​Annual meeting focused on the patient experience across the lung cancer continuum.​

The theme, “Pathways of Care: Focusing on the Patient Experience Across the Lung Cancer Continuum,” inspired the Washington, DC., location for an annual ACS roundtable meeting. The American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable (ACS NLCRT) hosted its seventh annual meeting Dec. 4 – 5 in our nation’s capital. The event brought together 350 attendees and 19 funding organizations. Patients were integral to our annual meeting, actively participating in keynote, general, and concurrent sessions. A patient panel discussion during the first day of the meeting is pictured above. 

This year’s meeting featured two keynote speakers, followed by moderated panel discussions and questions from the audience. On day one, Laurie Fenton Ambrose, CEO of GO2 for Lung Cancer, shared her experiences working in lung cancer policy, from her early days as a staffer on Capitol Hill to her current leadership of the nation’s leading lung cancer advocacy organization. On day two, Dr. Eliseo Pérez-Stable, director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities at the National Institutes of Health, addressed research and clinical science gaps in diverse populations. Read their bios and background on all speakers on the ACS NLCRT website.

During the annual meeting, ACS NLCRT member organizations presented 30 posters highlighting the work they are leading in their communities, through their organizations, and as part of NLCRT task groups. Other notable happenings included a gathering of the biomarker testing ECHO staff and clinicians, pictured above, and young lung cancer advocates representing the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative holding up white ribbons. See more photos in the ACS NLCRT X account.

Chief Patient Officer Dr. Arif Kamal shared with team members a special shout out to Lauren Rosenthal strategic director, National Lung Cancer Roundtable and the entire ACS NLCRT team for helping ensure the success of this event.

The ACS NLCRT was established in 2017. Currently, it is a national coalition of more than 220 member organizations with a shared mission to create lung cancer survivors. The ACS NLCRT’s scope of work is comprehensive and covers the lung cancer continuum – from risk reduction, tobacco prevention and control, early detection (screening and incidental lung nodule management), and guideline-based staging, biomarker testing, and treatment to survivorship, including overarching issues such as stigma and nihilism and health equity, to tactical approaches including state coalition efforts and policy initiatives. The full membership gathers annually to track progress, understand emerging trends, and accelerate new roundtable activities.