Scientific Areas of Expertise: Cancer Survivorship, Health-related Quality of Life, Patient Reported Outcomes
For pioneering efforts to enhance cancer prevention and improve patient survivorship, quality of life, and the understanding of the late effects of cancer treatment, which have been essential to the evolution of clinical cancer care, particularly in the areas of psychosocial distress, cancer-related cognitive impairment, and post-treatment fatigue.
A respected medical oncologist and advocate, Dr. Ganz is an architect of modern survivorship science whose work has redefined the scope of cancer care to include survivorship and quality of life as essential outcomes. She was an early champion of integrating palliative care, symptom management, and psychosocial support across the cancer care continuum beginning at diagnosis. As a founding member of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, Dr. Ganz has empowered patients and influenced policy not only to shift the cultural and clinical narratives around cancer survivorship, but also to reframe the national agenda for patient centered, evidence based oncology to include survivorship planning, a trained workforce, and equitable access. This robust framework to optimize patient well-being prioritizes the discussion of palliative care, the prevention of long term and late-onset effects, and the promotion of health.
Dr. Ganz has coupled her policy leadership with a rigorous translational research program to understand the biology underlying survivorship challenges and test targeted interventions. Her program of research during the past 25 years has focused on the biology of fatigue and cognitive dysfunction after cancer treatment, finding strong associations with inflammatory biology, and testing mind-body interventions that demonstrate improved symptoms and reduced inflammation. These studies and others reflect the emerging concept of cancer-related accelerated aging and have highlighted modifiable behavioral determinants, such as stress, weight, and diet, as levers to mitigate aging-like trajectories after treatment. She has conducted seminal investigations on quality of life and menopausal symptom burdens associated with endocrine therapy in breast cancer survivors, as compared with non-hormonal management strategies. Dr. Ganz has also recognized the distinct needs of younger women with breast cancer and explored practical interventions to reduce depressive symptoms and enhance patient-reported outcomes. Through her integrated agenda of policy blueprints, mechanistic insights, and rigorously tested interventions, Dr. Ganz has redefined survivorship as a data-driven discipline and she continues to influence oncology with ongoing trials and implementation studies that embed palliative care, prevention, and health promotion into routine cancer care.
Selected Awards and Honors
2022 Ellen L. Stovall Award (NCCS) for Innovation in Patient-Centered Cancer Care
2019 The Connie Moskow Memorial Lecture, Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium, Chicago, Illinois
2018 Ellen L. Stovall Award and Lecture, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, Virginia
2018 OncLive Giants of Cancer Care Award, Cranbury, New Jersey
2018 Clinical Research Award, Association of Community Cancer Centers, Rockville, Maryland
2016 Ted Couch Lecture and Award, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
2014 Charles A. LeMaistre Lecture in Oncology and Prevention, MD Anderson Cancer Center
2013 Breast Cancer Award, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
2011 American Society of Preventive Oncology, Distinguished Achievement Award, Indianapolis, Indiana
2010 American Cancer Society Medal of Honor for Clinical Research, Atlanta, Georgia
2009 Komen Scholar Award, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Dallas, Texas
2008 American Society of Clinical Oncology Statesman Award (Fellow of ASCO), Alexandria, Virginia
2007 American Cancer Society Distinguished Service Award, Atlanta, Georgia
2007 Elected Member, National Academy of Medicine, Washington, DC
2006 Pathfinder Award, American Society of Breast Disease, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2005 Jill Rose Award for Distinguished Scientific Achievement, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, New York, New York
2000 Israel Cancer Research Fund, Women of Action Award, New York, New York
1999 American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professor
[Institutional affiliations listed for Fellows reflect those held at the time of their induction into the AACR Academy.]