American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Announces New President

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society (ACS), has named Lisa Lacasse as the organization’s new president effective February 1. ACS CAN is the nation’s leading volunteer advocacy organization dedicated to making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state and local levels.

Lacasse joined ACS CAN in 2008 and has served most recently as the organization’s deputy president and senior vice president responsible for overseeing and directing public policy, strategy, financial management and grassroots engagement.  In this new role, Ms. Lacasse will also serve on the American Cancer Society’s Senior Leadership Team.

“Lisa’s extensive experience and more than a decade of dedicated leadership at ACS CAN make her the perfect choice to take over as president,” said Gary Reedy, ACS and ACS CAN chief executive officer. “Lisa has been an integral part of strategy and execution of ACS CAN’s advocacy agenda. Her passion for fighting this disease through public policy change will make the organization stronger as she continues to advance our mission to free the world from cancer,” said Reedy.

Lacasse brings more than 25 years of health care experience to her new role. She began her career in health policy for the Governor of Maine, worked on the executive team of the University of Maryland Medical System and immediately before joining ACS, was the Chief Financial Officer at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Research Center. She is a graduate of the University of Vermont and has an MBA in Health Care Management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. 

“Lisa is an exceptional talent and I am confident that both ACS and ACS CAN will be stronger organizations as she leads advocacy staff across the country working to advance critical mission priorities, including improving access to care, reducing the tobacco burden through proven tobacco control, improving patient and survivor quality of life and securing funding for research to advance cancer prevention, detection and treatment,” said Reedy.

Lacasse takes over for Chris Hansen, who is retiring. He has been ACS CAN’s president since 2010.

Follow Lacasse on Twitter at: @LLacasseACSCAN