The Challenge and Promise of the Genomic Era

Abstract

Welcome, colleagues, to the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Thank you all for attending—and for the passion and intelligence you bring to our society. It has been my great honor to serve as your president this past year, a year of momentous change not only for ASCO but for health care and for cancer biology as well. It is a time of real progress in the science of cancer, and I would like to spend some time with you today sharing my thoughts on where the emerging science of cancer is taking us as a profession. I am dedicating this talk to my administrative assistant, Lisa Miller, who is here with us today. Lisa keeps me out of trouble; she is dedicated, cheerful, kind, and smart. She is a wife and the mother of two beautiful daughters. Lisa also harbors a BRCA1 mutation. Recently, she was diagnosed with triplenegative breast cancer and is currently receiving chemotherapy. She is one of more than a million and a half Americans who will be diagnosed with cancer this year. I know that you will share my best wishes for Lisa, who is here today, and thank her for her willingness to represent those fighting their own personal battles with this disease. My family, and in particular my wife, Carolyn, have had to put up with my many absences this past year. I am grateful for their forbearance and loving support. ASCO Presidents benefit greatly from the support of ASCO volunteers. This year, I drew on a hugely talented group of members who populate our many committees. I do not have time to name them all, but I will draw your attention to Kathy Miller and Chuck Blanke, Chairs of the Scientific Program and Education Committees. They have devoted their all to making this meeting a success, and I am grateful to them. ASCO also benefits from an incredibly talented staff. Their esprit de corps, their work ethic, and their intelligence are incredible. From our CEO Allen Lichter on down, I have never worked with such an impressive staff in any organization. They go out of their way every day in support of our mission. STATE OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY