CoC Governance
The mission and objectives of the CoC are carried out through its committee structure comprised of the Executive, Accreditation, Cancer Liaison, Education, Member Organization Steering, and Quality Integration Committees, related subcommittees and workgroups of the CoC.
CoC Chair and Executive Committee Chair: Stephen B. Edge, MD, FACS
CoC Chair Elect: Daniel P. McKellar, MD, FACS
Staff Liaison: Lynda Watt, lwatt@facs.org
The Executive Committee conducts the interim business of the Commission on Cancer (CoC) and administers the goals and objectives of the CoC as set forth by its mission statement. The Committee reviews policies, plans activities, makes recommendations regarding membership, considers actions coming before it, and recommends actions to the membership of the CoC.
The Executive Committee is comprised of the following:
- Chair of the CoC
- Chair-Elect of the CoC (as appropriate)
- American College of Surgeons Regental Advisor
- Chairs of the four standing committees (Accreditation, Cancer Liaison, Education, and Quality Integration)
- Chair of the Nominating Committee (immediate past chair)
- Chair of the Member Organization Steering Committee
- Representatives from the American College of Radiology, American Cancer Society, American College of Surgeons Oncology Group, American Joint Committee on Cancer, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Radiation Oncology, Association of Cancer Executives, College of American Pathologists, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and Oncology Nursing Society.
Current Executive Committee Members:
Stephen B. Edge, MD, FACS, CoC Chair
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Buffalo, NY
Represents: American College of Surgeons
Daniel P. McKellar, MD, FACS, CoC Chair Elect
Greenville, OH
Represents: American College of Surgeons
Arnold M. Baskies, MD, FACS
Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County
Willingboro, NJ
Represents: American College of Surgeons
Otis Webb Brawley, MD
American Cancer Society, Inc.
Atlanta, GA
Represents: American Cancer Society, Inc.
Carolyn C. Compton, MD, PhD, FCAP
National Cancer Institute - National Institutes of Health
Rockville, MD
Represents: American Joint Committee on Cancer
Linda Weller Ferris, PhD
Oncology-Centura Health
Denver, CO
Represents: Association of Cancer Executives
Frederick L. Greene, MD, FACS
Carolinas Medical Center
Charlotte, NC
Represents: American College of Surgeons
Jennifer J. Griggs, MD, MPH, FACP
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Ann Arbor, MI
Represents: American Society of Clinical Oncology
William T. McGivney, PhD
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Fort Washington, PA
Represents: National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Diane Otte, RN, MS, OCN
Franciscan Skemp Healthcare
LaCrosse, WI
Represents: Oncology Nursing Society
Christopher Pezzi, MD, FACS
Abington, PA
Represents: American College of Surgeons
Louis Potters, MD, FACR
North Shore-LIJ Health System
New Hyde Park, NY
Represents: American College of Radiology
Phillip Y. Roland, MD, FACS, FACOG
West Hartford, CT
Represents: American College of Surgeons
Mary Kay Washington, MD, PhD, FCAP
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN
Represents: College of American Pathologists
Julia R. White, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, WI
Affiliations: American Society of Radiation Oncology
Chair: Daniel P. McKellar, MD, FACS
Vice-Chair: Linda W. Ferris, PhD
Staff Liaison: Asa Carter, acarter@facs.org
The Accreditation Committee provides direction for the Accreditation Program including implementing and evaluating Commission on Cancer standards, overseeing and evaluating survey and review processes and results, and promoting accredited cancer programs. The Committee also reviews and acts on recommendations from its three Subcommittees (Program Review, Field Staff, Recruitment & Retention) and other workgroups as appointed.
To learn more about the benefits of accreditation, the quality standards set forth by the CoC, and eligibility criteria to become an accredited cancer program, visit the Accreditation Program link for detailed information.
Chair: Phillip Y. Roland, MD, FACS, FACOG
Vice-Chair: Mary J. Milroy, MD, FACS
Staff Liaison: Carla Amato-Martz, cmartz@facs.org
The Committee on Cancer Liaison directs the activities of the Cancer Liaison Program, which is comprised of a network of more than 1,600 volunteer Cancer Liaison Physicians who provide local support for the Commission on Cancer’s (CoC) programs and activities. The Committee also directs the activities of the volunteer State Chairs in place at the state and regional levels to manage state-based cancer activities and their respective groups of cancer liaison physicians. The Committee also oversees the implementation of priorities established by the funding agency, the American Cancer Society (ACS).
To learn more about the Cancer Liaison Program, the role of the CLP, and how to become and/or appoint a CLP, visit the Cancer Liaison Program link for detailed information.
Chair: Arnold M. Baskies, MD, FACS
Co Vice-Chair: Lisa Bailey, MD, FACS
Co Vice-Chair: Howard L. Kaufman, MD, FACS
Staff Liaison: Elena Siampos, esiampos@facs.org
The Education Committee is responsible for the planning, promotion, conduct, and evaluation of programs and products that address the educational needs of the Commission on Cancer constituency. As needed, subcommittees may be formed to manage the duties and responsibilities associated with specific educational activities.
Activities under the direction of the committee include the development of the CoC's professional education program for the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress, selection of the Keynote Speaker for the CoC Annual Meeting, contributions to the content of the Online Education Center, and workshops to address the educational needs of the CoC's constituents.
To learn more about the educational offerings of the CoC, visit the Education and Meetings link for detailed information.
Member Organization Steering Committee
Chair: Linda W. Ferris, PhD
Vice-Chair: Virginia Vaitones, MSW, OSW-C
Staff Liaison: Lynda Watt, lwatt@facs.org
The Member Organization Steering Committee directs the activities of the member organization representatives, and is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating strategies to support enhanced collaborations and communications with CoC member organizations.
To learn more about the activities of the CoC Member Organizations, visit the Member Organization Activities link for detailed information.
Chair: Christopher M. Pezzi, MD, FACS
Vice-Chair: Lawrence Shulman, MD
Staff Liaison: Andrew Stewart, astewart@facs.org
The Quality Integration Committee oversees the quality of cancer care in Commission on Cancer (CoC) accredited hospitals and associated physicians. Primarily, the QIC directs and oversees the activities that:
- Assist in defining the CoC standards through which the quality of cancer care is defined.
- Assure that mechanisms are in place to promote the quality, breadth, and timeliness of the data provided for entry into the NCDB.
- Define methods for NCDB data dissemination, including the use of Participant User Files (PUFs) for purposes of thoughtful, hypothesis-driven, retrospective research.
- Promote mechanisms to maximize the utilization and dissemination of NCDB data to increase medical knowledge about cancer and improve the care of all patients with cancer.
- Promote the development and maintenance of internet-based quality reporting tools for real-time use by accredited facilities to measure and improve their own quality of cancer care, including national benchmarking capabilities
- Assure that the College maintains the NCDB data securely.
To learn more about the National Cancer Data Base including the cancer statistics available, quality improvement reporting tools, special studies, and the NCDB's research initiatives, visit the National Cancer Data Base link for detailed information.
Revised January 12, 2012