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ACS celebrates Black leaders whose contributions shaped health equity in cancer

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In an article for the Cancer History Project, the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network celebrate six trailblazing Black leaders and pioneers who have made a lasting impact on health equity in oncology.

Black Leaders Who Changed the Face of Equitable Cancer Care
By American Cancer Society, April 4, 2024

Everyone deserves a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.

The American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is celebrating trailblazing Black leaders and pioneers who paralleled this through their critical contributions to cancer research and prevention, health equity, and reducing disparities across the cancer continuum.

Profiled in this article:

  • Dr. Jane Cooke Wright
  • Dr. LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr.
  • Dr. Lori Pierce
  • Dr. Harold P. Freeman
  • Henrietta Lacks
  • Dr. Robert A. Winn

Read more on the Cancer History Project.

Related articles

This column features the latest posts to the Cancer History Project by our growing list of contributors. 

The Cancer History Project is a free, web-based, collaborative resource intended to mark the 50th anniversary of the National Cancer Act and designed to continue in perpetuity. The objective is to assemble a robust collection of historical documents and make them freely available.  

Access to the Cancer History Project is open to the public at CancerHistoryProject.com. You can also follow us on Twitter at @CancerHistProj, or follow our podcast.

Is your institution a contributor to the Cancer History Project? Eligible institutions include cancer centers, advocacy groups, professional societies, pharmaceutical companies, and key organizations in oncology. 

To apply to become a contributor, please contact admin@cancerhistoryproject.com.

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