Robin T. Zon, MD, FACP, FASCO
For more than 25 years, my goal as a community oncologist has been to ensure that all patients have access to the highest-quality cancer care. This is the future I stood for when I became ASCO’s 61st President and what I know our more than 50,000 members stand for. And I believe we will get there through driving knowledge to action.
Knowledge is powerful, but we know it alone doesn’t conquer cancer. Knowledge must be applied universally and intentionally to drive positive change. This requires all of us—researchers, clinicians, patients, payers, government agencies, as well as industry and community leaders—to be committed to evidence-based decision-making for all people with cancer, in all communities. Together, we are stronger than cancer.
“Driving Knowledge to Action: Building a Better Future” became the theme of my presidency, anchored by three key pillars: emerging technology, empowering advocacy, and embracing community. Reflecting on an eventful year for ASCO members, I am proud to say we have taken meaningful steps across all these domains, collectively building toward the better future our patients need and deserve.
Emerging Technology
As oncology professionals, we must stay ahead of emerging technology, driving research on the use of new tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) for the good of our patients. This technology has already revolutionized our field and improved access to care. AI-language translation tools bridge the gap between providers and patients who speak different languages. Remote monitoring devices can alert providers to potential health concerns for people in rural and other underserved areas. AI-enhanced radiology and pathology are helping us detect cancer faster and more precisely than ever before.
When combined with the expertise, judgment, and decision-making of cancer care teams, AI tools can empower us to drive knowledge into action safely and effectively while reducing workloads and allowing us more time to focus on our patients. At the same time, we must follow ASCO’s AI guiding principles—including transparency, access for all, and fairness—to ensure technology enhances, rather than compromises, the safety, quality, and accessibility of cancer care.
“Knowledge is powerful, but we know it alone doesn’t conquer cancer. Knowledge must be applied universally and intentionally to drive positive change.”— ROBIN T. ZON, MD, FACP, FASCO
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The topic of AI has had a strong presence at ASCO over the past year, from research published in Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) journals to the programming at key scientific meetings, including the 2024 ASCO Breakthrough meeting in Yokohama, Japan, which focused on novel approaches and cutting-edge technologies to improve cancer care. To further educate the field on the potential role of AI in oncology, ASCO provided a hands-on experience at its 2025 Gastrointestinal and Genitourinary Cancers Symposia, where attendees could explore AI tools and ways to incorporate the technology into their practice. ASCO continues to take a proactive approach to AI, and I am energized by its potential in our world and our work.
Empowering Advocacy
The second pillar of my Presidential theme is that we must empower advocacy to ensure all patients have access to the latest cancer advances. ASCO has long been at the forefront of evidence-based advocacy to help inform long-term solutions and public policy decisions here in the United States. Through its Association for Clinical Oncology, ASCO serves as a strong, effective voice for cancer care and patients legislatively on the federal level and increasingly at the state level. Some of the most pressing issues facing the profession include federal cancer research funding, telemedicine, drug shortages, insurance coverage and utilization management, physician payment, and the use of AI.
Getting involved with ASCO’s advocacy work is an easy, powerful way to champion the needs of patients and help drive knowledge to action. But you don’t need to visit the halls of Congress or your state capital to make your voice heard. ASCO’s ACT Network (https://asco.quorum.us/action_center/) lets you send messages directly to your lawmakers on critical issues in cancer care. One of my goals during my Presidential term was to increase member participation in the ACT Network—and I’m pleased to report that more than 7,000 letters were sent from ASCO members to U.S. lawmakers in 2024. If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to sign up as soon as you can for these grassroots efforts.
Embracing Community
Last, but not least, driving knowledge to action means embracing our community, enabling every oncology care team member in every setting to provide the highest-quality, value-based care. I mean every—ASCO is unique in that we encompass all oncology subspecialties and all members of the cancer care team. Also, we are truly a global organization, with more than one-third of membership coming from outside the United States.
Because I believe we learn best from each other, I started a President’s Corner blog (https://connection.asco.org/do/robin-zon), where I interviewed amazing ASCO community members from across the globe. For example, our members are improving survival outcomes in Kenya and developing patient education videos in every one of India’s 22 spoken languages.
Then there’s ASCO’s Rural Montana project. This initiative employs a hub-and-spoke model to bring quality cancer care to the remotest parts of the state through telehealth and collaborative care, saving patients time and money in travel costs and lost pay. For example, in its first 6 months, we estimated this project freed 15 patients from driving more than 38,000 miles to their nearest cancer center, which amounted to an approximate collective savings in fuel costs of about $10,500. Such stories invigorate me and remind me of how the oncology community is innovating to build a better future.
One such way of recognizing how our community puts knowledge into action is ASCO Certified (https://asco.org/practice-patients/quality-improvement/quality-programs/asco-certified-patient-centered-cancer-care). Launched in 2023, this special designation is reserved for oncology practices and health systems that meet a single set of evidence-based standards, and it recognizes practices delivering patient-centered, value-based cancer care. ASCO Certified is a wonderful example of how ASCO supports oncologists in providing the highest-quality cancer care across today’s challenging and constantly changing environment.
Introducing ASCO Edge
Organizing and delivering quality care certainly depend on clinical skill. But a healthy practice also requires sound management. This year, I was excited to work with ASCO leaders to develop ASCO Edge, another initiative I’m passionate about that helps move knowledge into action. ASCO Edge is a pragmatic, video- and online-based educational resource to help members effectively manage their practices and best serve their patients. The case-based learning modules will address topics such as professional service agreements, pharmacy operations, employment contracting, and budgeting—all relevant and necessary for a thriving practice providing high-quality clinical care. We encourage you to engage with ASCO Edge. Look out for the e-mails announcing its launch and join your fellow members in exploring and benefiting from this exciting new addition.
The 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting: The Place to Be Inspired
Few events capture the essence of my Presidential theme better than the ASCO Annual Meeting, coming up on May 30–June 3, 2025, at McCormick Place in Chicago. Each year, I look forward to immersing myself in the cutting-edge clinical cancer research presentations and engaging with colleagues from around the world in conversations that will transform care for our patients long after the meeting ends.
This year’s Annual Meeting features more than 200 sessions, and I want to highlight two on the pillars of emerging technology and advocacy. On May 30, “Accelerating Cancer Clinical Trials With Artificial Intelligence,” chaired by Sandip Pravin Patel, MD, of UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, will review how machine learning can improve trial design and diversity, AI tools to match patients and phase I to III oncology trials, and AI methods for early detection effectiveness and safety outcomes.
On June 2, Martin Palmeri, MD, MBA, of Messino Cancer Centers, Asheville, North Carolina, will lead “Speaking to Power With Power: Advocating for Your Profession.” Faculty will address communication skills such as how to engage the media, cover the fundamentals of high-pressure negotiations, provide insights on negotiation strategies with hospital payers, detail the role of the physician advocate, and illustrate pathways physicians can use to be an agent of change on the state and national levels.
Together, We Are Stronger Than Cancer
As oncologists, our environment is becoming more uncertain and volatile every year. But our mission never changes, and our passion never wanes—and I know we’ll get through it together.
I’m honored to have served as ASCO’s 2024–2025 President, collaborating with courageous, compassionate colleagues to drive knowledge to action. I know this work will continue as we envision and build a better future for our profession and all patients, everywhere, for generations to come.
DISCLOSURE: Dr. Zon owns stock in Moderna, Oncolytics Biotech, TG Therapeutics, Select Sector SPDR Health Care, AstraZeneca, CRISPR Therapeutics, McKesson, and Berkshire Hathaway and is a member of Cincinnati Cancer Advisors.
Dr. Zon is the 2024–2025 President of ASCO, Director of Breast Cancer Oncology at the Cincinnati Cancer Advisors, and Past Physician Emeritus at Michiana Hematology Oncology in Mishawaka, Indiana.
Disclaimer: This commentary represents the views of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of ASCO or The ASCO Post.
