Susan Lerner Cohn, MD, of the University of Chicago, assumed the role of Pediatric Oncology representative to the ASCO Board of Directors at the 2009 Annual Meeting.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be a part of the Board. In addition to advocating for children with cancer, I look forward to working with my medical colleagues to enhance the care of adolescents and young adults,” Dr. Cohn said. “By working together and sharing our experiences and research we will be able to improve the care of all of our patients with cancer.”
In the interview that follows, Dr. Cohn speaks with
ASCO News & Forum about pediatric oncology and her goals for her tenure in ASCO leadership.
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Susan Lerner Cohn, MD
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AN&F: How did you choose pediatric oncology as your specialty?
Dr. Cohn: After I worked with children [during medical school rotations], it became clear to me that I wanted to devote my career to caring for children with serious illnesses. During my pediatric residency, I cared for several children with different types of cancer. Despite having devastating diseases, these kids managed to laugh and play while they were in the hospital. During the past 20 years I have cared for many children with cancer, and I continue to be amazed by their courage and inspired by the strength of their parents and caregivers. Although many of the children I cared for during my residency and fellowship were cured of their cancers, others were not as fortunate. This experience significantly influenced my decision to obtain further training in translational and clinical research.
AN&F: Why is it important that pediatric oncologists are represented on the Board of Directors?
Dr. Cohn: The needs of children with cancer and their families frequently are not addressed in professional societies that are largely focused on the more common cancers that occur in adults. Therefore, it is critical that the ASCO Board include a strong advocate for pediatric patients and their oncologists.
There are many genetic aberrations that are common in many types of malignant tumors, and the study of pediatric cancers has led to seminal discoveries that have affected our understanding of the biology of cancers that occur in children as well as adults. Pediatric clinical trials also have demonstrated the efficacy of pediatric treatment approaches in diseases like acute lymphocytic leukemia in adolescents and young adults. Similarly, pediatric patients have benefited from the research that has been conducted by our medical colleagues. ASCO provides an ideal infrastructure to enhance communication between pediatric and medical oncologists. In addition, this organization can address the challenges associated with adolescents and young adults with cancer, because these patients may seek care with either a pediatric or a medical oncologist. Similarly, ASCO can be instrumental in educating medical colleagues about the needs of our older long-term survivors of pediatric cancer. As the sole pediatric oncologist on the ASCO Board of Directors, I will make sure that our pediatric patients, adolescent and young adult patients, and older long-term survivors have a voice and I will work hard to enhance communication between pediatric and medical colleagues.
AN&F: What do you hope to accomplish during your term?
Dr. Cohn: Clinical trials underlie the progress that has been seen in cancer treatment. This is especially true in pediatric oncology, where cooperative group clinical trials have served as a paradigm. Currently, more than 80% of children diagnosed with a pediatric malignancy will become five-year survivors of their cancer. However, cancer remains a leading cause of death in children. As a member of the Board, I plan to raise awareness of the significance clinical trials have on the survival and well-being of patients with cancer and advocate for additional funding to support this research.
Our success in treating pediatric cancers has resulted in a new and growing population of long-term survivors of childhood cancer. Although this cohort of patients is cured of their primary cancer, many patients develop chronic diseases that can involve multiple organ systems. Numerous studies have shown that childhood cancer survivors are also likely to experience more cancers as adults than are individuals of similar age. Additional survivorship research is needed to determine how the normal aging process will influence the health of these patients. I plan to work closely with my medical colleagues in ASCO to optimize the care of adults who have survived childhood cancer.
