Being a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Association for Clinical Oncology (collectively, ASCO) means being a part of a global network of peers with whom one can network, share ideas, and attend meetings, whether in person or virtually—all of which contribute to our common goal of providing the highest-quality and equitable care to patients with cancer. ASCO members are “part of a vital organization that is making an enormous impact advocating for the needs of patients with cancer and the providers who care for them,” as member Paul J. Hesketh, MD, FASCO, stated.
ASCO is the professional home for nearly 45,000 members around the world, who are oncology professionals from all practice settings—academic, community, hospital, and cancer centers. The organization is the leading resource for best practices in clinical oncology research and academic and community practice. Its objectives are to connect oncology professionals to the latest education and research—and one another—to improve the patient experience; advance access to high-quality cancer care; increase funding for cancer research by bringing evidence-based authority to shape cancer policy; and both support and share breakthrough research and cutting-edge cancer knowledge with oncology professionals worldwide.
ASCO is committed to providing the oncology community with the latest educational resources—it’s right there in the organization’s mission: “Conquering cancer through research, education, and promotion of the highest quality, equitable patient care.”
Whether it’s cutting-edge science delivered though its high-caliber scientific meetings and symposia or on-demand digital courses for learning anytime, anywhere, ASCO supports the educational needs of oncology professionals.
Being an ASCO member is the easiest way to keep current on the ever-changing practice of oncology. From quickly accessing clinical practice guidelines to abstracts offering the latest research data, ASCO keeps members informed and up-to-date, optimizing the member’s delivery of complex cancer care.Bryan Schneider, MD
“Being an ASCO member is the easiest way to keep current on the ever-changing practice of oncology,” said ASCO member Bryan Schneider, MD. “From quickly accessing clinical practice guidelines to abstracts offering the latest research data, ASCO keeps members informed and up-to-date, optimizing the member’s delivery of complex cancer care.”
Learning is a science, and the leadership and staff in ASCO’s Education, Science, and Professional Development Department (ESPD) have recently updated the Society’s educational offerings in accordance with the latest evidence about how people process, retain, and apply newly attained knowledge. This supports the needs of the members, who are busy professionals with limited time.
What they’ve developed is a series of educational products and experiences—“a continuum of learning,” as ESPD Vice President Jamie Von Roenn, MD, FASCO, calls it—that takes learners on a journey from hearing the latest studies and evidence presented at an ASCO meeting to putting findings into practice with their patients.
These resources, free or discounted for ASCO members, include:
Another format ASCO is using to disseminate critical scientific and clinical information is podcasts, and ASCO offers nine podcast programs covering a range of educational and scientific content and offering enriching insight into the world of cancer care.
Learn more about ASCO’s digital offering by visiting the full ASCO Education course catalog.
ASCO’s meetings and symposia—hosted both in person and online—provide attendees with the most cutting-edge science to keep practitioners up to date and giving the best possible care to their patients.
The ASCO Annual Meeting is an unparalleled opportunity to connect with one of the largest, most diverse audiences in global cancer care and learn about the latest research and tools, standards, and models for quality care; hear personal stories from a diverse lineup of ASCO Voices focused on health equity; connect with thought leaders, industry experts, and peers; and engage in professional development and mentorship activities.
To help reinforce the material being presented, last year several Expert Answers courses were developed that tie to research presented at the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting. The goal is to connect the latest science that practitioners learned at the meeting to patient care and real cases they would see in their clinics, helping them to apply best practices and evidence-based research. The plan is to continue developing these courses with material presented at future meetings.
Another enrichment activity ASCO began in 2021 as part of its commitment to highlighting the latest oncology science and research and keeping discussions among professionals ongoing was the virtual ASCO Plenary Series. It is overseen by a multidisciplinary Scientific Review Committee whose members have diverse expertise spanning many disease sites, and members of the cancer community from all oncology disciplines are encouraged to submit abstracts.
The first session took place in November 2021, and sessions are being held regularly through April 2022; they will resume after the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting with a session scheduled for August. At each session, one or two abstracts are presented, followed by a live discussion with the audience.
For a more intimate and specialized experience, ASCO provides oncology care team members with the ideal venues for networking with experts and learning about the most significant and timely scientific discoveries in their respective fields through symposia and educational collaborations. ASCO members receive discounted rates for the following meetings:
ASCO is committed to providing resources that help our members and the larger oncology care community stay updated on the latest information, and also how to put that knowledge into clinical practice to provide the highest-quality patient care.
Each year, research conducted worldwide yields volumes of new evidence that helps improve the care of people living with cancer. ASCO’s high-quality guideline development process synthesizes and provides a critical assessment of this evidence, along with leading expert interpretation, to reflect the culmination of progress in a specific area of cancer research.
Access ASCO’s trustworthy, evidence-based guidance regarding the best cancer treatments and care for patients.
As cancer care delivery evolves—with advanced treatments, more integrated care teams, and stronger emphasis on value—ASCO helps provide the highest quality care through tools and resources including:
“As an ASCO member, I was able to learn and develop projects of national relevance,” said Anghel Adrian Udrea, MD, PhD, who runs a community oncology practice in Romania. “By attending the Quality Training Program our team could develop a culture of self-quality control. ASCO QOPI Certification was very helpful in defining quality practice standards particularly for our oncology pharmacy and nurses.”
Learn more at practice.asco.org.
As an ASCO member, I was able to learn and develop projects of national relevance. By attending the Quality Training Program our team could develop a culture of self-quality control. ASCO QOPI Certification was very helpful in defining quality practice standards particularly for our oncology pharmacy and nurses.Anghel Adrian Udrea, MD, PhD
In 2014, in an effort to broaden the research base beyond the small 3% of all patients with cancer who participated in clinical trials, ASCO launched CancerLinQ®. This real-world oncology data platform collects and aggregates longitudinal electronic health record (EHR) data from oncology practices throughout the United States. The diverse data the platform pulls in represent the spectrum of practice settings and encompass all cancer types and real-world variability in patient age, race, and ethnicity.
CancerLinQ improves the quality of patient care and accelerates discovery by securely compiling, harmonizing, analyzing, and de-identifying vast amounts of information on patient characteristics (eg, molecular profiles, comorbidities), treatments, and long-term side effects. By using data from more than 6 million patients in near real time, CancerLinQ can identify trends and associations between myriad variables, thereby enabling physicians to generate new hypotheses and apply those conclusions to improve care in real-world settings.
“We are very proud of our efforts to advance cancer care quality and research by focusing on the experience and outcomes of patients with cancer at the point of routine care across the United States and supporting analytical solutions that can provide deeper insights into variations in treatment response, inequities in access to care, and other clinically relevant questions that cannot be addressed in traditional clinical trials,” said CancerLinQ LLC CEO, Sean Khozin, MD, MPH.
Learn more at cancerlinq.org.
ASCO’s publications—including its flagship publication, Journal of Clinical Oncology—serve readers as the most credible, peer-reviewed resources for significant clinical oncology research that informs the delivery of high-quality patient cancer care. The five journals are:
Through support from donors, Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation, provides research funding opportunities for physicians and scientists at every career stage and supports ASCO programs to help ensure medical students and oncology professionals have the resources to improve care for every cancer, every patient, everywhere.
View available funding opportunities.
Through ASCO’s Center for Research and Analytics (CENTRA), ASCO members conducting research can access an array of information from the Data Library’s expansive repository. In addition, members can request to tap into ASCO’s Research Survey Pool to survey fellow members from around the world at different stages of their careers and in different specialties.
Discover new insights and additional research resources.
Cancer.Net brings the expertise and resources of ASCO to people living with cancer and their caregivers. With its timely, trusted, compassionate, and comprehensive information, Cancer.Net aims to help patients and families make informed health care decisions.
The ASCO Answers series offers oncology practices with patient education materials they can use to aid patients as they learn more about their diagnosis and get practical tips for navigating care. These guides, fact sheets, and topic-specific booklets are available free for download at cancer.net/ascoanswers and for purchase at cancer.net/estore.
Find even more authoritative, trusted patient education from Cancer.Net, including the Cancer.Net Mobile App, blog, videos, podcasts, and more by visiting Cancer.Net.
ASCO is committed to providing members with lifelong learning and training opportunities through an array of Professional Development programs and activities.
ASCO’s distinct leadership programs are designed to train future leaders in medicine by providing practicing oncologists with training from executive coaches, networking opportunities with colleagues, as well as mentorship from ASCO leaders.
Volunteers are dedicated professionals, leaders, and experts in their fields whose skills, passion, and varied perspectives help advance ASCO’s mission. Volunteering offers members opportunities to shape ASCO’s strategy while, at the same time, building new relationships with fellow professionals in the oncology field. Serving on committees and volunteer groups offer members an opportunity to:
“Volunteering to serve on ASCO committees has allowed me to connect with and learn from experts from all over the world,” said ASCO member Bryan Schneider, MD. “These committee assignments have made me a better cancer doctor, researcher, and teacher. Colleagues on committees are now friends and research collaborators. I feel my work with ASCO has directly impacted and improved patient care. The experiences I’ve had as a volunteer with ASCO have broadened my perspectives and enhanced my knowledge in ways I never would have thought possible.”
Volunteering to serve on ASCO committees has allowed me to connect with and learn from experts from all over the world. These committee assignments have made me a better cancer doctor, researcher, and teacher. Colleagues on committees are now friends and research collaborators. I feel my work with ASCO has directly impacted and improved patient care. The experiences I’ve had as a volunteer with ASCO have broadened my perspectives and enhanced my knowledge in ways I never would have thought possible.Bryan Schneider, MD
The Association for Clinical Oncology (the Association) works to ensure that all people with cancer have access to high-quality, affordable cancer care, no matter who they are or where they live. The Association advocates for policies that improve access to cancer care and clinical trials, ensure the delivery system supports the delivery of high-quality, high-value cancer care, and support a robust research infrastructure.
Take action and stay on top of critical advocacy efforts and policy news.
In 2006, ASCO created the Fellow of ASCO (FASCO) distinction to honor those members who’d provided extraordinary volunteer service and dedication to the Society, as well as to encourage members to become more involved in volunteer activities. Since then, the designation has become the premier fellowship for the oncology community.
In 2022, ASCO is providing more opportunities for its volunteers to earn points towards a Fellowship of the American Society of Clinical Oncology designation with a goal of having more members shape the trajectory of the organization and contribute their expertise to advance high-quality cancer care for patients everywhere.
Learn more about the FASCO designation and its recent updates.
“Being part of the ASCO community helps members connect through meetings, volunteer opportunities and research,” said Dr. Schneider. “These professional connections have helped expand my appreciation for different approaches to the treatment of cancer.”
Learn more about ASCO’s career development opportunities.
There are numerous benefits conferred upon ASCO’s members, including:
There is a place at ASCO for all oncology professionals, whatever their role in the oncology community or career stage.
“ASCO membership provides an opportunity to take advantage of an amazing array of member services, including discounts on educational programs and publications, service on a growing list of volunteer activities and to be part of a vital organization,” stated Dr. Hesketh.
Join today or reinstate your membership to start experiencing the value of ASCO membership.
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