Corp America March 2017

38 CORP AMERICA / MARCH 2017 , The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated to the study of lung cancer. Founded in 1974, the association’s membership includes more than 5,000 lung cancer specialists in over 100 countries. Every Life Matters The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer’s (IASLC) overall vision is to conquer lung cancer worldwide. The goal of its educational and scientific programs is to reduce lung cancer mortality. In the US, about 225,000 new patients are diagnosed with lung cancer every year, and globally 1.6 million patients every year. Progress in prevention, lung cancer screening and therapy continues. As a non-profit, the IASLC brings scientists, advocates, and patients together to formulate activities that further this progress. This is done through large international meetings (the annual IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer), regional meetings, smaller topic-focused workshops and local educational activities. The IASLC also develops international scientific projects and produces guidelines for managing lung cancer patients. The IASLC’s newspaper, the IASLC Lung Cancer News, highlights scientific advances in lung cancer for investigators, community-based practices, and the lay public. The organization’s premier scientific journal, the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, publishes peer-reviewed scientific articles on a monthly basis. To ensure that the IASLC’s products and services are innovative, members and stakeholders (including doctors, nurses, scientists, patients and patient advocates), as well as industry partners, are continuously surveyed, resulting in more targeted strategies. The role of the CEO The role of IASLC’s CEO is to ensure that the vision, mission and goals of the organization are met and to set new goals with the Board of Directors. The IASLC’s board members represent many geographic regions and disciplines of lung cancer management (medical oncology, radiotherapy, surgery, pulmonology, pathology, etc.). The CEO also ensures funding for IASLC activities and oversees the IASLC’s staff. Dr. Fred R. Hirsch has served as the IASLC’s CEO for the last three years. The IASLC is more than 40 years old and has been his professional platform through most of those years. Dr. Hirsch also serves as Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He has many years of clinical and research experience in cancer, particularly lung cancer. Key principles for managing staff The IASLC is a fast-growing organization. Because of the widespread health problems caused by lung cancer and the rapid progress in the prevention, screening/early detection and treatment for the disease (the latter particularly related to the development of personalized medicine and immunotherapy), the need for increased staff support has been imperative. The IASLC staff is managed through weekly staff meetings, monthly senior leadership meetings and monthly CEO/ Director meetings. Additionally, Dr. Hirsch has implemented the Franklin Covey 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) strategic priorities system. Organizational Focuses IASLC has several organizational focuses. Currently, one of the most pressing organizational initiatives is how to best communicate the most recent advances in lung cancer treatment and implement optimal diagnostic and treatment procedures in local communities and non-academic environments. This effort calls for the smart use of technological developments for communication and education, such as social media. The latest technology and industry trends In order for the IASLC to reach tech-savvy physicians and patients, it is critical that it capitalizes on ever-changing technological advancements. In the lung cancer arena, the pharmaceutical and biotech industries are seeing significant developments. The rapid development in modern cancer therapy calls for collaboration between government, academia and industry. The IASLC and its members are striving to give lung cancer patients the best treatment opportunities. This will require the implementation of new technologies to achieve its goals for the many desperate patients currently battling this deadly disease. Aspirations for the future Dr. Hirsch remains excited about the IASLC’s progress and growth. The IASLC endeavors to ensure new preventive and therapeutic options for the benefit of lung cancer patients worldwide. Every life matters! “Save a life, save a whole world.” This timeless Talmud saying is the overall motivation for the continued efforts of the IASLC to combat the health threat posed by lung cancer across the world. 1701CA42