Supriya G. Mohile, M.D., M.S., an oncologist at the Wilmot Cancer Institute and trailblazer in the growing field of geriatric oncology, has been named the 2018 winner of the B.J. Kennedy Award by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). She will deliver the B.J. Kennedy Lecture on June 4 at ASCO's annual meeting in Chicago.
The Kennedy Award recognizes one of ASCO's 40,000 members for outstanding contributions to research, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in the elderly.
Mohile plans to talk about the need for a transformational shift in geriatric oncology, by using data to improve communication between doctor and patient. Such data includes assessments of an older patient's cognition/memory and other health issues like heart disease or diabetes, and nutrition, for example, to aid in making decisions about of the risks and benefits of cancer treatment, she said.
"Cancer is a disease of aging and Americans are living longer," Mohile said. "I'm proud of the progress we've made in our research, and grateful for the opportunity to seek practical interventions to improve the quality of life of older adults. I'm also honored to be part of a team of national experts that is so committed to this issue. We will continue to educate thought-leaders in oncology about the need for more tools for treating older patients."