Distinguished Service Award
Prof. Maryam Lustberg
The Distinguished Service Award (MASCC’s highest honor) recognizes meritorious service and outstanding contributions to MASCC and its mission globally over an extended period.
Prof. Lustberg is recognized for her outstanding achievements as MASCC President from 2022 – 2024, including expanding MASCC’s global collaboration, strengthening worldwide membership, connecting with industry partners, increasing integration of patient partners within MASCC, and launching new opportunities for emerging researchers.
Prof. Lustberg also served as past Chair of the Neurological Complications Study Group, co-authoring influential MASCC-led reviews on CIPN as well as a textbook published in 2021.
Her warmth, collegiality, leadership, and exceptional contributions to MASCC make her an extremely deserving recipient.
FMASCC Fellows
Fellow status (FMASCC) is awarded to individuals who have made a sustained contribution to MASCC and demonstrated a continued high level of excellence in cancer supportive care practice and/or research.
Joanne Bowen, BHlthSC(Hon), PhD, MPhil, Grad Cert Public Health, FMASCC
Eduardo Bruera, MD, FAAHPM, FMASCC
Alexandre Chan, PharmD, PhD, MPH, FCCP, FISOPP, BCPS, BCOP, APh, FMASCC
Tim Cooksley, MBChB(Hons), FRCP, FRCP Edin, FMASCC
Bogda Koczwara, AM, BMBS, FRACP, MBioethics, FAICD, FMASCC
Judith Raber-Durlacher, DDS, PhD, FMASCC
Outstanding Study Group Leader Award
Dr. Sharon Elad & Dr. David Dean
The Outstanding Study Group Leadership Award recognizes a study group chair/vice-chair’s excellence and outstanding achievement in promoting, activating, and executing activities within the study group in the past year.
This year’s award goes to Dr. Sharon Elad and Dr. David Dean, the chair and vice-chair (respectively) of the Oral Care Study Group, which has been extremely active under their leadership. In addition to hosting regular webinars and providing numerous mentorship opportunities for younger members, the study group has also published or co-published four clinical practice statements in the past year, with more in progress. None of this would have been possible without the leadership, vision, and dedication of Dr. Elad and Dr. Dean.
Outstanding Study Group Member Award
Dr. Henry C.Y. Wong
The Outstanding Study Group Member Award recognizes the study group member (not the chair or vice-chair) who demonstrated exceptional contributions and achievements towards the advancement of the study group projects and activities over the past year.
This year’s award recognizes Dr. Henry C.Y. Wong, who has done an outstanding job leading multiple projects for the Oncodermatology Study Group during the past year, as well as providing mentorship to a number of young investigators. At the 2025 Annual Meeting, Dr. Wong not only contributed to 28 abstracts, but also served as a speaker and a session chair. He has also contributed to several publications on behalf of the Oncodermatology Study Group, with more in progress.
Emerging Investigator Award
Dr. Shing Fung Lee
The Emerging Investigator Award recognizes an early-to-mid-career researcher who has contributed significantly to MASCC-led research activities within the past two years.
Dr. Lee has been highly and consistently engaged in MASCC study group research initiatives over the past two years, with major contributions to the Oncodermatology and Survivorship Study Groups. In addition to contributing to a number of important papers as a co-author, Dr. Lee was the lead author of the 2025 MASCC Oncodermatology Clinical Practice Statement on the prevention and management of acute radiation dermatitis with Mepitel Film and Hydrofilm, published in Supportive Care in Cancer. He also served as the lead author of a 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis on chronic skin toxicities in breast cancer survivors, published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
Innovator Award
Prof. Hope S. Rugo
The Innovator Award recognizes an individual with novel, bold thinking, and impactful, out-of-the-box idea(s) that have changed or enhanced direction in supportive care in cancer within the past two years.
This year’s award goes to Prof. Hope S. Rugo, who has led or contributed to nearly every major breast cancer study over the past two decades, shaping multiple practice‑changing standards. She was a key contributor to the approval of the first ADC in breast cancer, reflecting sustained innovation in therapeutic development. Her work also led to the use of dexamethasone mouth rinse to prevent stomatitis, a strategy now adopted across targeted therapies.
Her consistent innovative and forward-thinking leadership both within and beyond MASCC is greatly valued.
Outstanding Publication Award
Dr. Henry C.Y. Wong
The Outstanding Publication Award recognizes an individual who is the first author on an original article in a leading academic journal on a topic related to supportive cancer care within the past year.
This year’s award recognized Dr. Henry C.Y. Wong, who was the first author of International Multidisciplinary Consensus Group for Malignant Spinal Cord Compression: Recommendations for definitions, reporting items, and study endpoints for clinical trials and audits, published in The Lancet Oncology. This important paper establishes 49 consensus statements that create a “universal language” for the field, facilitating the interpretation of clinical evidence and ensuring that study endpoints will be clinically relevant to patients with spinal cord compression.
Outstanding Educator Award
Prof. Raymond Chan
The Outstanding Educator Award recognizes an individual who has contributed significantly to MASCC educational activities within the past two years.
This year’s award goes to Prof. Raymond Chan, in recognition of his efforts organizing and presenting a number of excellent educational sessions at MASCC Annual Meetings, webinars, and representing MASCC at external conferences. Prof. Chan has also been extremely active in mentoring junior MASCC members, a number of whom have gone on to significant achievements within the organization.
Guideline Leadership Award
Dr. Mellar Davis
The Guideline Leadership Award recognizes an individual who has contributed substantially to MASCC guidelines (a cornerstone of MASCC’s activities) within the past two years.
This year’s award recognizes Dr. Mellar Davis, who led the MASCC-ASCO-AAHPM-HPNA-NICSO guideline on opioid conversion in adults with cancer, published in 2025 in Supportive Care in Cancer. This guideline helps to establish an international best practice baseline, standardizing and improving the safety and efficacy of opioid conversion in people with cancer.
Dr. Davis was also a co-author of the 2025 MASCC general practice recommendations
on spinal analgesia in cancer pain management, which provide clinical practice advice on the use of spinal drug delivery in patients with cancer-related pain.
Steven M. Grunberg Memorial Award
Prof. Andrew Davies
The Steven M. Grunberg Memorial Award recognizes excellent scientific achievement in the field of supportive care in cancer by an individual MASCC member. The honor is awarded to the author of the highest-ranking abstract submitted to the Annual Meeting.
This year’s award goes to Prof. Andrew Davies in recognition of the abstract CHELsea II Trial: Cluster Randomized Trial of Clinically-Assisted Hydration in the Last Days of Life.
Cynthia N. Rittenberg Award in Nursing Excellence
Dr. Genehee Lee
The Cynthia N. Rittenberg Award in Nursing Excellence recognizes excellent scientific achievement in the field of supportive care in cancer by a MASCC member who is an oncology nurse.
This year’s award goes to Dr. Genehee Lee in recgnition of the abstract Lifelog Exercise-Nutrition Program Reduces Cachexia After Esophagectomy: RCT.
Outstanding Young Investigator Award
Dr. Briana Clifford
The Outstanding Young Investigator Award is awarded to the junior investigator with the highest-ranked abstract submitted for a Young Investigator Award.
This year’s award goes to Dr. Briana Clifford in recognition of the abstract Multimodal Exercise Improves Neuropathy Outcomes in Cancer Survivors: Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Young Investigator Awards
Young Investigator Awards are open to all junior investigators who have submitted an abstract to an upcoming Annual Meeting, and are awarded to the first authors of the top abstracts submitted. This year’s recipients are:
Dr. Cherishma Dsilva
Abstract: A Longitudinal Randomized Controlled Trial of an Exercise Oncology Program on Chemoradiotherapy-induced Complications in Head and Neck Cancer
Dr. David Mizrahi
Abstract: Strength, Muscle Mass and Cardiorespiratory Fitness Deficits in Survivors Aged Under 18: A Report From the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study
Dr. Alyssa Alinda Gonzalez
Abstract: A Meta-Analysis Evaluating Pharmacological, Non-pharmacological, and Psychological Interventions to Treat Insomnia in Patients With Cancer
Dr. Franziska Springer
Abstract: Risk of Incident Mental Disorders Following Cancer: Results From a Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study in Denmark
Award sponsored by Deakin University
Dr. Kazuyoshi Yamamoto
Abstract: A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of Anamorelin Hydrochloride in Patients with Gastric Cancer Cachexia
Conference Scholarships
MASCC is committed to increasing attendance of oncology healthcare professionals from low-income countries at our Annual Meetings. MASCC provides a limited number of scholarships for this purpose in cases where attendance would not be possible without financial assistance. This year’s recipients are:
Dr. Rahul Kumar
Abstract: Socioeconomic Outcomes of Childhood Cancer Survivors in India: A Report From a Structured Tertiary Care Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program in India
Dr. Nwamaka Lasebikan
Abstract: Patient Awareness, Knowledge, and Willingness to Participate in Cancer Genetic Research for Personalized Care in Nigeria
Dr. Amit Kumar Mishra
Abstract: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in Surgical Oncology: A PRISMA Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Dr. Pallavi Singh
Abstract: Effect of Palliative Care Consultation in Elderly Patients with Advanced Cancer in a Low-middle-income Setting: A Prospective Observational Study
Dr. Boben Thomas
Abstract: Beyond Anxiety and Depression: The Cancer Journey Emotional Well-being Scale (CJEWS) for Psychosocial Assessment in Indian Cancer Patients