WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 10, 2022— Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, will serve as the National Cancer Institute (NCI)’s new director. This role is critical to ensuring ongoing innovation in oncology and Bertagnolli could not be a better choice to lead NCI into the bold future that is cancer discovery. In addition to holding many professional memberships and appointments Bertagnolli also serves on the American Cancer Society (ACS)’s Board of Directors.
“Dr. Bertagnolli’s candor, insight, and leadership experience made her an invaluable contributor in the deliberations of our national Board of Directors, and we will miss her,” said Michael Marquardt, ACS national board chair. “She will be an excellent advocate for cancer patients and their families at the National Cancer Institute. Together we can end cancer as we know it, for everyone.”
Bertagnolli is joining NCI from Harvard University, where she has been since 1999. At Harvard Medical School, she holds the position of the Richard E. Wilson Professor of Surgery in the Field of Surgical Oncology. She is also a member of the Gastrointestinal Cancer and Sarcoma Disease Centers at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center.
“ACS and ACS CAN are strongly supportive of this choice as the next NCI director. Dr. Bertagnolli is an exceptional surgical oncologist, innovative scientist, and leader who has a strong track record of transforming organizations to effect positive change,” said Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of ACS and ACS CAN. “She is also a fierce advocate for addressing healthcare disparities, particularly in underserved and rural communities. Through her work with ACS, she has been instrumental in the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)’s work on Medicaid expansion.”
With a focus on treating tumors from gastrointestinal diseases, Bertagnolli collaborates with colleagues in medical oncology, radiation oncology, and pathology to treat cancer patients in a tertiary care setting. She also serves as the group chair of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, a nation-wide NCI-funded clinical trials group, and the chief executive officer of Alliance Foundation Trials, LLC, a not-for-profit corporation that conducts international cancer clinical trials.
“We commend President Biden for this outstanding choice and look forward to working with Dr. Bertagnolli toward our shared goals. ACS and ACS CAN value our relationship and partnership with the NCI in aligning priorities around research that is intended to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families,” Dr. Knudsen said. “ACS and ACS CAN look forward to working with Dr. Bertagnolli to continue the essential research necessary to ensure everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.”
