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ACCC 42nd National Oncology Conference

ACCC 42nd National Oncology Conference

October 15–17, 2025
Denver, Colorado

Join cancer program administrators, operations leaders, clinicians, and other members of the multidisciplinary care team to learn, connect and be inspired by the innovation happening now to elevate the quality of cancer care.
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In its 15th year, the ACCC Innovator Awards recognize visionary and compelling ideas in oncology from ACCC Cancer Program Members nationwide who will present their work at the 42nd National Oncology Conference.

View the 2025 Winners

In case you couldn’t join us in Minneapolis, check out highlights from the 2024 NOC:

ACCC hosted its 41st National Oncology Conference (NOC) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in October 2024, marking 50 years of innovative service and collaboration. Centered around the theme Realizing Innovation, the conference brought together oncology professionals, clinicians, researchers, nurses, advanced practice providers, navigators, and patient advocates to explore practical strategies for enhancing community engagement and equity in cancer care, share treatment models from around the world, and showcase strategies for implementing AI and innovative technologies into cancer care.

One highlight of the conference was the 2024 ACCC Innovator Awards, which recognized institutions and professionals pioneering innovative solutions in oncology care.

Awardees included:

St Luke’s University Health Network, St Luke’s Cancer Center
The University of Colorado Cancer Center
RWJ Barnabas Health Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
Mercy Oncology Services
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute
Munson Healthcare, Cowell Family Cancer Center

This year’s conference also featured its first international panel, where cancer care providers from Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, and Sweden shared insights into overcoming cultural and systemic barriers in cancer care. One panelist, Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, MD, MBBS, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, founder and CEO of Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre and Specialist Hospital in Nigeria, stressed the importance of culturally competent solutions to improve patient outcomes in diverse populations.

In addition to the international panel, the conference offered 2 session tracks focused on the 2024-2025 ACCC President’s Theme Reimagining Community Engagement and Equity in Cancer. Discussions centered on improving equitable access to cancer care, fostering patient engagement, and addressing disparities. Keynote speaker Kevin Fiori, MD, MPH, MSc, FAAP, underscored the need for integrating social drivers of health (SDOH) into medical care, as SDOH account for 40% of a person’s quality of health. His address highlighted the critical role that community health workers can play in breaking down barriers to care and improving patient outcomes. María Hernández, PhD, president and COO of Impact 4 Health, followed with a keynote on how health equity initiatives can transform health care coordination, urging health care organizations to integrate cultural competency, SDOH screenings, and patient-centered strategies into their care models to promote quality health care access for marginalized communities.

The ACCC Executive Board and the international delegation visited the Frauenshuh Cancer Center in St Louis Park, Minnesota, to observe an innovative care model designed for patients with limited or no mobility, which enhances patient comfort and improves care coordination.

Throughout the conference, participants engaged with exhibitors and explored poster sessions in the exhibit hall, which featured a wide variety of topics, including the creation of a centralized medication prior authorization team and the use of AI-leveraged approaches to improving cancer care access for minority populations. This interactive space allowed participants to connect with representatives and gain insights on the latest solutions for enhancing patient care.

Session Highlights

ACCC Celebrates 50 Years

Integration of Community Health Workers in Clinical Practice

Come Together: A Global Perspective on Cancer Care Delivery

2024 ACCC Innovator Award Winner: Leveraging AI to Identify and Monitor Pancreatic Abnormalities

Developing a Malignant Hematology APP Fellowship

Photo Slideshow

Read the 2024 #ACCCNOC Buzz Blogs

Perspective on the “Modern Cancer Patient”

November 12, 2019

Presenting another perspective on the cancer patient experience, ACCC 36th National Oncology Conference featured speaker Laura Holmes Haddad shared her autobiographical story of what many might view as a “not typical” cancer patient. When she was diagnosed with stage IV inflammatory breast cancer, Holmes Haddad was a 37-year-old mother of young children. Her experiences and those of others diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 20 and 65 reveal room for improved communication and opportunities to better meet the needs of what Haddad has dubbed, “the modern cancer patient.” Of note, Haddad said that these patients account for nearly half of all new cancer diagnoses.

Drawing on her own experiences and those of others, Holmes Haddad’s retelling of unaddressed questions and real-world logistical challenges brought “The Changing Face of the Cancer Patient Experience” to life. She asked her audience members to consider how family obligations and responsibilities combine with clinical and other practical considerations when patients must make decisions about treatment options. Recounting the lived experience of how a patient (and family’s) home life can be affected by cancer treatment and medication regimens, Haddad asked attendees to consider whether they are asking their “modern cancer patients” the right questions. Questions such as: Do they live alone? Are they responsible for the care of young children, elderly parents, or an ill spouse? Are they able to drive? Are they able to work? Cancer programs need to support all patients physically, emotionally, and financially, Haddad said. Asking the right questions is the key to offering the right support.

With 2.8 million children under age 18 living with a parent affected by cancer, “asking your cancer patients if they have kids is an important first step,” Holmes Haddad emphasized. To meet the needs of the modern cancer patient, those patients have to plan their cancer journeys not only for themselves, but also for their children.

Holmes Haddad also pointed to the need to bridge the gap in meeting the care needs of both cancer patients and survivors. “Every single cancer survivor I’ve talked to said [that] the care team never discussed the sexual [side] effects of their cancer treatment,” said Holmes Haddad. “Making sure that someone on the team is reaching out to cancer patients about oncology fertility is key.”

Holmes Haddad added that financial counselors play an essential role in helping modern cancer patients navigate the cost burden of cancer. Patients in this age group (20-65), unlike older or younger patients, are mid-career, often have a lower amount of savings, don’t qualify for Medicare, may not have employer-based insurance, and may be the primary breadwinner for their family.

What actions can cancer programs take now to better support their modern cancer patients? Holmes-Haddad concluded her presentation with these practical suggestions:

Provide emotional support/therapy
Consider the needs of children when making treatment recommendations
Refer to additional social services such as childcare, cleaning, and financial assistance resources if needed
Suggest support groups for parents
Discuss fertility preservation and planning
Provide tips for returning to the workforce and other employment-related issues

Laura Holmes Haddad is the author of This Is Cancer, her response to the overly-earnest, somber, gray cancer survival books she found out there. It’s a thoughtful, informative resource for those who prefer their pathos with equal parts humor and reality and a touch of flair.

Cancer Buzz Podcast at the 2024 NOC

Live from NOC: The Hawaiʻi Cancer Consortium Oct 16, 2024

CANCERBUZZ speaks with Dr. Naoto Ueno about his NOC session titled The Hawaiʻi Cancer Consortium: An Equitable Clinical Trials Initiative.
Live from NOC: Navigating Access and Equity Oct 16, 2024

CANCERBUZZ speaks with Melanie Grant about her NOC session titled Navigating Access and Equity: Providing the Answers That Matter.
Live from the NOC Gala Oct 16, 2024

CANCERBUZZ speaks with guests at the 2024 NOC Gala event about what they are looking for at the conference.
Live from NOC: Enhancing Cancer Research Through Patient Advocacy Oct 16, 2024

CANCERBUZZ speaks with Terry Keys about his NOC session titled Empowering Partnerships: Enhancing Cancer Research Through Patient Advocacy.
Live from NOC: Realizing Innovation + What's New in 2024 Oct 16, 2024

CANCERBUZZ speaks with ACCC President Dr. Nadine Barrett about this year’s NOC theme: Realizing Innovation. Listen to what’s new in conversations and oncology education in 2024.
Live from NOC: Come Together: A Global Perspective on Cancer Care Delivery Oct 16, 2024

CANCERBUZZ speaks with ACCC’s Immediate Past President Dr. Olalekan Ajayi about the international panel held at NOC this year, where cancer care providers from around the world share and learn from common challenges and best practices.
Live from NOC: Culturally Tailored Survivorship Care Oct 16, 2024

CANCERBUZZ speaks with Magbis Nunez Love about her NOC session titled Renacer: Culturally Tailored, Patient-Centered Survivorship Care Improves Access and Outcomes.
NOC Preview: Developing a Health Equity Playbook Sep 30, 2024

Designing a health equity playbook starts with a deep understanding of the patients you serve. Successful playbooks have components that build on the patient experience, the protocols that are in place to ensure the cancer program is meeting the unique needs of all its patients, and staff education and and training on how to best serve those different patient populations.