Sybil R. Green, JD, RPh, MHA
Sybil R. Green, JD, RPh, MHA, has been named Diversity and Inclusion Officer by ASCO. A health-care policy expert with experience in both corporate and nonprofit organizations, Ms. Green will guide ASCO’s internal and external initiatives aimed at achieving the Society’s equity, diversity, and inclusion goals.
“Building on ASCO’s long-standing commitment to diversity and equity in cancer care, we are excited that Sybil has accepted this new role,” said ASCO Chief Executive Officer Clifford A. Hudis, MD, FACP, FASCO. “Her depth and breadth of experience combined with her extensive knowledge of the Society and its collaborators uniquely position her to lead this incredibly important work.”
Clifford A. Hudis, MD, FACP, FASCO
Motivated by galvanizing events of 2020, ASCO is accelerating its programmatic work in antiracism and equity, diversity, and inclusion, which includes new and expanded programs in research, professional development, public policy, membership, publishing, education, and care delivery. As ASCO’s Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Ms. Green will serve as a strategic leader for equity, diversity, and inclusion actions and coordinate resources across the organization to meet its goals and support a culture of continuous improvement. She also will liaise with Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, to help achieve its strategic funding aimed at scaling and growing equity, diversity, and inclusion in oncology. Within ASCO, Ms. Green will work with the executive leadership team to implement recommendations and report on progress in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion across the organization.
“Health equity is critical to delivering high-quality cancer care. Equally important is the ability for cancer care professionals and ASCO employees to feel valued in their work to meet this goal,” said Ms. Green. “It is an honor and privilege to work on behalf of the cancer care community to advance this significant work. I look forward to collaborating with ASCO’s leaders, members and volunteers, my colleagues, and partners to build on the great equity, diversity, and inclusion foundation ASCO has established.”
Ms. Green joined ASCO in 2015 to direct health-care reimbursement and coverage aspects of the organization’s quality improvement efforts. In her most recent role as Director of Strategic Initiatives in Policy and Advocacy, Ms. Green provided strategic advice to ASCO’s volunteer leaders and oversaw operational support for ASCO’s programmatic initiatives in health equity, cancer survivorship, and cancer prevention.
Prior to joining ASCO, Ms. Green held leadership positions in health-care compliance and policy in the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors. She was Vice President of Health and Wellness Compliance at Walmart Stores. While at Walmart, Ms. Green served as the VP Sponsor of the UNITY African American Associate Resource Group, which was created to address the concerns of African American associates who were part of Walmart’s 2.2 million associates worldwide.
Ms. Green was Deputy Secretary for the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. At the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, she served as Director of Policy and Programs.
Since 2011, Ms. Green has served on the Board of Trustees for the National Pharmaceutical Association Foundation, which supports the minority professional association for pharmacists founded more than 70 years ago, originally to serve African American pharmacists. She also sits on the College of Pharmacy Boards of Visitors for Howard University and Xavier University of Louisiana.
Establishing the Diversity and Inclusion Officer position furthers ASCO’s commitment to addressing disparities and promoting equity, both in cancer care and within the organization.
ASCO President Lori J. Pierce, MD, FASTRO, FASCO, is leading her 2020–2021 term with the theme “Equity: Every Patient. Every Day. Everywhere.” As Dr. Pierce explained in an interview at the start of her
Lori J. Pierce, MD, FASTRO, FASCO
term, “We’re all acutely aware of how different the outcomes are for people of color…. We need to get to the root causes to understand the barriers that patients face if we’re going to really make a difference. So, it’s important to me that equity be front and center in everything that we do.”
In August 2020, ASCO issued a formal policy statement on health equity calling for bolder, more aggressive steps to achieve equity for all patients. That statement serves as the blueprint for the Society’s 3-year health equity strategic plan.
In addition, ASCO established an internal Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Task Force to examine potential inequities in the work force and advance the organization’s efforts to embrace diversity and promote a culture of inclusion. Ms. Green currently serves as the Task Force’s co-chair.
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