The members of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) recently elected four new officers to ASTRO’s Board of Directors:
- Catheryn M. Yashar, MD, FASTRO, President-Elect
- Jonathan Strauss, MD, MBA, Secretary/Treasurer-Elect
- Anita Mahajan, MD, FASTRO, Health Policy Council Vice Chair
- David J. Carlson, PhD, FASTRO, Science Council Vice Chair.
These officers will begin their terms on September 30 at ASTRO’s 67th Annual Meeting in San Francisco. Dr. Yashar will take office as President-Elect and assume the Presidency in September 2026. ASTRO’s Board represents the medical society’s 10,000 members, including physicians, medical physicists, biologists, radiation therapists, and other professionals who treat patients for cancer and other diseases using radiation therapies.
President-Elect
Dr. Yashar is Professor of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), where she also serves as Chief Medical Officer and Associate Dean for UCSD Health. She specializes in brachytherapy and treating patients with breast and gynecologic cancers. A nationally recognized expert in health policy and economics, Dr. Yashar currently serves on ASTRO’s Board as Health Policy Council Chair.
Dr. Yashar served on the editorial boards of ASTRO’s three journals and as Vice Chair of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s (NCCN) cervical/uterine expert panel. Her extensive leadership experience also includes serving as President of the American Brachytherapy Society and as a trustee of the American Board of Radiology, contributing to the development of national clinical guidelines and overseeing board certification exams.
Key priorities for Dr. Yashar during her tenure on the ASTRO Board include advocating for reimbursement models that reflect the cost and value of radiation oncology, including the Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) Act currently before Congress, as well as strengthening collaboration with related medical specialties and expanding the visibility of radiation medicine within the broader medical community, including its use in treating noncancerous conditions.
“Radiation oncology is an essential pillar of modern cancer care, defined by precision, compassion, and a commitment to care that is both cutting-edge and deeply personal,” said Dr. Yashar. “Each year, we cure more cancers with fewer complications—delivering safe, life-changing care. As ASTRO President, I intend to amplify our specialty’s unique voice. By deepening collaboration with other disciplines, supporting research that transforms our field, and advocating for policies that reflect the true worth of our care, we can ensure radiation oncology remains at the forefront of patient-centered, outcome-driven medicine.”
Secretary/Treasurer-Elect
Dr. Strauss is Professor of Radiation Oncology and medical education at Northwestern Medicine, where he specializes in treating patients with breast and gynecologic cancers and serves as the department’s Vice Chair of Operations. Dr. Strauss previously served on ASTRO’s Finance/Audit Committee and Payment Systems Committee and was President of the Chicago Radiological Society. As Secretary/Treasurer, Dr. Strauss will oversee ASTRO’s budget and work to ensure the society’s financial strength to support its critical work in advancing research, education, and clinical care.
Health Policy Council Vice Chair
Dr. Mahajan is Professor of Radiation Oncology and Medical Director of Particle Therapy at the Mayo Clinic, where she specializes in pediatric oncology and treating patients with brain and spinal cord tumors. Dr. Mahajan has broad experience shaping health policy at the national level, including serving as the current Chair of ASTRO’s Health Policy Committee, Vice Chair of its Code Development and Valuation Subcommittee, and former Vice Chair of its Payer Relations Subcommittee. During her Board tenure, Dr. Mahajan will help lead ASTRO’s efforts to pass the ROCR Act and secure stable, fair payment systems that safeguard equitable access to high-quality cancer care, as well as supporting policies that curb harmful prior authorization policies.
Science Council Vice Chair
Dr. Carlson is Professor and Vice Chair of Therapeutic Radiology at Yale University and Director of Medical Physics in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Yale New Haven Health. His research focuses on understanding the biophysical mechanisms that determine patient response to radiation therapy and implementing novel technologies and cross-disciplinary collaborations to improve cancer treatment outcomes. A longtime ASTRO volunteer, Dr. Carlson currently serves as Deputy Editor for the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics (Red Journal) and previously chaired the society’s Science Education and Program Development Committee. In his new role, Dr. Carlson will help guide ASTRO’s scientific initiatives such as industry collaborations that address challenging research questions and funding opportunities that support early-career researchers.
