CoC Governance

The mission and objectives of the Commission on Cancer (CoC) are carried out through its committee structure comprised of the Executive, Accreditation, Advocacy, Cancer Liaison, Education, Member Organization Steering, Quality Integration, and related subcommittees and workgroups.

CoC Chair and Executive Committee Chair: Laurie Jill Kirstein, MD, FACS
CoC Vice Chair: Daniel J. Boffa, MD, FACS
Immediate Past Chair: Timothy Wm Mullett, MD, MBA, FACS
Staff Liaison: Erin Reuter
Current Executive Committee Members

The Executive Committee conducts the interim business of the 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 Board of Governors Advisor
• American College of Surgeons Regental Advisor
• Chairs of the six standing committees (Accreditation, Advocacy, Cancer Liaison, Education, Member Organization Steering, and Quality Integration)
• Chair of the Nominating Committee (immediate past chair)
• Representatives from the American Cancer Society, American College of Radiology, American College of Surgeons Cancer Research Program, American Joint Committee on Cancer, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Radiation Oncology, Association of Cancer Executives, Association of Oncology Social Work, College of American Pathologists, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and Oncology Nursing Society

Chair: Aaron David Bleznak, MD, FACS
Vice-Chair: David Arthur Mullins, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS
Staff Liaison: Erin Reuter
Current Accreditation Committee Members

The Accreditation Committee provides direction for the Accreditation Program including implementing and evaluating CoC 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 two subcommittees (Program Review and Field Staff) 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 for detailed information.

Chair: James Martin McLoughlin, MD, FACS
Staff Liaison: Amy Sachs
Current Advocacy Committee Members

The Advocacy Committee is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and recommending positions on legislative policy and/or regulatory issues that come before the state and/or federal government that have the potential to affect the needs and/or interests of CoC-accredited cancer programs and cancer patients. Priorities will focus on issues that impact the mission of the CoC and/or issues impacting the CoC standards for accreditation.

Chair: Maria Teresa Castaldi, MD, FACS
Vice-Chair: Quan P. Ly, MD, FACS
Staff Liaison: Melissa Leeb
Current Committee on Cancer Liaison Members

The CoC Liaison directs the activities of the Cancer Liaison Program, which is comprised of a network of more than 1,600 volunteer cancer liaison physicians (CLPs) who provide local support for the CoC’s 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 CLPs. The committee also oversees the implementation of priorities established by the funding agency, the American Cancer Society.

To learn more about the Cancer Liaison Program, the role of the CLP, and how to become or appoint a CLP, visit the Cancer Liaison Program section for detailed information.

Chair: Bruce Brenner, MD, FACS
Vice-Chair: Taryne Imai, MD, FACS
Staff Liaison: Asa Carter
Current Education Committee Members

The Education Committee is responsible for the planning, promotion, conduct, and evaluation of programs and products that address the educational needs of the CoC 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 section for detailed information.

Chair: Erica Fischer-Cartlidge, DNP, CNS, AOCNS, EBP (CH)
Staff Liaison: Melissa Leeb
Current Member Organization Steering Committee Members

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.

Learn more about the CoC Member Organizations.

Chair: Ko Un “Clara” Park, MD, FACS
Vice-Chair: David D. Odell, MD, FACS
Staff Liaison: Ryan McCabe
Current Quality Assurance and Data Committee Members

The QADC seeks to support CoC accredited hospitals in improving the quality of care for cancer patients and in developing a culture of continuous process improvement. The QADC has the following missions at its core:

• Develop new and maintain existing clinical Quality Measures to be implemented in the NCDB’s Rapid Cancer Reporting System (RCRS).
• Develop new and maintain existing data item definitions used in NCDB data collection via the STORE manual.
• Provide educational content on the topic of quality where appropriate.
• Develop and maintain 10 content expert disease teams to provide clinical content expert review across CoC quality initiatives.

To learn more about the NCDB, including the cancer statistics available, quality improvement reporting tools, special studies, and the NCDB's research initiatives, visit the NCDB section for detailed information.

Interim Chair: Elizabeth C. Wick, MD, FACS
Vice Chair: Anthony Dong Eun Yang, MD, MS, FACS
Staff Liaison: Eileen Reilly
Current Quality Improvement Committee Members

The QIC Committee seeks to support CoC accredited hospitals in improving the quality of care for cancer patients and in developing a culture of continuous process improvement. The Quality Improvement Committee has the following missions at its core:

• Support CoC hospitals and stakeholder needs for QI education/training and methodologic advancements.
• Identify and develop and/or review and evaluate potential CoC collaborative QI projects
• Support impact, efficacy, and return on investment on CoC resources dedicated to quality improvement initiatives and present results at ACS and partner sponsored conferences, where appropriate
• Provide a forum for exploratory and research discussions and initiatives as they relate to quality and safety in cancer care
• Support dissemination and implementation of evidence-based cancer care guidelines and promising practices through small scale, locally focused QI projects
• Continuously monitor quality improvement standards as part of CoC accreditation and develop support or educational material to facilitate program achievement of standard