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Nearly 400 cancer center directors and administrators, representing 95 AACI member cancer centers, gathered in Washington, DC, last month for the 2025 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting.

On Saturday, October 18, AACI hosted two pre-conference meetings designed to strengthen the future of cancer center leadership. Over 100 registrants from 72 AACI cancer centers attended the Impact Summit, presented by AACI in partnership with the American Cancer Society and the Cancer Center Network. Concurrently, an intimate group of new cancer center directors and directors emeriti engaged in an open dialogue on various facets of cancer center operations. They joined the Impact Summit for a closing session on the power of collaboration to drive progress.

View photos: 2025 Impact Summit | 2025 New Cancer Center Directors Meeting

The annual meeting formally kicked off on Sunday, October 19. Following a comprehensive update of AACI's programs, initiatives, and finances, outgoing President Dr. Robert A. Winn, director of VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, mobilized attendees to take action. He stated, "Our communities, families, future leaders, and future scientists are depending on us to be strong – at this point, it is our only choice."

A discussion on global oncology was moderated by Dr. Patrick J. Loehrer, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, and featured Dr. Julie Gralow, American Society of Clinical Oncology; Dr. Kunle Odunsi, The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Dr. Katherine Van Loon, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Panelists shared the progress of the AACI Global Oncology Working Group and highlighted ways for cancer centers to build bidirectional, collaborative relationships to enact meaningful change on a global scale.

Former, current, and future AACI presidents put many of today's challenges in perspective, highlighting how cancer centers have coped with economic recessions, federal funding cuts, and other crises. Panelists stressed the value of educating local and national legislators and forging partnerships with other cancer centers and organizations in their communities. The conversation highlighted decades of progress in cancer research and the panelists' unwavering dedication to eradicating cancer. "No one here has a job," said Dr. Roy A. Jensen, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center. "We have a mission."

Incoming AACI President Dr. Joann B. Sweasy (pictured, left), director of Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, opened the second day of the meeting with an overview of her forthcoming presidential initiative, "Addressing the Crisis of Rural Health in Our Nation." Dr. Sweasy noted that individuals living in rural areas—roughly 14-20 percent of the United States population—generally experience higher rates of morbidity and mortality from cancer. With her initiative, Dr. Sweasy aims to identify best practices for improving cancer outcomes among rural populations, culminating in a rural summit of National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Centers in the summer of 2027.

Keynote speaker Chris Draft, (pictured, below right) a lung cancer advocate and former NFL linebacker, challenged attendees to make sure that the general public and elected officials know that research matters, but to tackle that task as "one team" with "one fight," not as individual cancer leaders or organizations.

"If research matters, it’s not just about the people doing the research, but about the people who benefit from it," he said.

Read More About Draft's Call to Action for Cancer Centers

The program also included a Q&A with Dr. Winn, AACI Executive Director Jennifer W. Pegher, and Katie Brown, legislative director and chief counsel for Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). Brown shared insights into the current government shutdown, the implications for funding priorities and federal operations, and potential paths forward. The Q&A was followed by a conversation about the intersection of medicine, politics, and media, featuring Paul Goldberg, editor of The Cancer Letter; Laurie McGinley, a board member for the recently established Patient Action for Cancer Research and a journalist who covered health care policy for The Washington Post; and Dr. George J. Weiner, director emeritus of Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa.

On the final day of the annual meeting, AACI's Physician Clinical Leadership Initiative (PCLI) hosted its 13th annual meeting with a focus on protected time for cancer researchers. PCLI Chair Dr. Karen L. Reckamp, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, moderated the discussion. Panelists were Dr. S. Gail Eckhardt, Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine; Dr. Thomas J. George, Jr., UF Health Cancer Institute; Dr. Randall F. Holcombe, The University of Vermont Cancer Center; and Dr. Claire Verschraegen, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – The James.

Dr. Sweasy moderated the closing session, which offered an exciting glimpse into the future. Dr. Clifford Cho, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, shared developments in the use of ultrasound to treat liver cancer, and Dr. Marc Benayoun, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, described how the convergence of artificial intelligence, industry funding, and government support are bringing theranostics to the forefront of cancer treatment.

Due to the government shutdown, speakers from the NCI were unable to participate in the meeting, and an October 22 retreat for directors of NCI-Designated Cancer Centers was canceled. Fortunately, AACI responded quickly to fill the gap and hosted a two-hour meeting for cancer center directors after the sessions concluded.

AACI Awards Honor Champions in Cancer Center Community

Throughout the meeting, AACI presented awards to recognize excellence in scientific achievement, health equity, cancer-focused philanthropy, and public service. The awards ceremonies allowed AACI members to express their appreciation for their peers in the cancer center community and advocates for cancer research. And with cancer research funding and health equity initiatives under threat, the 2025 awards held special significance.

The 2025 Distinguished Scientist Award was presented to Dr. Thomas F. Gajewski, The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Gajewski expressed gratitude for being recognized by his peers before highlighting his work in developing immunotherapies to treat melanoma and other cancers. 

Dr. Thomas F. Gajewski accepts the 2025 AACI Distinguished Scientist Award from Dr. Eileen Dolan.

Dr. John D. Carpten, director of the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, received the 2025 AACI Cancer Health Equity Award. The award was presented by Dr. Winn in honor of Dr. Carpten's pioneering research in genome science and health disparities and his deep commitment to justice, representation, and opportunity in medicine and science. Drs. Winn and Carpten are pictured below, left.

Dr. Candace Johnson, president and CEO of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center presented the 2025 Champion for Cures Award to the 11 Day Power Play, an organization that has contributed more than $7 million to research and wellness programs at the cancer center and supports other cancer programs in and around Buffalo, NY. In the above right photo, Dr. Johnson (right) presents the award to 11 Day Power Play co-founder Amy Lesakowski (center) and her daughter, Julia Lesakowski (left).

The final day of the meeting kicked off with the presentation of the 2025 AACI Public Service Award to Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX) (pictured below, right) and Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) (pictured below, left). Both legislators shared how their family and personal experiences with cancer inspired them to protect funding for cancer research.

Rep. Castro joked that a wild boar saved his life, explaining that a routine MRI after a car accident involving a boar in Spain revealed gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. Accepting the award from Dr. Lei Zheng, director of Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson, Rep. Castro told attendees "You represent hope that one day we’ll defeat cancer." Highlighting the importance of robust investment in cancer research, he added, "I don't believe we'll ever defeat cancer by cutting research dollars for cancer."

Dr. Barry P. Sleckman, director of O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, presented the award to Sen. Britt, who encouraged attendees to keep fighting. In accepting the award, Sen. Britt said, “I believe in America finding cures. I believe in American innovation. And I believe in the research that leads to both of those things."

Sen. Britt dedicated the award to her grandmother, who passed away from cancer 15 years ago, writing on social media that it's "her fight and memory I hold within me as I continue to support lifesaving and life-changing research across the country."

2025 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting Exhibitors and Supporters

AACI and Partners for Advancing Clinical Education express appreciation to Pfizer for providing an independent educational grant to support the annual meeting. AACI gratefully acknowledges the following organizations for providing program and exhibit support:

Adminformatics
Advarra
Caris Life Sciences®
Flatiron
Gilead
Huron Consulting Group
IgniteData
InfoReady
LeanTaaS
Merck
Natera™
nCartes
Novartis
Paradigm
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – The James
Triomics
VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center
Verily Life Sciences
Yunu, Inc.

AACI deeply appreciates the hard work and dedication of the Annual Meeting Program Committee and its chair, Dr. Ruben A. Mesa, president and CEO of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center. Thanks also to the AACI Board of Directors, cancer center members, supporters, and everyone else who made the meeting a success. We truly are better together.

Meeting recordings and slides are available on the meeting app. Please save the date for the 2026 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting, set for October 24-27, 2026 at the Marriott Magnificent Mile in Chicago.

View More Photos From the 2025 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting