To promote the work of its member centers, AACI publishes Commentary, an editorial series focusing on major issues of common interest to North American cancer centers.
Each AACI Commentary is written by a cancer center leader or subject matter expert and distributed by email to subscribers of the AACI Update newsletter.
The publication is designed to cover a specific topic in 750-1,000 words. Recommendations for topics and authors are encouraged.
Chris Zurawsky
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
412-802-6775
Emily Stimmel
Communications and External Relations Manager
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By Yolanda Sanchez, PhD
Last month I embarked on a new phase in my career as director and CEO of the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center (UNMCCC), where I am breaking new ground as the first Hispanic woman to lead a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Center. This is not only a significant professional accomplishment for me personally, but an important milestone in the ongoing effort to diversify the cancer center leadership pipeline.
In my new role, I must acknowledge the changing face of directors of AACI cancer centers and the trailblazers, role models, and mentors who came before me to lead NCI-Designated Cancer Centers. My peers include women, Hispanic/Latinx and African American men, and other underrepresented minorities (URM). This is also a timely opportunity, as the NCI now prioritizes building a diverse workforce to serve unique populations and remove health disparities.
Read the March 2023 Commentary.
Fostering DEI, Providing Culturally Competent Care, and Eliminating the "Minority Tax" at AACI Cancer Centers
By Yolanda Sanchez, PhD
March 2023
Time to Step Outside the Box, Look Back, and PAUSE
By George J. Weiner, MD
February 2023
Best Practices for Maximizing the Value Added By External Advisory Boards
By Anita L. Harrison, MPA
January 2023
Low NCI Paylines and Grant Success Rates Compromise Research Potential
By Roy A. Jensen, MD; Steven K. Libutti, MD, FACS; Thomas J. Lynch, Jr., MD; and Leonidas
C. Platanias, MD, PhD
December 2022
Collaboration is Key to Advancing Precision Medicine in Prostate Cancer Treatment
By Heather Cheng, MD, PhD, and Channing Paller, MD
November 2022
The 2022 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting: Cancer Center Collaboration Meets Federal Cancer Policy
By Cornelia Ulrich, MS, PhD
October 2022
CTO Staff Retention Task Force Recommendations: Retaining and Recruiting Top Talent Amid the Great Resignation
By Leonidas C. Platanias, MD, PhD
September 2022
Democratizing Artificial Intelligence: Bringing Automated Machine Learning Technologies to Basic, Translational, and Clinical Cancer Researchers
By Dan Theodorescu, MD, PhD, and Jason H. Moore, PhD
August 2022
Enhancing the Diversity of the Cancer Leadership Pipeline
By Caryn Lerman, PhD
July 2022
2022 AACI/AACR Hill Day Highlights Importance of Strong Funding, Continued Advocacy
By Jaren Love
June 2022
Driving Change in Lung Cancer: Cancer Centers Must Ensure That Lung Screening Reaches Those Who Can Benefit Most
By Candace S. Johnson, PhD
May 2022
Marketing and the Physician Outreach Team
By Erin McElwain, MHA, and Heidi Findlay
April 2022
Repairing Damage to Clinical Trials Office Staffing
By Kristie Moffett
March 2022
Our Best Defense Against Cancer: Robust Funding is Essential to Continued Research Progress
By Roy A. Jensen, MD
February 2022