Dana-Farber Cancer Institute faculty recognized as 2021 ASCO leaders in cancer care

Posted date

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recognized two Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers as winners of ASCO's Special Awards, the Society’s highest honors. The recipients of these awards have worked to transform cancer care around the world. 

Among the recipients: 

Hologic, Inc Endowed Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award

Jennifer A. Ligibel, MD is the Director of the Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living and the Director of the Center for Faculty Well-Being at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, as well as an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Ligibel has dedicated her career to studying the role of exercise and weight management in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and is a senior physician at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancer at Dana-Farber. The Hologic, Inc Endowed Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award honors Dr. Ligibel as an extraordinary female leader in oncology and a role model. ​The award recognizes outstanding female oncologists committed to the advancement of women in research and education with the goal of narrowing career gender disparities in oncology. 

Walther Cancer Foundation Palliative and Supportive Care in Oncology Endowed Award and Lecture

Tracy A. Balboni, MD, MPH, FAAHPM is a radiation oncologist at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center and a Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Balboni has dedicated her career to palliative oncology care, including researching the psychosocial aspects of advanced cancer and radiotherapy for palliation, as well as examining the role of spirituality in the cancer journey, particularly in end-of-life treatment. The Walther Cancer Foundation Palliative and Supportive Care in Oncology Endowed Award and Lecture recognizes Dr. Balboni as a distinguished leader in palliative and supportive oncology through the prevention, assessment, and management of cancer- and treatment-related suffering.

ASCO will recognize their achievements at the ASCO 2021 annual meeting, held virtually June 4-8.


Related Doctors and Researchers

Media Contacts

If you are a journalist and have a question about this story, please call 617-632-4090 and ask to speak to a member of the media team, or email media@dfci.harvard.edu.

The Media Team cannot respond to patient inquiries. For more information, please see Contact Us.