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Pictured, clockwise from top right: Dr. Patricia LoRusso (Distinguished Scientist), Dr. Amelie Ramirez (Cancer Health Equity), and Dana Dornsife, founder and chief mission and strategy officer, Lazarex Cancer Foundation (Champion for Cures)

AACI congratulates this year's Distinguished Scientist, Cancer Health Equity, and Champion for Cures award recipients, selected by the AACI Board of Directors. The awards will be presented in person on Monday, October 2, during the 2023 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting.

Distinguished Scientist Award: Dr. Patricia LoRusso

Patricia LoRusso, DO, is professor of medicine, associate center director for experimental therapeutics, and leader of the Early Phase Clinical Trials Division at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital. An internationally recognized expert in drug development and early-phase clinical investigation of novel therapies, Dr. LoRusso has contributed to crucial therapeutic breakthroughs for patients with cancer. She was integrally involved in the early development of more than two dozen anti-cancer agents that are now FDA approved and has pioneered trial designs that have led to more efficient clinical drug development strategies and enhanced accessibility for underrepresented populations.

Dr. LoRusso is currently president-elect of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and chair of the New Agents Committee for Cancer Research UK; has served as chair and member of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-CTEP Investigational Drug Steering Committee; and, by NCI invitation, serves as the current co-director of the Board of Scientific Council (BSC) (Clinical Sciences and Epidemiology). She has published over 300 peer-reviewed articles in highly respected journals of science and medicine, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Science Translational Medicine, Science Reports, Lancet Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research, and the Journal of Clinical Oncology. 

Dr. LoRusso will deliver a distinguished scientist presentation on her research at 11:15 am eastern time on October 2, after the award presentation.

Cancer Health Equity Award: Dr. Amelie Ramirez

Amelie Ramirez, DrPH, MPH, chair and full professor of the Department of Population Health Sciences at UT Health San Antonio, leads a multidisciplinary team of public health researchers, data scientists, and communication specialists in addressing the cancer experience of Latinos. As leader of the community outreach and engagement (COE) team at the NCI-designated Mays Cancer Center (MCC), Dr. Ramirez has implemented changes that have improved equity and diversity in cancer clinical trial recruitment and directly involved the community in outreach, clinical research, and preventive cancer care. 

Under her leadership, the COE has partnered with government organizations to implement community-facing programs and campaigns and led the development of the MCC’s first South Texas Cancer Survey, which uncovered the catchment area respondents’ exposure to cancer information, communication preferences, knowledge about cancer risk, and behaviors to reduce cancer risk.

Dr. Ramirez has directed over 100 research programs focused on human and organizational communication to reduce cancer health disparities affecting Latinos and other minority and underserved populations, including cancer risk factors, clinical trial recruitment, patient navigation, tobacco prevention, obesity prevention, and promotion of health equity system changes. Dr. Ramirez launched the Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference and has led three national, multisite research networks. Most recently, she founded a national Latino health equity communication and advocacy network, Salud America! (SA!), at UT Health San Antonio. SA! advances health equity for Latinos by communicating culturally relevant educational content and advocacy opportunities related to the themes of Healthy Families & Schools, Healthy Communities, and Healthy & Cohesive Cultures.

Champion for Cures Award: Lazarex Cancer Foundation

Dana Dornsife, founder and chief mission and strategy officer of the Lazarex Cancer Foundation, is a devoted and generous supporter of community outreach and engagement efforts to increase access to cancer care and clinical trials in minority and disadvantaged communities in Los Angeles County. To close the cancer disparities gap, her transformative gifts created the Lazarex Impact Program to foster participation in clinical trials and Cancer Wellness Hubs. 

The Cancer Wellness Hub initiative is a place-based, community-led, and culturally appropriate model of engagement which provides education, navigation services for cancer prevention, screening, and treatment, and removes transportation and financial barriers to increase access to clinical trials and optimal care. Specially-trained Neighborhood Health Ambassadors help ensure that community residents feel welcome and valued, and are treated with respect and dignity. The Lazarex Foundation also supports sites in San Francisco (UCSF) and in Philadelphia (Abramson Cancer Center), with national expansion in the future.

Dornsife participates in regular team meetings to optimize the success of the initiative. Her steadfast focus on improving the health and quality of life for diverse and underserved populations is unique among donors, and she "walks the walk" by participating actively at every level of the program, including development, implementation, and evaluation. She has also inspired others, including Amgen, which has become a key sponsor of this work.

Registration is open for the meeting, October 1-3 at the Salamander Washington DC.

Register Today