensure health systems, physicians, providers and the general public knew the best strategies to support individuals who learned they had been disenrolled.     
    • In Arkansas and Florida, we joined with our state coalition partners to call on the state government to pause the renewal process so that states can analyze this early data and make sure those who are still eligible will not become uninsured.      
  • Lawmakers voted in June 2023 to reauthorize Medicaid expansion in New Hampshire to ensure thousands of people, including cancer patients and survivors, have access to the affordable health care they need.  Pictured below is the New Hampshire team hosting a reauthorization Medicaid expansion educational event. 
  • ACS CAN helped secure several wins in 2023 advocating for extended postpartum coverage under Medicaid. These efforts provided increased access to health care coverage for over 43,000 people in eight states, including non-Medicaid expansion states, Wyoming and Mississippi. In Alaska (pictured below), Governor Mike Dunleavy signed legislation that will extend eligibility for postpartum Medicaid. These significant wins help to ensure individuals and families have affordable health coverage, which we know is critical to reduce cancer incidence and mortality.       
  • Both ACS CAN and the American Cancer Society actively support access to patient navigation services, noting the critical role navigation plays in helping patients overcome health care system barriers and surviving cancer. ACS CAN kicked off 2023 by drafting a white paper about patient navigation that provided legislative, regulatory and payment model options to highlight important considerations to significantly expand the long-term financial stability of patient navigation services. This white paper has served as the foundation to help inform ACS CAN’s legislative advocacy campaign strategy and key policy recommendations to increase access to patient navigation services and was also shared with key partners, such as the White House Cancer Moonshot Office and the First Lady’s Policy Team.  
  • Later in the year, an ACS CAN survey found an overwhelming majority of patients and survivors (91%) agreed that having access to a patient navigator was very important for cancer patients. However, only 55% of those surveyed said their oncology provider had a patient navigator on staff – further emphasizing the need for sustainable funding models for patient navigation services.  
  • The foundational work ACS CAN executed on patient navigation played a critical role in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issuing first-time reimbursement codes for patient navigation services for those with serious illness, like cancer.  The proposed codes were included in the final 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule. ACS CAN issued two letters to CMS, one along with 59 partners, that provided comments on how the new navigation payment approach should be implemented. In November, CMS issued the final rule on the new payment code, which reflected many of the recommendations made by ACS CAN and our partners, including ensuring patient consent in advance of providing patient navigation services, either in writing or verbally.   
    • ACS CAN have been long-standing advocates of the important role patient navigation services play in survivorship against cancer. Access to affordable coverage significantly improves chances of diagnosing, treating, and surviving cancer. Interruptions in insurance can have catastrophic effects on cancer patients who cannot delay treatment. 
  • The 2023 ACS CAN 12th National Forum on the Future of Health Care brought together experts in the field to examine ways of paying for these services (pictured below).  Over 500 people participated in person and virtually. In case you missed it, you can watch the virtual recording of the event here. 
  • ACS CAN successfully advocated for legislation to improve affordability of prescription drugs by regulating copay accumulator adjustments. This legislation to ensure third-party copay assistance is counted toward a patient’s out-of-pocket cost obligations was enacted in Colorado, New Mexico and Texas in 2023.      
  • After 15 years of relentless advocacy work, oral chemotherapy fairness legislation passed on October 12, 2023, providing Michiganders more affordable access to cancer treatments. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the bill (pictured below), which will ensure out-of-pocket costs for cancer patients for oral and intravenous (IV) chemotherapy are similar.    

As a result of ACS CAN’s federal lobbying, on July 11, 2023, the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) was reintroduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Shelley Moore Capito. The bipartisan bill would create a national public education and awareness campaign to educate patients and providers about the availability and benefits of palliative care, expand federal research, and establish palliative care education and training programs for doctors, nurses and other health professionals. The Senate’s inclusion of $12.5 million for palliative care research in its version of the FY2024 LHHS bill would help millions of people during their cancer journeys by investing in a strategy to focus, expand, and intensify national research programs in palliative care at the National Institutes of Health. Funding for these activities is likely to be included in the final version of the bill, expected later in 2024.ACS CAN applauded Senators Baldwin and Capito for joining our fight in prioritizing important services for people with cancer and survivors.    

Hawaii Governor Josh Green signed HB907 into law, ensuring more Hawaii residents can access audio-only telehealth. Telehealth services can assure cancer survivors a much-needed lifeline when questions arise, and this legislation will increase access to quality care, especially for individuals in rural areas with limited broadband access.      

  • As part of our advocacy on the Inflation Reduction Act, ACS CAN successfully urged Congress to enact major improvements to the Medicare program: (1) an annual cap on total Medicare Part D out-of-pocket prescription medication costs and (2) a mechanism that would allow a Medicare enrollee the option to “smooth” out or pay the required cost sharing in capped monthly costs. In September, ACS CAN sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expressing strong support for the option beneficiaries have to pay their annual cost sharing in monthly installments (known as the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan) and urging improvements for patients.   

  • Additionally, ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse participated in one of a series of CMS patient listening sessions on the implementation of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, another provision of the IRA. These listening sessions sought input relevant to drugs selected for the first round of negotiations.  ACS CAN will continue to elevate the importance of affordability of drug therapies, as well as innovation needed to improve cancer outcomes for patients. 
  • Key patient protections that ACS CAN has identified as necessary to ensure that the new prescription negotiation program is implemented in a way that benefits cancer patients directly are detailed in this April 2023 letter to CMS with additional input in September 2023.  ACS CAN has an important perspective to continue to elevate, strongly encouraging CMS to actively monitor implementation of the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan in real time as it relates to patient affordability and access to their medicines. 
  • In April, ACS CAN joined other patient groups in advocating for deference to the FDA’s scientific authority in issuing drug approvals and protecting patients in the case challenging approval of mifepristone. A district court and then the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit blocked the agency’s approval. ACS CAN has joined two briefs in the case, one at the circuit court and the other urging the U.S. Supreme Court to accept the appeal. The Supreme Court did accept the case in December. If the lower courts’ rulings are allowed to stand, patients may no longer have the security of knowing that determinations about drug safety ultimately lie with the experts but could be decided by judges. 
  • On August 2, 2023, ACS CAN and the American Cancer Society filed an amicus brief defending the No Surprises Act in the case of Haller v. Health and Human Services (HHS) in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The brief was filed in support of patient protection provisions of the No Surprises Act (NSA) being challenged in the case and provided extensive scientific research from the American Cancer Society on the high costs of cancer that lead to financial hardship and worse patient outcomes for cancer patients and higher chances of death.        
  • ACS CAN led amicus briefs filed at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit defending provisions of the Affordable Care Act requiring many preventive services be covered without cost sharing by private insurers. The filings included data highlighting how preventive care such as colorectal cancer screening saves lives and is cost-effective, as well as services that would be lost under a lower court ruling in March that threatened to upend patient care. Fortunately, the Fifth Circuit granted the stay we requested in June, effectively upholding access to no-cost preventive services while the case is pending.    
  • An amicus brief led by ACS CAN helped result in the June 2023 victory at the U.S. Supreme Court in a case that upheld Medicaid patients’ ability to enforce their benefits using civil rights laws. The brief provided extensive scientific data on the crucial role Medicaid plays in preventing and treating life-threatening illnesses, with an emphasis on studies about cancer prevention and treatment.  
  • We led an amicus brief at the U.S. Supreme Court illustrating the importance of judges deferring to agencies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Medicare and Medicaid policies.   

Accelerating Cures

Advancements in cancer research are essential to driving discovery, saving lives and advancing our fight against this disease. The ability to ensure innovative breakthroughs reach those who need them most depends on sustained, year-over-year increases in funding for cancer research, as well as addressing inequities in personalized medicine and barriers to clinical trial participation.    

  • ACS CAN advocated throughout 2023 for increased and sustained investments in cancer priorities across key federal agencies and state governments, demonstrating how flat or reduced funding would risk the tremendous progress we’ve made in the fight against cancer.    
  • ACS CAN published an op-ed in POLITICO  directed to members of Congress with our clear position that cancer is a nonpartisan issue, cancer research funding must be prioritized and increased, and any reduction in funding could slow or halt the development of cutting-edge research.      
  • In May 2023, ACS CAN volunteers traveled to Washington, D.C., from across the nation to join more than 200 other cancer patients, survivors and family members from 34 states and D.C. for the 12th annual Alliance for Childhood Cancer Action Days (pictured below). The two-day event, organized by the Alliance for Childhood Cancer, of which ACS CAN is a member, held 144 lawmaker meetings asking them to fully fund the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access and Research (STAR) Act and fully fund the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI) to improve the quality of life of childhood cancer patients, survivors and their families.      

 

 

  • In New Jersey, ACS CAN successfully advocated for legislation to fund critical cancer screening and research programs, and effectively support the state’s fight against cancer.      
  • ACS CAN pushed lawmakers every step of the way to make cancer research and prevention spending a top priority.  ACS CAN partnered with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) as part of our One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) coalition to produce a  video appeal featuring ACS CAN CEO Dr. Karen E. Knudsen and ASCO CEO Dr. Clifford Hudis (shown below). The video aired at ASCO’s annual conference, the largest annual global convening of the cancer community. In addition to the video, the coalition shared, postcards and used other engagement strategies to get conference attendees to sign a  petition to U.S. lawmakers urging them to protect and increase cancer research funding. 

 

 

In May 2023, we quickly activated a major advocacy campaign around the debt limit deal (the Fiscal Responsibility Act) that prevented deep cuts to overall spending levels, limited the enforceable caps on funding to one year, and kept harmful Medicaid provisions out of the deal.  After our targeted Senate campaign, in June 2023 the Senate passed bipartisan spending bills with increases for the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute. In September 2023, we sounded the alarm about the consequences of a potential government shutdown and beat back efforts to cut funding in two stop-gap spending bills or continuing resolutions.  In early 2024, when the current stop-gap funding measures end, ACS CAN will ramp up our advocacy for Congress to finish the job by passing final Fiscal Year 2024 bills with the highest possible increases for cancer research and prevention.     

  • Comprehensive coverage of biomarker testing is critical to ensure equitable access to the testing required to match patients with innovative cancer therapies at the right time. ACS CAN was instrumental in the passage and enactment of legislation to expand insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing and ensured this coverage keeps pace with the latest advances. In 2023, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and New York passed and signed legislation to expand biomarker testing into law, bringing the total to 14 states that have enacted such legislation to date.   Pictured below shows ACS CAN volunteers standing with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear at the bill signing. 

 

 

  • ACS CAN released nine consensus recommendations  toimprove equitable pharmacogenomic (PGx) discovery and implementation. PGx testing is a form of personalized medicine that helps us understand how inherited genomic variation is associated with the clinical effectiveness or toxicity of drugs. It has the power to help improve patient outcomes, but it hasn’t been fully implemented.       
  • In October 2023, the American Cancer Society and ACS CAN published three papers in Cancer, examining barriers to better clinical trial matching and recommending ways to address them. Incorporating results from a nationwide survey of oncologists, ACS CAN partnered with the MITRE Corporation within the CodeX FHIR Accelerator to develop and validate a tool to facilitate regional clinical trial matching. The initiative is referred to as “Blue-button,” and holds the potential to dramatically increase the number of patients matched to clinical trials. It is currently being tested in Texas and Florida in a prospective clinical trial to evaluate its impact on overall enrollment and demographic diversity. The first patient was enrolled in December 2023, and the trial is likely to last approximately 18 months with potential interim results available sooner. 

 

Prevention and Early Detection

In 2023, ACS CAN made significant strides in our fight for tobacco control and access to prevention and early detection services. We celebrated the many successes of our advocacy work at the local, state and federal levels.      

  • As of July 1, 2023, approximately 220,000 retail stores across the nation that sold cigarettes were required to display public signage highlighting the deadly consequences of cigarette smoking. Thanks in part to ACS CAN’s efforts, under a federal court order, the signs were installed near cigarette displays in 220,000 retail stores nationwide between July 1 and September 30 and must be displayed until June 30, 2025. This victory is the final and long-overdue step implementing “corrective statements” tobacco companies were ordered to make in a 2006 landmark ruling that found the industry was guilty of decades of lies that led to addiction, disease, and premature death for millions of people.  
  • ACS CAN worked with tobacco control partners in filing numerous amicus briefs supporting the FDA in cases in which the agency had issued marketing denial orders for flavored e-cigarette products to get them off the market.  With our help, the FDA has won the majority of these challenges.  We successfully defended the FDA rule requiring graphic warnings on cigarette packages and advertisements.
  • In January 2023, ACS CAN celebrated Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s veto of House Bill 513, which restricts the authority of communities to pass local laws regulating the sale of tobacco products that are stronger than state law. Through 275 patch-through calls and 155 actions taken, our volunteers contributed to this important veto. ACS CAN also executed media advocacy tactics to publicly state our opposition to preemption and support the governor’s veto, earning over 100 mentions. Governor DeWine used our statistics during his press conference announcing his veto. Although the Ohio State Legislature voted to override the governor’s veto, ACS CAN thanked DeWine for standing up for the health of Ohioans and will continue our advocacy work to protect kids from Big Tobacco.

  • In Oregon, the legislature amended state law to require eight additional tobacco manufacturers to make equity payments for every unit of their product sold. The funds, expected to amount to $4 million to $5 million annually, are to be allocated for the Oregon Health Plan.      
  • Thanks to ACS CAN’s efforts, tobacco retailers in Bakersfield, California, are now required to apply for a license and pay licensing fees as part of a comprehensive tobacco retail licensing ordinance holding retailers accountable for following state and local tobacco laws, including the statewide law that ended the sale of flavored tobacco products.      
  • Our California team received funding approval from the California Department of Public Health Tobacco Control Program for three tobacco grants for nearly $2 million over two years. Two of the grants will focus on work with Hispanic/Latino and African American populations. Our work will center on the adoption and implementation of tobacco retail licensing policies in multiple jurisdictions and engage priority populations in the San Francisco East Bay, Delta region and San Joaquin Valley.       
  • ACS CAN and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids coalition released an analysis of the public health benefits and cost savings that New York residents can expect to see with Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed $1 per pack cigarette tax increase, as well as saving over 15,300 lives.       
  • ACS CAN also advocated for and was successful in the Senate Appropriations Committee providing specific money and directing the FDA to address drug shortages, and the backlog of premarket tobacco product applications, as well as complete the rule-making process to prohibit menthol cigarettes.     
  • Minnesota was the first and only state to date to take JUUL and Altria to court, which resulted in a settlement. Together, JUUL and Altria will pay a total of $60.5 million to the state of Minnesota over an eight-year period. The ACS CAN Minnesota team (pictured below) championed legislation to ensure all payments after attorney’s fees are dedicated to commercial tobacco prevention and cessation, totaling approximately $43 million.    
  • The Pennsylvania Legislature passed and Governor Josh  Shapiro certified the 2023-24 budget, which includes important cancer prevention and treatment priorities for Pennsylvanians. ACS CAN advocated for the inclusion of a $2.563 million funding allocation for the Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (PA BCCEDP).     
  • On June 7, 2023, the U.S. House and the Senate introduced the Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act, a bill that would reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) through 2028, preserving access to the program. For over 30 years, the NBCCEDP has effectively provided critical breast and cervical cancer screenings, follow-up, diagnosis and treatment to lower-income, uninsured and underinsured women. Thanks to ACS CAN’s advocacy efforts, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted to advance the legislation in December 2023. ACS CAN continued to advocate for policies to reduce the disparities in breast cancer by improving access to prevention and early detection services, patient navigation services, insurance coverage, in-network facilities, and clinical trials.    
  • Pictured below, in March 2023, ACS CAN CEO Dr. Karen E. Knudsen and ACS CAN President Lisa A. Lacasse joined other health organizations at the White House at the Cancer Moonshot Colorectal Cancer Forum. Patients, oncologists, researchers, and advocates discussed progress and opportunities in colorectal cancer awareness, screening, access and treatments.     
Dr. Karen Knudsen and Lisa Lacasse

Throughout 2023, ACS CAN steadily worked to advance the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act.  MCED creates a pathway to ensure timely Medicare coverage of new, innovative multi-cancer screening tests and expand access to early detection once FDA approved and clinical benefit is shown. Through our advocacy, MCED has gained the active support of a bipartisan majority of members in both the House and Senate.      

Health Equity

In 2023, ACS CAN continued to advocate for policies that help reduce cancer disparities and ensure that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer, which is critical to ending cancer as we know it, for everyone. Our volunteer affinity groups and collaborations with partner organizations are vital to advancing this work.  

health equity ad
  • ACS CAN submitted comments supporting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) proposed rule to expand federal insurance coverage eligibility for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, who are three times as likely to be uninsured than the general U.S. population. ACS CAN supports the proposed rule because it would remove barriers to accessing health care services, which is critical to reducing health disparities and saving more lives from cancer. In our comments, ACS CAN urged HHS to finalize the rule as proposed before the 2024 open enrollment season began.      
  • In 2023, we reactivated our Cancer Votes program to target two local races in Memphis, Tennessee, and St. Louis, Missouri, where ACS CAN is working to reduce cancer disparities. We asked local candidates questions about their positions on addressing social determinants of health, including food insecurity to inform voters about each candidate’s stance on these issues. Learn more by viewing the voter guides we published for the Memphis Mayoral Race and the St. Louis Board of Aldermen Race.       
  • On April 3, 2023, ACS CAN filed an  amicus brief,  along with more than a dozen other groups, urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to preserve protections in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) patients receiving health care services in the case of Neese vs. Becerra. The brief makes clear that LGBTQ+ patients already face significant health disparities and that allowing a lower court ruling to stand that would limit protections for LBGTQ+ individuals against discrimination would widen these disparities and lead to worse health outcomes.                                                      
  • ACS CAN led an amicus brief defending the rights of immigrants to enroll in Medicaid without it adversely affecting their right to be in the United States.   
  • In 2023, ACS CAN continued to support public policies that reduce the disproportionate burden of cancer experienced by Tribal communities. We requested that Congress increase funding levels and provide advanced appropriations in Fiscal Year 2024 for the Indian Health Service, which would provide funding stability for an agency that has been historically underfunded.     
  • In September 2023, ACS CAN released a follow-up companion piece to ACS CAN’s flagship policy report, The Costs of Cancer. The Health Equity and the Costs of Cancer series of fact sheets examines the costs of cancer for several communities and populations to highlight the impact of the costs of cancer. The resources released include new communities, as well as a targeted look at three of the most common cancer types:       

The Costs of Cancer in the LGBTQ+ Community    

The Costs of Cancer in People of Color     

The Costs of Cancer in Working-age People     

The Costs of Breast Cancer     

The Costs of Prostate Cancer     

The Costs of Colorectal Cancer    

pie chart from Cost of Cancer survey
second pie chart from Cost of Cancer survey
  • ACS CAN hosted a virtual briefing for members of Congress and their offices on the American Cancer Society’s Facts & Figures 2023 report, focusing on prostate cancer incidence, cancer screening and outcome disparities and the cancer burden in Native American communities.   

 

  • In April 2023, ACS CAN participated in the National Medical Association’s  National Colloquium on African American Health. The annual event (pictured above) is designed to raise awareness of health care and public policy issues and brings together stakeholders to address access to essential services and improvements in health outcomes for minority populations.      

In 2023, ACS CAN continued to urge the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to finalize its  proposed rules  to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and all flavored cigars.   ACS CAN continues to push the Biden  Administration to finalize the ban on menthol cigarettes by working with  stakeholders  to ensure our voices are heard. 

  • ACS CAN former Board Vice Chair Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard authored an op-ed in the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Black News and Views, to call on the FDA to finalize the proposed rules and end Big Tobacco's aggressive marketing tactics in Black communities.    
  • ACS CAN also worked to elevate our opposition to harmful provisions in the House FY2024 Agriculture Appropriations bill that would have diluted the FDA’s authority to prohibit menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, as well as limit nicotine levels in cigarettes and certain other tobacco products. ACS CAN explained why these provisions are a threat to public health through letters, press statements, and social media amplification.  As a result of our efforts, it is unlikely that the provisions will be included in the final bill. 
  • On December 6, 2023, the White House delayed finalizing FDA rules that would end the sale of menthol in cigarettes and flavors in cigars until at least March 2024.  ACS CAN, along with our tobacco control partners, went into action, running two full-page ads in  POLITICO  calling on the administration to finalize the rules immediately. Additionally, ACS CAN purchased a Washington Post  front-page advertisement showing support for the rules from the public health community and partnered with the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids to run a commercial during  Meet the Press, Face the Nation, and  This Week that featured Black mayors calling for the finalization of the rules. ACS CAN also led a group of 21 other cancer organizations in  sending a letter  to President Biden stressing how important these rules are to meeting his Cancer Moonshot goals.   

 

To address disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality, ACS CAN supported the launch of the  American Cancer Society’s IMPACT (Improving Mortality from Prostate Cancer Together) initiative. We joined the American Cancer Society for IMPACT’s launch event at Howard University, hosted by American Cancer Society Board Member and then-Howard University President Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick and American Cancer Society and ACS CAN CEO Dr. Karen E. Knudsen. U.S. Representative Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) and U.S. Representative Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ) also participated in the event to lend their voices to the importance of prostate cancer screening and treatment.      

ACS CAN is supporting the American Cancer Society’s IMPACT initiative to address disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality by advocating for state and federal policies that remove barriers to prostate cancer screening and treatment.  

  • Following months of advocacy by ACS CAN, ZERO Prostate Cancer, the American Urological Association and the Prostate Health Education Network, the Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-risk Insured Men Act (PSA Screening for HIM Act) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in March 2023 and in the U.S. Senate in September 2023. The bipartisan legislation would waive cost-sharing requirements for men with the highest risk of prostate cancer, focusing on Black men and those with a family history of the disease.      
  • On December 6, 2023, ACS CAN’s Black Volunteer Caucus hosted a virtual postcard card for participants to write messages urging local senators to support the PSA Screening for HIM Act, displayed below. 

PSA for HIM postcards
  •   ACS CAN Board Member  David A. Ford, a prostate cancer survivor, authored an op-ed urging support of the PSA for HIM Screening Act that ran on the  Black Press USA  website and in multiple Black newspapers across the country.       
  • In support of the PSA Screening for HIM Act, ACS CAN sponsored an ad (shown below) and an editorial coauthored by ACS CAN CEO  Dr. Karen E. Knudsen  and U.S. Representative Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), a co-sponsor of the bill, in the Urban One Engaging Black America Special Supplement.  Both the editorial and ad highlighted the importance of the PSA for HIM Screening Act and included a call to action for members of Congress to support passage of the legislation.   
  • ACS CAN team members conducted training and participated in panel discussions (pictured below) to prepare advocates at the National Coalition of 100 Back Women on Capitol Hill to advocate for increased funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s cancer programs and to increase appropriations for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.         
National Coalition of 100 Black Women event
  • In May 2023, ACS CAN sponsored the National Tribal Health Conference, an event attended by over 1,000 people from across the country. Team members from the American Cancer Society and ACS CAN spearheaded a breakfast panel and program with more than 50 attendees, featuring numerous leaders and experts in Tribal health. Participation in this event was a terrific opportunity to foster relationships with Tribal health leaders, specifically with the National Indian Health Board, the nation’s leading Tribal health advocacy organization, and to demonstrate our organization’s unique breadth and depth in our ability to address longstanding health disparities.        
  • Also in May, ACS CAN sponsored the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Legislative Leadership Summit Gala (pictured below) and spoke on the importance of reducing health disparities to eliminate cancer diagnosis for all.   
  • In July 2023, ACS CAN and the American Cancer Society partnered with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to hold the first-ever Alaska Native Colorectal Cancer Research Symposium. The two-day event focused on why Alaska Native people have the highest colorectal cancer incidence rate in the world.   
  • ACS CAN sponsored the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 46th Annual Awards Gala, an event attended by President Biden with the theme  of “Our Moment in History,” to celebrate the invaluable contributions of the Hispanic/Latino community.   
  • ACS CAN hosted the Southern Arizona Hispanic/Latino Community Forum in Tucson, Arizona. Survivors, oncologists and community members came together to discuss cancer disparities in the Hispanic/Latino community in Southern Arizona. The group worked together to develop a plan to address these disparities through public policy by focusing on screening and patient navigation policies.       
  • ACS CAN hosted informative panels in April at the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.’s  34th annual "Delta Days in the Nation's Capital event (pictured below centered) to examine data from the American Cancer Society Facts & Figures 2023 report and discuss the cancer landscape for the Black community.      
  • In 2023, ACS CAN trained more than 50 Black Voters Matter (BVM) staff and partners in Georgia on Medicaid expansion and unwinding, creating trusted sources of health care information in communities of color statewide. Our partnership yielded more than 30 opportunities to meet Georgians at community events across Middle and South Georgia. Through these events, we received eight storyteller referrals, gained a health equity film participant, received earned media coverage, and placed co-branded ACS CAN and BVM Medicaid expansion and unwinding materials in the hands of more than 10,000 Georgians during in-person discussions.       
  • ACS CAN participated in the 52nd  annual  Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Annual Legislative Conference (ALC), the nation's leading policy conference on issues impacting African Americans and the global Black community, in September in Washington, D.C. ACS CAN team members participated in a plethora of engagement opportunities alongside national industry leaders, elected officials, health care professionals and citizen activists. Held concurrently with the CBCF Annual Legislative Conference, ACS CAN participated in and cosponsored a separate event, The House of Inclusion, (pictured below) to reinforce the importance of health equity.     
  • ACS CAN Atlanta-based coalition partner H.E.A.R.T. Coalition engaged the community in a discussion about Big Tobacco’s predatory tactics on the day of the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout® event in mid-November.       
  • ACS CAN sponsored and attended the 47th annual National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators Summit, which focused on key priorities for Latino families and issues that impact their communities. ACS CAN also sponsored and attended the National Black Caucus of State Legislators Annual Legislative Conference, which focused on policy issues of national and state importance and shared best practices for implementing policies that will protect and benefit all Americans.      
  • As part of the Collaboration for Equitable Health, ACS CAN partnered with community-based organizations in Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Memphis, Tennessee; and St Louis, Missouri, to work on capacity and coalition building and uplifting community voices through advocacy forums, policy planning, and storytelling (pictured below). Our partners are strong advocates in their communities and together, we are identifying and addressing disparities widening the gap in health equity.    
attendees at event

Change Makers Spotlight
ACS CAN Volunteer Affinity Groups 

ACS CAN’s volunteer affinity groups continue to guide, advise, and center our work to enhance, strengthen, and diversify communications, messages, partnerships, policy initiatives, and authentic volunteer outreach, training, and engagement in the communities they represent. These groups are giving voice to the unequal burden of cancer and lifting up their communities by sharing their stories, shaping messaging, facilitating training, and hosting awareness and advocacy events centered on identifying disparities and policy solutions to address them.          

The Black Volunteer Caucus (BVC) guides ACS CAN’s work to enhance, strengthen, and diversify communications, messaging, partnerships, volunteer recruitment, training, and engagement within the Black community.        

  • In partnership with Emmanuel Health Education, the BVC hosted a Fireside Chat on prostate cancer’s unequal burden in the Black community, which can be addressed through patient-centered solutions including public policy. U.S. Representative Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) provided recorded remarks.       
  • As a continuation of the Fireside Chat, and as a celebration of Women’s History Month, in March 2023, the BVC hosted a Facebook Live titled, “Let’s Hear From the Ladies! How Black Women are Fighting Prostate Cancer Disparities.” Andrea King Collier, Donna Hargrove, and BVC moderator DonnaMarie Woodson shared advice on the important role Black women play in Black men’s health.       
  • The BVC supported the development of the Black Men and Prostate Cancer fact sheet to advance ACS CAN’s advocacy work to urge Congress to provide free prostate cancer screenings for those at high- risk.        

 

 

The LGBTQIA+ & Allies Engagement Group provided guidance as ACS CAN navigated meaningful participation in Pride events as these communities continued to face serious challenges, bias, and obstacles to cancer screening and health care. The engagement group hosted a Planning for Pride webinar to support ACS CAN’s participation at more than 30 Pride events in 19 states. They also supported the development of ACS CAN’s Reducing LGBTQ+ Cancer Disparities document that was distributed during Pride events.    

 

 

The ACSí Se Puede Hispanic/Latino Advocacy Alliance works to reduce cancer disparities in Hispanic/Latino communities and guides ACS CAN’s initiatives and campaigns by increasing awareness, strengthening partnerships, influencing public policy priorities, diversifying messaging and materials, and recruiting and engaging volunteers who reflect the unique heritages, cultural backgrounds, and lived experiences of their diverse communities.       

  • In 2023, members provided stories and social media content and conducted interviews, and meetings with representatives in Spanish to support ACS CAN’s efforts to increase awareness and reduce disparities in Hispanic/Latino communities, including prioritizing funding for lifesaving cancer research.       

The Asian American & Pacific Islander Volunteer Caucus engages and involves Asian American and Pacific Islander volunteers, organizations, and companies in ACS CAN initiatives and campaigns by influencing partnerships, policies, education, awareness, recruitment, and collaboration with similar volunteer groups to advance representation and reduce disparities that reflect generational and language differences in their unique communities.       

  • The group hosted its first New Member Interest meeting in 2023, where they discussed what is driving cancer disparities in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and the education, awareness, and policy efforts that can help reverse these trends.      
  • The volunteer caucus will continue to plan activities to address cancer stigma, increase awareness, and advocate for polices that will reduce cancer disparities in their communities, including the disaggregation of cancer-related data to unmask subgroup disparities.       

The ACS CAN Young Leaders Caucus is our newest volunteer affinity group. In June 2023, 75 passionate young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 attended our first-ever ACS CAN Young Leaders Summit in Chicago. We are looking forward to remarkable work from these brilliant leaders in 2024.        

 

Special Thanks and Recognition

Donors

Anderson & Kreiger

Akin

Baker Donelson

Democracy Forward

Dentons

Eversheds Sutherland

Hogan Lovells

K&L Gates

Kilpatrick Townsend

Morrison & Foerster

Zuckerman Spaeder

Amgen 

AstraZeneca  

BeiGene  

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association 

Bristol Myers Squibb 

Exact Sciences 

Genentech 

GRAIL 

Johnson & Johnson 

Loxo@Lilly 

Merck & Co. 

Natera  

Pfizer 

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America 

Regeneron 

Sanofi 

AbbVie 

Biotechnology Innovation Organization 

EMD Serono 

Exelixis 

Genmab 

Gilead Sciences 

Ipsen Pharmaceuticals 

Myriad Genetics 

National Comprehensive Cancer Network 

Novocure 

AdvaMed 

Bayer   

Daiichi Sankyo 

EnerMech Mechanical Services 

Fight Colorectal Cancer Inc. 

GSK 

Guardant Health 

ImmunoGen 

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 

Novartis 

Organon 

Astellas 

Banner University of Arizona Cancer Center 

Caris Life Sciences 

CARTI Little Rock 

Castle Biosciences 

Cedars-Sinai Cancer 

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 

Eisai 

Foundation Medicine 

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center 

GE Healthcare 

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield 

Latham & Watkins LLP 

Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University 

Lyft 

Maryland/District of Columbia Society of Clinical Oncology (MDCSCO) 

Massachusetts Biotechnology Council 

Moffitt Cancer Center 

Novo Nordisk 

OSUCCC - James 

Penn State Cancer Institute 

Relay Therapeutics 

Sandoz 

Sentara Health 

Servier 

Society of Utah Medical Oncologists 

Subject Matter 

Swedish Institute 

Takeda   

Third Rock Ventures LLC 

UC Davis, Comprehensive Cancer Center 

UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center 

UE LifeSciences Inc. 

United States Pharmacopeia 

UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center 

Viatris 

AdventHealth 

Amica Mutual Insurance Company 

Autolus 

Baptist Health Cancer Care 

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota 

Bonterra Tech 

Cambia Health Solutions 

Capital Blue Cross 

CBRE Inc. 

Delta Dental of Washington 

Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions Inc. 

Evergreen Social Impact 

Feibelman Foundation 

GCI Communication 

GMMB Inc. 

Harvard Medical School 

Inova Schar Cancer Institute 

Intuitive Surgical 

Invitae 

Landmark Medical Center 

Lifespan Health System 

Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center 

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center 

Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center 

Mirati Therapeutics Inc. 

Nebraska Oncology Society 

New England Laborers’ Health & Safety Fund 

Northwell Health System 

Pacific Surfacing 

SmithGroup 

Stanford Medicine 

TECO Peoples Gas 

Texas Society of Clinical Oncology 

UAMS University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) 

VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center

Washington State Medical Association 

Winning Connections Inc. 

Women & Infants Hospital 

Yale University 

Pam Traxel 

Jose Buenaga Ortiz  

Dr. Dick Deming  

Dr. Douglas & Karen Kelsey  

Lisa Lacasse & Bruce Lesley  

Maureen Mann  

John J. Manna Jr. 

Scarlott Mueller  

Omar Rashid, MD, JD  

Mike & Cheryl Shult  

Sara Taylor  

Bill Underriner 

Adams-Moore LLC 

Benefis Health System 

Boehringer Ingelheim USA Corporation 

Burns & Levinson LLP 

Ric Campo 

P. Kay Coleman & Janice Montle 

Consigli Construction 

Dr. William Dahut  

Molly Daniels  

E4h Environments for Health Architecture 

Flatiron Health 

Dr. Mark Fleury  

Dr. Lewis Foxhall  

Dr. Mark Goldberg & Dr. Ursula Kaiser  

Graybar Electric Company Inc. 

Barbara Grevior  

Anna Howard  

Paul Hull  

Bernard A. Jackvony, JD 

Dr. Arif Kamal  

Linda Katz  

Jeffrey Kean  

Jim Knox  

Dr. Karen E. Knudsen & Brian Costello  

Grace Kurak  

Michael Kurak  

Unice Lieberman  

Dr. Scott & Mary Lippman  

Vince Marchetta  

Martin City Brewing Company 

Massachusetts Society of Clinical Oncologists 

Charles Matthau  

Medical Oncology Association of Southern California 

Montana State Oncology Society 

Montana’s Credit Unions 

Jim Murphy  

Michael Neal  

Nevada Oncology Society 

Philip R. O’Brien  

Pacific Source Health Plans 

Susan Penfield  

Tim Phillips  

Dr. Marcus Plescia  

Erin Polak  

Providence Alaska Medical Center 

Ujwala Deshmane Rajgopal, MD, FACS, MBA  

Gary & Cindy Reedy  

Reid, McNally & Savage LLC 

Carolyn Rhee  

Lindy Roth  

Dr. Christy Russell  

Dan Smith  

Carter Steger  

Gary & Susan Streit  

Dr. Alan Thorson  

Dr. Shalini Vallabhan  

Dr. Bruce Waldholtz  

Carolyn Williams-Goldman  

Dr. Karen Winkfield 

Devon Adams  

Aetna Bridge Company 

Ag Com Inc. 

Akari Salon & Spa 

Alderman & Alderman LLC 

Dr. Daniel “Stony” Anderson  

Mark Anderson  

Arizona Department of Health Services 

Association of Community Cancer Centers 

Atrium Health 

Auron Therapeutics 

Bank on Buffalo 

BankNewport 

Joseph Barbetta  

Barbara Behal  

David Benson  

Michael Berman  

Jocelyn Bernson  

Dr. Andrea Blake-Garrett  

Bloss Memorial Healthcare District 

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana 

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island 

David Bonfilio  

Kathy Bonnette  

Bozeman Health 

Marissa Brown  

Jim Bryant Jr. 

Elisabeth Bryant Drabkin  

Bryant University 

Buckingham & Company 

C.P. Irrigation Inc. 

California Life Sciences 

Cathy Callaway  

Capitol City Group Ltd. 

CareOregon 

Carson Higgins Memorial Foundation 

Sandra Cassese  

Charlotte Radiology 

City of Hope 

Hillary Clarke  

Clinical Trials Education Network of Wisconsin 

Brian Cohen  

Colorado Springs RV LLC 

Lois Conn  

Karen Connor  

Connor & Connor PLLC 

Cornerstone Government Affairs 

Melissa Cox  

Gay Crawford  

Roger Crawford  

Alissa Crispino  

Connie Culbreath  

Cumming Group 

Edward Curtis III 

Toni Dallison  

Linda Daschle  

Francis Davis  

Norman Davis  

Linda DeGarmo  

Bart DeGregorio  

Diana Diaz  

Emily Dickinson  

Barbara Diver  

Dregalla Development LLC 

Denis Ducey  

Duke University Corporate Accounts Payable 

Deborah Dunn  

Sharon Dymnioski  

Dodi Emmons  

Damian Eonta  

Jamie Escoto  

Espousal Strategies LLC 

F.L. Putnam Investment Management Company 

FAS & Associates 

Jeff Fehlis  

Fehr & Peers 

David Fenolio  

Tracy Fields  

Gerry Fleisher  

Galena Capital 

Frances Garrett  

Lawrence Gramling  

Kay Graven  

Kimberly Green  

Guidehouse 

Jacki Haggard Burleson  

Karen Haley-Dungan  

Leslie Hand  

HCH Enterprises LLC 

Tad Heitmann  

Kristi Hendriks  

Dr. Enrique Hernandez  

Dr. Lars Heumann  

Ron Hoff 

Holland & Knight 

Michael Holtz  

Diana Hoover-Sulewski  

Hormone Guru 

Timothy Hower  

Reid Huber  

Joseph Hudson  

Dr. Barry Hummel Jr. 

Illinois CancerCare, P.C. 

Intermountain Health – Canyons Region Utah 

Dr. Stephen Jackson  

Allison Jones Thomson  

Kristine Kawai  

Keesler Federal Credit Union 

Cynthia Kellogg  

Keudell/ Morrison Wealth Management, LLC 

John Killpack  

Dr. Marianne Kipper  

KPMG 

Amy Lin  

Connie Lindsey 

Dr. Donna Lundy  

M+R 

Magnolia Health Plan 

Ross Marchetta  

Margaret Giruc, DDS PC 

Steven Marks  

Brian Marlow  

Michael Marquardt  

Jeffrey Martin  

Margaret McCaffery  

Melissa McLain  

Media Management Services Inc. 

Krista Miller-Lutz  

Minnesota Clinical Research Alliance 

Moffitt Malignant Hematology & Cellular Therapy at Memorial Healthcare System 

Montana Association of Health Care Purchasers 

Morgan Stanley 

Mountain Health CO-OP 

Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Foundation 

Jim Murray  

Emily Myatt  

Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island 

William Novelli  

Oak Ridge Associated Universities 

Rebecca Oechsner  

Ohio Life Sciences 

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute 

Olson Remcho 

Bill Orcutt  

Oregon Nurses Association 

Palms and Pines Group of West USA Realty 

Perry Undem LLC 

Carrie Peters  

Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital 

Point32Health 

Polsinelli 

Providence Saint John’s Health Clinic 

PSA Airlines 

Public Affairs Company 

Public Opinion Strategies LLC 

Leah Pump  

Qualcomm Technologies Inc. 

Jose Ramos Jr. 

Mitchell Ratzlaff  

Katie Riley  

Richard Riley  

Ritter’s Housemade Foods 

Riverside Regional Medical Center 

Rockland Trust Company 

Jenell Ross  

Angela Sailor  

Samtec 

Corey Schneider  

Evan Segal  

Merry Sharifzad  

Silver Oak 

Wendi Silverberg  

Marlene Sincaglia  

Kirsten Sloan  

Sloan Security Group Inc. 

Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven 

Soapbox Consulting 

Southeastern Synod of the ELCA 

Paul Stadfeld  

Stephen A. Comunale, Jr. Family Cancer Foundation 

Becky Stevenson  

Stowe & Degon LLC 

Sundvold Financial 

Tarplin, Downs & Young LLC 

The RK Home Group at Compass Real Estate 

Matthew Thomas  

Thompson Cancer Survival Center 

Total Quality Logistics LLC 

Julie Turner  

Judy Tutela  

United Healthcare 

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

Valley Credit Union 

David F. Veneziano  

Veterans of Foreign Wars Ohio Charities 

Washington Trust Company 

Megan Wessel  

Ann Wheet  

Wildewood Community Neighborhood Inc. 

Brant Woodward  

Matthew Wracher  

Louise Wright  

Wyoming Hospital Association 

Wyoming State Oncology Society 

George Young III 

Zackary Zarbo 

Josie Abboud  

Terry Acayan  

Paul Adam  

George Adusei  

Sheena Aebig  

Joseph Albert  

John Alfonso  

Animal Medical Center of Seattle 

Apollo Corp Inc. 

ATRIO Health Plans 

Patty Avery  

Fowobi Badejoh  

Anita Bales  

Cynthia Ballentine  

The Bark Butler 

Jesica Beltran  

Dr. Edward Benz Jr. 

Betty Berger  

Timothy Bergreen  

Bernstein Shur 

Nathanael Billow  

Kathleen Bingham  

Bio Nebraska 

Richard Bounce  

David Brian  

Tracy Brog  

John Broome  

Dr. Laura Brown  

Hyacinth Burrowes  

Byers, Minton, & Associates 

Gabrielle Canino  

Elizabeth Carde  

Jodi Carr  

Kay Carrillo  

Pearl Carter  

Luke Cavener  

Centene Corporation 

Charles Beer Garden LLC 

Dr. Fumiko Chino  

Bennett Choice  

Dr. David Christensen  

Carolyn Coatoam  

Carole Cook  

Dana Corson  

Credit Union West 

Crowley Fleck PLLP Attorneys 

Rodger Currie  

Christopher Daniels  

Sam DeAlmeida  

Josh Deitel  

Cynthia Dickson 

E. Andrew DiSabatino Jr.

DLC Resources 

Dockside Living LLC 

David Drabkin  

Hal Dunning  

Energy Insurance Agency Inc. 

Evergreen Health Foundation 

Exterior Land Development LLC 

Feeny Family Foundation 

Fieldstone Family Homes Inc. 

David Ford  

Cary Franklin  

Diane Fraser  

David Fry  

Lori Garcia  

Tyler Garden  

Eduardo Gerlein  

Gertrude Hawk Brands Inc. 

GFY Creations 

Cynthia Ginestra  

Bernadette Glenn  

Rachel Gomez  

Grateful Palliative Care & Hospice LLC 

Megan Graziano  

Green Acres Landscape Inc. 

Lorelei Greenwood  

Janet Grove  

Michele Hagans  

Megan Haley  

Jeff Hazlewood  

Dr. Alan Henderson  

Hennepin Healthcare 

Jay Hilao  

Dr. Lourdes Hilao  

Lorna Hill  

Ralph Hirschmann  

Hof’s Hut Restaurants Inc. 

Adam Holdridge  

Holloway, Updike and Bellen Inc. 

Hope Orthopedics of Oregon 

Eunice Hostetter  

Huggins Insurance Services Inc. 

Holly Hull  

Brian Hummell  

John Hussar  

Inner Bliss Yoga Studio 

Kim Isenberg  

Jack Lingo Inc. Realtor 

Beth Johnson  

Daniel Johnson  

Mary Catherine Johnson  

Richard Johnson  

Barbara Jones  

Donnett Jourdan  

Kay Kamm  

Kapp Construction 

Karen Kay  

Peter Kelly  

Donna Kemberling  

Keyes Real Estate 

Kristopher Kipp  

Ariana Klotz  

Dr. Leslie Kohman  

LA Remedy  

Debrah La France-Iglesias  

LA Remedy 

Louis LaGrande  

Barbara Lawson  

Mary Beth Lee  

Ava Lias-Booker  

Susan Lindquist  

Barbara Lockwood  

Sr. Maggie Lopez  

Mark Lundy  

Mary-Ellen Macksoud  

Make Today Count Hawaii Inc. 

Sara Mannetter  

Joseph Marchetta  

Amy Martinez  

Louis Mateus  

George W. May Jr., DMD, PA 

Matrix Networks 

Eric Mayer  

McClain Lodge LLC 

McClain Resort 

Ebony McKinley  

Nag Me  

Chad Meredith  

Miami Lakes AutoMall 

Christina Milson  

Montana Bioscience Alliance 

Montana Hospital Association 

Anita Moore 

F. Leonard Morris Jr.

Nancy Neel  

Barbara Nickles  

Pam Niese  

Helen Nordan  

Nu-Yale Cleaners 

Gary Offerdahl  

Kathy Ottele  

Dr. Jean Paul  

Michelle Paz  

Michael Pellini  

Michelle Piech  

Maggie Powell  

Dr. Lois Ramer  

Jason Ramos  

Mithun Rathore   

Kael Reicin  

Reser’s Cares 

The Resurgam Group 

Rhode Island & South Eastern Massachusetts Chapter, Oncology Nursing Society 

Will Ris  

Carolann Risley  

Alan Roberts  

Judy Rospenda  

Dr. Allison Rossett  

Mary Rouvelas  

Michelle Rubin  

Patricia Ryan  

Sara Sahli  

Salem Gastro 

Scott Sanborn  

Elizabeth Schaefer  

Christine Schaub 

Kevin Schlicht  

Schuler Bauer Real Estate 

Jacquelyn Scott  

Seaman Restaurant Corporation 

Peter Sedlak  

Deb Seng  

Sukhdev Singh, DMD, PS 

Singing River Health Foundation 

Richard Soll  

Paige Southern  

Betty Jane Sparrow  

Annette Spellen  

Joe Stadther  

Ellen Stein  

Sue Stewart  

STI-CO-Co Industries Inc. 

Gregory Storm  

Ronald Sulewski  

Franklin Taylor  

Brian Tenney  

Thomann Electrical Service Ltd. 

Andy Thompson  

Timmel Associates LLC 

William Tobin  

Todd Garfield, Beckman Williamson Funeral Home 

Tops Friendly Markets LLC 

Jennifer True  

Lynn Tubalinal  

Carol Van Hal Browne  

Valerie Vandyke  

Sharon Vire  

Vive Rx 

Brittani Von Roden  

Lynn Wakem  

Kitti Walkup-Birkhead  

Pamela Warshavsky  

Watkins Construction & Roofing 

Weber Shandwick 

Kate Weissman  

Deborah Werner  

Western Farmers Electric Cooperative 

Western Union 

Paul Westrick  

Lisa White  

David Whitestone  

Kim Whitley  

Christina Wright  

Vivian Wych  

Chieh-Yin Yang  

Christine Yoder  

Margaret Yuen  

Ronald Zanotti  

Bethany Zell  

Zion Chapel FWB Church 

Ace Home Improvements 

Susie Adorante  

Sean Alexander  

Sue Alexander  

Mary Alford  

Thomas Andersen  

Heather Antos  

Gladys Arias  

Alice Ashman  

Britta Babel  

Stuart Bachelder  

Dr. Terry Badger  

Joseph Bae  

Timothy Baechle  

Dr. Lisa Bailey  

Lynda Barbour  

Barringer Construction 

Bruce Barron  

Jade Bechelli  

Beebe Healthcare 

Karen Bell  

Denise Berard  

Kathryn Bermudez  

Alan Bleier  

Nicole Bodnar  

Kathleen Bond  

Patricia Bossert  

Carrie Boston  

Michael Brady  

Dr. Adrienne Brian  

Bridgeton Public Charter School 

Andrea Britcher  

Geraldine Brooks  

Sandra Brown  

Bula’s Antiques & Collectibles LLC 

Zachary Busey  

Nikki Cala  

Jake Calkins  

Callistus Smith Agency Insurance 

Robin Campbell  

Carol Drake State Farm Insurance Companies 

Dr. Constance Carroll  

David Carson  

Raymond Carson  

Cary Medical Center 

Stephen Cline  

Misti Coker 

Betty Collier  

Conroy Funeral Home 

Linda Cookingham  

Donald Coon  

Cooper Commercial Investment Group 

Dr. Carol Coram  

Sally Cowal  

Rhonda Craycraft  

Crossroads Roofing Supply 

Hugh Cunningham  

Marianne Dailey  

Steve Daugherty  

Dr. Annette David  

Xavier De Caire  

Sidney Degan III 

Ashley DeGooyer Lee  

Abby Delamotte  

Wendy Demark-Wahnefried  

Jennifer Diamantis Tawes  

Dino’s Pizza Restaurant 

Jared Dirks  

Disability Law Center 

DKI Health LLC 

Richard Douglas  

Dream Builders 

Dreamland Day Care Center Inc. 

Nina Durham  

Alison Dye  

Marcia Earle  

Edward Avedis Fine Jewelers 

Anita Eerdmans  

Barbara Effman  

Dr. Clifford Eke Jr. 

Elevated Shredding 

Ann Emmerich  

Anna Eng  

JP Entrocassi  

Equity Trust Company 

Kathryn Erickson  

Mike Eyerly  

Glenn Eyrich  

Kristen Fallon  

Farmers State Bank 

Ashley Ferguson  

Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund 

Sr. Theresa Firenze  

Ed Forbes Curtis  

Penny Fraley  

G & G Electric Service Co. Inc. 

Kathleen Gallagher  

Antonio Garcia  

Katelyn Rose Garden  

Elizabeth Garland  

Gastroenterology Specialties 

Maria-Luisa Gay  

David Glidden  

Goldman Sachs 

Mike Grady  

Jen Grand-Lejano  

Joyce Graves  

James Gray  

Joan Gray  

Thurston Gray  

Helen Greet  

Rob Grilley  

Ashlie Haas-Rodriguez  

Joshua Hadar  

Justin Hage  

Deidra Hamilton  

Trista Hargrove  

Jonise Harris  

Dr. Ben Hauschildt  

Rodney Hawkins  

Ruth Heineman  

Mark Henderson  

Deanna Henkle  

Carmon Hicks  

Dale Hillard  

John Hoctor  

Jeffrey Hollander  

Scott Holley  

Dan Hopgood  

Dana Hopkins  

James Hoppe  

Jacqueline Hoskins  

House of Israel 

Dave Huml  

Aditya Indla  

Brent Jaffe  

Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard  

Bryte Johnson Jr. 

Lori Johnson  

Robert Johnson Jr. 

Patricia Jones  

Diane Junis  

Jean Kagan  

Jay Kalisky  

Carol Kay-Bray  

Mary Kemp  

Gregory Kernan  

Travis Ketterman  

Tony Khairallah  

Charles Kicker  

Steve Klosterman  

Ricky Koch  

Kristian Koehler  

Dee Koehnke  

Sandra Koglin  

Troy Kucera  

Robert Lacasse  

Debbi LaClair  

Ladybug Cleaning Co. 

Laura LaRose  

Max Lawhon  

Andy Layman  

Don & Jean Leone  

Leschi Market 

Beth Lewis  

Life Event Center at Florida Memorial Gardens 

Clifford Liles  

Lorna Lindo  

Hollis Linginfelter  

Lydia Lippold-Gelb  

Irma Lockridge  

Ann Long  

Thomas Long  

Mark Lopatin  

Eric Louttit  

Lucky Homes LLC 

Wendy Lydon  

Spencer Lyons  

Jeff Mader  

Magnolia Management LLC 

William Mahoney  

J.P. Mann  

Nancy Marcoux  

Kathleen Marquardt 

Areva Martin  

Carla Martin  

Linda Martin  

Jason Masony  

Nancy Massa  

Bonnie May  

Erica McCarthy Storm  

Carnella McDonald  

Stephen McKinnon  

Kelly McShane  

Pranav Medida 

Vandana Mehra  

Theresa Mendez  

Jim Midtlien  

Bradley Milstead  

Brenda Milstead  

Mariah Monks  

Rosemary Moore  

Moose Ridge Associates 

Angel Morales  

Jeff Morgart  

Dr. Jean Morrell  

Patti Morris  

Cheri Morrison  

Steve Morrissey  

Jillian Moul  

MoxCar Marketing + Communications 

Tammy Moyle  

Charisma Mustin  

Dr. Laura Nathan  

Diana Navarre  

Richard Navarro  

Charlotte Neale  

James Neary  

Brenda Nevidjon  

Bradley Niswonger  

Craig Norman  

Norwood Investments, LLC 

Misty Oblak  

Thomas O’Donnell  

Old National Bancorp 

Carrie Olson  

Melissa Olson 

K. Ottele 

R.J. Ours   

John Paluch  

Nishith Pandya  

Ken Park  

Party Perfect Rentals 

Brett Paulsrud  

Ronnie Payne  

Greg Pemberton  

Dr. Steven Perlman  

Diane Petagna  

Randall Phillips  

Ellen Phillips-Angeles  

Cindie Pierce  

Belkis Plata  

Kyle Polke  

Portsmouth Chapter, The Links Inc. 

Julian Powell  

Robert Prieto  

Pro Enterprises LLC 

Matt Prokop  

Sandi Pruitt  

Vern Puchalski  

Brent Raap  

Rantos Maintenance and Landscape 

Jill Rappis  

Sasha Reddy  

Stratton Reichen  

James Reinhard  

Ruffin Rhodes  

Rhonda Richardson-Kovanda  

L. Ritterbush 

Wanda Roberts  

Ana Rocha  

Juanita Rodriguez  

Michael Rodriquez  

Donna Rogers  

Scott Rollin  

Peggy Rosenzweig  

Frances Ruley  

Teresa Rutherford  

Jean Ryan  

Salon Karen Inc. 

Gabriella Sandoval  

Lisa Sarbach  

Dr. Carmen Sato-Bigbee  

John Scanniello  

Ellen Schafer  

Robert Schechner  

Danielle Scholz  

Seaman-Pollard Family Restaurants Inc. 

Cynthia Serna  

Gregory Serra  

Karyn Shatzman  

Ena Shaw  

Bill Sherman II 

Cheryl Sherman  

Prithpal Singh  

Ron Sitrin  

Kim Smarsh  

Jane Smith  

Suzann Speckman  

Jennifer Speicher  

Gwen Spencer  

St. Dominic Academy 

Dr. Walter Stadler  

Debra Stamps  

Catherine Standiford  

Walter Stein  

Joann Stone  

Sarah Strawbridge  

Jane Streets  

Strides 2 Thrive 

Tammy Strik  

Jennifer Sumner  

Anthony Suy  

Angie Sylling  

Paul Sylling  

Mary Jane Sylvester Mooney  

Chris Tague  

Laura Tancredi-Baese  

Dr. Skyler Taylor  

Tely’s Chinese Restaurant 

Gretchen Testerman  

Dr. Cornelius Thiels  

Lakisha Thomas  

Tawana Thomas- Johnson  

Tina Thompson  

Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing 

Barbie Todd  

Gary Toebben  

John Tramontin  

Divina Tulio  

U.S. Bank Foundation 

Matthew Valliere  

Heidi Varner  

Charlie Vaughan  

Mike Veeneman  

Philip Vivirito  

Michele Voelker  

Lisa Vorse  

Annette Vrolyk  

Gary Waddell  

The Waldo School 

Lynda Walrath  

Roxy Watson  

Thomas Weilert  

Mary Lee Welch  

Sarah Wells  

Welltree Inc. 

Jan White  

Cory Whiting  

Charles Wicklin  

Philip Wijmer  

Lisa Wilfong  

Jackie Williams  

Dr. Jason Wilson  

Beverly Winkelmann  

Dr. George Worsham Jr. 

Linda Wright  

John Yadlosky  

Shaghayech Zakerion  

Samantha Zapoleon 

Special Thanks and Recognition

Following are additional individuals and organizations that helped make 2023 such a successful year for ACS CAN. We also extend a sincere thank-you to those not specifically mentioned here, as this list is by no means exhaustive, and to our colleagues to whom we had to bid farewell in 2023. Please know your contributions did not go unnoticed.

State Lead Ambassadors 

Ambassador Constituent Teams 

National Ambassador Team 

ACS CAN Team Members

American Cancer Society Team Members 

ACS CAN Board of Directors 

The House Cancer Caucus 

The Senate Cancer Coalition 

ACSí Se Puede Hispanic/Latino Advocacy Alliance

The Asian American & Pacific Islander Volunteer Caucus

The Black Volunteer Caucus

The LGBTQ+ & Allies Engagement Group

The ACS CAN Young Leaders Caucus

ACS CAN’s efforts are supported by the work of attorneys who donate their time, services and specialized expertise as part of the Judicial Advocacy Initiative (JAI) to help advance our mission. Thank you to these individuals.

Melissa Allison 

Austin Anderson 

Jenna Becker 

Craig Bleifer 

Nathan Brown 

Allison Cohen 

Adam Cooper 

Thomas Curvin 

Peggy Dotzel 

Jeffrey Dubner 

Ashley Edmonds 

Bruce Fried 

Emily Gerry 

Andrew Goldfarb 

Brian Hopkins 

Christopher Janney 

Lindsay Kaplan 

Caroline Kessler 

Paul Kominers 

Scott Lewis 

Seth Lloyd 

John Longstreth 

Gretchen Mahoney 

Christina Marshall 

Aileen McGrath 

William O' Brien 

Joseph Palmore 

Beth Petronio 

Andrew Pincus 

Michael Pineault 

Cybil Roehrenbeck 

Emanuel Rouvelas 

William Schultz 

Benjamin Seel 

Sarah Somers 

Caroline Wolverton 

2023 Advocacy Award Recipients

ACS CAN recognizes exceptional volunteers, team members and elected officials throughout our annual Leadership Summit & Lobby Day.

The National Distinguished Advocacy Award (NDAA), which is ACS CAN’s most prestigious advocacy honor, is awarded to public officials for leadership in the mission to end cancer as a public health problem. The 2023 NDAA recipients were:

  • Governor Roy Cooper (D-NC)
  • Governor Mike DeWine (R-OH)
  • Senator Phil Berger (R-NC)
  • Senator Jim Burgin (R-NC)
  • Senator Kevin Corbin (R-NC)
  • State Representative Donny Lambeth (R-NC)
  • State Representative Tim Moore (R-NC)

 

Volunteer Award for Excellence in Advocacy (VAEA)*

Jacqueline Beale, Maryland

State Lead Ambassador (SLA) of the Year

Kay Coleman, California

Ambassador Constituent Team (ACT) Lead of the Year

Adrenne Meyer, Michigan

Barbara Behal, Texas

Karen Malcolm, Oregon

Kim Lindgren, Kentucky

Young Leader Award

Cody Wolf, Idaho

State Advocacy Team of the Year

North Carolina

*The Volunteer Award for Excellence in Advocacy, ACS CAN’s highest honor for volunteers, is presented annually to exemplary volunteers in recognition of outstanding leadership and continuous service in the area of advocacy and public policy. 

ACS Partner of the Year: 

Maria Cristy, Vice President of Cancer Control and Patient Services, Puerto Rico

Field Government Relations Professional of the Year: 

Emily Myatt, Regional Government Relations Director 

Field Grassroots Professional of the Year: 

Spencer Lyons, California Senior Grassroots Manager 

National Professional of the Year: 

Rachael Eerdmans, Associate Director of Advocacy Volunteer Engagement

Dave Woodmansee Award for Excellence* 

Dana Hopkins, Director of Advocacy Customer Relationship Management (CRM) 

*In honor of longtime ACS CAN State and Local Campaigns Director David Woodmansee, who passed away in 2019, this award is presented to a team member who has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in the areas of advocacy and public policy.  

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