ASCO’s Equity,
Diversity, and
Inclusion
Action Plan
A Legacy of Commitment,
A Future of Promise for
All Individuals with Cancer
Visit asco.org/equity to learn more.
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ALL PATIENTS, NO MATTER WHO THEY
ARE OR WHERE THEY LIVE, DESERVE
THE HIGHEST QUALITY CANCER CARE.
Since our founding more than 50 years ago, the American
Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has been committed to
advancing health equity in cancer care. Our mission – conquering
cancer through research, education, and promotion of the
highest quality, equitable patient care – explicitly reects our
longstanding commitment to equity.
To deliver on this enduring commitment, the ASCO Board of
Directors approved the ASCO Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
(EDI) Action Plan, which details our strategic priority activities in
each of our mission pillars: Research, Education, and Quality.
The goal of this action plan is to infuse equity into everything
we do at ASCO so that we can have a greater impact and move
closer to truly equitable patient care.
In developing this plan, the Board carefully considered where
ASCO, an oncology specialty society, could have the greatest
impact. This plan focuses on the tangible steps that ASCO
can take to move the needle and create substantial change.
ASCO will use this plan to guide our work for the next three
to ve years and hold ourselves accountable for continuing
progress into the future.
- Lori J. Pierce, MD, FASTRO, FASCO, Chair of the Board,
2020-2021 ASCO President
References:
1
Clinical trial participation rates: Duma N, Vera Aguilera J, Paludo J, et al. Representation
of Minorities and Women in Oncology Clinical Trials: Review of the Past 14 Years.
J Oncol Pract. 2018 Jan;14(1):e1-e10.
2
US population: United States Census: www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/
LFE046217
3
3 DOI: 10.1200/OP.20.00577 JCO Oncology Practice 17, no. 1 (January 01, 2021) 30-30.
4
2021 ASCO Member Survey on Health Equity Awareness and Perceptions.
https://www.asco.org/sites/new-www.asco.org/les/content-les/about-asco/docu-
ments/2021-ASCO-Domestic-Member-Equity-Survey-Summary.pdf
“We have an opportunity to capitalize on the momentum of the moment and hold
ourselves accountable, taking purposeful steps to create a world where every patient,
every day, everywhere, has access to the highest quality cancer care. I rmly believe
success is within our reach.”
Our North Star
A Snapshot – Where We Are Today:
CANCER CLINICAL TRIALS
1
Hispanic/Latinx people make up:
Where We Want to Go
As a result of our work, we aim to move closer to a world where:
• Clinical trials will more accurately represent the population of patients with cancer, clinical trials will be routinely offered
as a treatment option, and all patients will have equitable access to clinical trials.
• The oncology workforce will better reect the diversity of the population and will be well-equipped to deliver high-quality,
equitable care for every patient.
• There will be fewer barriers to accessing cancer care, and practices will have the resources needed to advocate for patients
and sustainably deliver high-quality, equitable care to all patients.
• 2.6% of participants in
cancer clinical trials
• 6% of participants in cancer
clinical trials
• 60% feel responsible for
addressing health disparities
• 33% feel prepared
to address disparities
• 0.1% American Indian or Alaska Native
• 3.0% Black or African American
• 4.7% Hispanic or Latinx
• 34.4% Female
• 18.1% of U.S. population
2
• 13.4% of U.S. population
Black people make up:
U.S. ONCOLOGY WORKFORCE
3
PROVIDER PREPAREDNESS
4
Research
Certain groups are underrepresented
in clinical cancer research.
Education
The oncology workforce is insucient in
low-resource settings and does not adequately
understand how EDI issues affect patients and
the professionals who care for them.
Resources are limited and unevenly distributed,
leaving practices without sucient support to
deliver high-quality, equitable care across
diverse populations.
Quality
ASCO EDI ACTION PLAN
• Promote improvements in trial eligibility to
ensure trials include more underrepresented
populations
• Enhance recruitment of underrepresented
patients in clinical trials, including through
a site assessment tool and inherent bias
training program for the oncology
research community
• Design ASCO-sponsored research to ensure
it reects ASCO’s EDI mission
• Build diverse pipeline of oncology
professionals and leaders by increasing
participation in ASCO professional
development programs by UIM
*
members or members from low- and
middle- income countries (LMIC)
• Increase diversity of ASCO volunteers and
leadership by recruiting women and UIM
members to serve in ASCO leadership roles
• Increase awareness of EDI issues and
opportunities by developing and delivering
equity-related educational content
to members
• Equip practices to address social needs of
their patients by creating and sharing tools
and resources
• Promote and protect equitable access to
high-quality cancer care, especially in rural
and low-resource settings, through quality
improvement and capacity building initiatives
• Empower cancer care providers with
evidence-based resources to advocate for
patients, resources, and personnel to ensure
equitable access to high-quality cancer care
WHAT WE WANT TO FIX
HOW WE PLAN TO FIX IT
Key Term:
* Underrepresented in Medicine (UIM) –
Refers to racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population.
For the purposes of this EDI Action plan, UIM refers to people who identify as: American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Latinx/
Hispanic, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacic Islander.
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6 asco.org 7
JOIN US IN CREATING A FUTURE OF PROMISE
FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH CANCER
Learn more about equity in cancer care:
• Visit asco.org/equity for ASCO’s
resources on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Find resources for patients on Cancer.Net.
We have resources to address nancial
toxicity, insurance access, and more.
• Take courses about social determinants
of health, cultural humility, and other aspects
of EDI at education.asco.org
Take action to support ASCO’s EDI
Action Plan:
• Sign up make your voice heard on equity-
related policy issues at asco.org/ACTNetwork
• Volunteer as a mentor at
asco.org/career-development/mentorship
Join our community of engaged ASCO members
interested in taking action to move closer to
high-quality, equitable cancer care for
every patient.
Learn more at asco.org/equity.
Lori J. Pierce, MD, FASTRO, FASCO, Chair, ASCO EDI Strategic Priorities Task Force
Research workgroup:
• Gladys Rodriguez, MD
• Amy Peterson, MD
• Gilberto Lopes, MD, MBA
• Katie Reeder-Hayes, MD, MBA, MSc
• Tracey Weisberg, MD, FASCO
Education workgroup
• Elizabeth Plimack, MD, MS
• Kurt Oettel, MD
• Sanford Jeames, DHA
• Enrique Soto, MD, MSc
Quality workgroup
• Michael Jefford, MBBS, MPH, PhD
• Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, MD, MSc
• Elizabeth Mittendorf, MD, PhD, FASCO
• William Blackstock, MD, FASCO
Thank you to all of the members of the ASCO Equity, Diversity,
and Inclusion Strategic Priorities Task Force for sharing their
expertise to develop this EDI Action Plan.
"With this plan, we are committing ourselves
to make substantial progress towards a
more equitable, diverse, and inclusive
oncology community, with the ultimate
goal of making cancer care more equitable
for all people, worldwide."
-Everett E. Vokes, MD, FASCO, 2021–2022 ASCO President
ASCO and Conquer Cancer
®
, the ASCO
Foundation would like to extend a very special
thank you to EDI Initiative Donors for assuring
high-quality and equitable care for every
patient with cancer.
American Society of Clinical Oncology
2318 Mill Road, Suite 800
Alexandria, VA 22314 USA
asco.org
About the American Society of Clinical Oncology
Founded in 1964, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO
®
) is
committed to the principle that knowledge conquers cancer. Together with the
Association for Clinical Oncology, ASCO represents nearly 45,000 oncology
professionals who care for people living with cancer. Through research, education,
and promotion of high quality, equitable patient care, ASCO works to conquer
cancer and create a world where cancer is prevented or cured, and every survivor
is healthy. Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, supports ASCO by funding
groundbreaking research and education across cancer’s full continuum. Learn
more at www.ASCO.org, explore patient education resources at www.Cancer.Net,
and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
© 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
