OncoDaily Names First 20 of the 100 Influential Women in Oncology for 2026
核心洞察
OncoDaily launched its 2026 "100 Influential Women in Oncology" list, continuing an annual tradition begun on U.S. Women's Equality Day in 2023 to recognize women advancing cancer care worldwide.
The first 20 honorees span clinical oncology, research, public health, and industry leadership, including ASCO President Elizabeth Mittendorf (搜索) and Takeda CEO Julie Kim (搜索).
Several featured leaders are driving global cancer-control efforts, such as Lacy Hubbard (搜索)'s cervical cancer (搜索) screening model that has screened over 180,000 women in Rwanda.
OncoDaily has unveiled the first 20 names on its 2026 "100 Influential Women in Oncology" list, continuing an annual tradition that began on U.S. Women's Equality Day in 2023. The initiative recognizes 100 inspiring women making a difference in oncology around the world, highlighting 10 remarkable women each week. The 2026 list showcases efforts to improve cancer care across clinical practice, research, public health, and industry leadership.
Clinical and Scientific Leadership
The inaugural group features several prominent leaders in oncology research and care. Elizabeth A. Mittendorf, MD, PhD, MHCM, FASCO, a breast surgical oncologist and President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for 2026–2027, serves as Chief of Multidisciplinary Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and co-leads both the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at Dana-Farber and the Breast Program of the Harvard Cancer Consortium. A former U.S. Air Force surgeon, Mittendorf now leads ASCO "at a pivotal time for cancer research, equitable care, and clinical innovation."
Yelena Y. Janjigian, MD, Chief of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), is recognized as an internationally known gastrointestinal medical oncologist who "has led pivotal trials that have transformed first-line treatment of upper GI cancers." Karen E. Knudsen, MBA, PhD, serves as CEO and Board Member of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, leading efforts to accelerate the translation of breakthrough immunotherapy discoveries into new treatments for patients.
Advancing Breast Cancer Therapeutics
Sara M. Tolaney, MD, MPH, FASCO, Chief of the Division of Breast Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, is highlighted for research that "has helped reshape breast cancer (搜索) treatment through pivotal trials of antibody–drug conjugates and targeted therapies, including the DESTINY-Breast and ASCENT programs." In 2026, studies she helped lead supported FDA approval of new first-line approaches for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (搜索) and HER2-positive metastatic disease (搜索). Tolaney has received the AACR Outstanding Investigator Award for Breast Cancer Research and a 2026 Susan G. Komen Leadership Grant.
Global Cancer Control and Access
The list underscores a strong focus on expanding cancer care in low- and middle-income countries. Lacy Hubbard (搜索), MBA, President and CEO of the Elekta Foundation, helped develop the Foundation's FAST cervical cancer (搜索) screening model, which has screened more than 180,000 women in Rwanda and contributed to the country's Mission 2027 initiative to accelerate progress toward cervical cancer elimination. She also led development of an integrated breast cancer (搜索) screening model that has reached nearly 150,000 women.
Cesaltina Ferreira Lorenzoni, MD, PhD, President of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) for 2025–2027, leads Mozambique's National Cancer Control Programme and has focused on building sustainable cancer-control systems suited to resource-limited settings. Isabel Mestres, CEO of City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), leads "Thriving Cities, Healthy Women," an initiative spanning 15 cities to improve timely diagnosis and treatment for women with cancer.
Industry and Policy Leadership
Julie Kim (搜索), President and CEO of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company (搜索), became in June 2026 the first woman and first Korean American to lead the 245-year-old company. She now oversees Takeda's worldwide strategy and pipeline, including its oncology portfolio spanning hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, with late-stage oncology programs alongside established medicines including ADCETRIS, FRUZAQLA, and ICLUSIG.
Evis Sala, MD, PhD, FRCR, FRCP, Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Albania, has placed oncology at the center of national health reform, advancing the creation of a National Oncology Institute and Cancer Network, introducing new standardized cancer-treatment protocols, and strengthening cervical cancer (搜索) screening and HPV prevention.
Patient Advocacy and Survivorship
The list also elevates personal voices in cancer awareness. Sara Gore, an Emmy-winning television host and breast cancer (搜索) survivor, publicly shared her breast cancer diagnosis in 2026 and, by July following surgery and treatment, announced she was currently cancer-free while continuing breast reconstruction and recovery. Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, MD, PhD, Founder and President of Breast Care International (BCI) in Ghana, has challenged stigma surrounding breast cancer and built a survivor network of more than 900 women.
OncoDaily emphasized that the initiative is ongoing, noting that "one list can never include everyone" and inviting nominations for the 2026 list. The organization will continue featuring 10 of the 100 influential women each week.