Neal Meropol appointed to American Society of Clinical Oncology board of directors

The American Society of Clinical Oncology recently announced the appointment of Neal J. Meropol to its 18-member board of directors. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world’s leading professional organization representing physicians who care for people with cancer.

Meropol is chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Meropol, who also is associate director for Clinical Research at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, is an internationally known colon cancer clinical researcher whose work spans the spectrum from cancer prevention to treatment.

“As a board member, my primary motivation to serve is to improve the care of patients with cancer,” said Meropol. “ASCO is a highly effective organization with a clear mission. We can take a leadership role in helping policymakers address health care issues, bringing together physicians, payers, and producers for constructive, solution-oriented dialogue. In an era of health care reform discussion, ASCO has the opportunity to leverage the unique aspects of oncology to maintain a meaningful voice with an overall focus on improving quality of care.”

“Neal is a national leader in clinical research and has an outstanding record as a clinical and translational investigator, as well as a leader in the field of oncology. He is the first medical oncologist in Cleveland to assume this national leadership position in the 30 year history of the society,” said Stanton Gerson, Asa and Patricia Shiverick- Jane Shiverick (Tripp) Professor of Hematological Oncology, director of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and director of the Seidman Cancer Center at UH Case Medical Center. “ASCO is a prestigious and highly respected organization. Having a Cleveland voice will benefit our community.”

With more than 30,000 members, ASCO is committed to improving cancer care through scientific meetings, educational programs and peer-reviewed journals. ASCO is supported by its affiliate organization, the Conquer Cancer Foundation, which funds ground-breaking research and programs that make a tangible difference in the lives of people with cancer.

The ASCO board of directors is responsible for executing the mission, vision and strategic management of the organization and translating ASCO’s mission into ongoing programs that attain the organization’s goals.

Meropol joined Case Western Reserve University and UH Case Medical Center in July 2009 as associate director for clinical research of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and section chief of medical oncology from Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. He has an international reputation for his contributions in gastrointestinal malignancies, having conducted important studies of new treatments that have become standard of care, and his research to improve methods for helping patients communicate with their doctors and make decisions about their care. Additionally, Meropol holds a variety of national positions that affect cancer care and healthcare policy, including co-chair of the NCI Gastrointestinal Steering Committee.

Meropol received his MD from Vanderbilt University. He completed a residency at UH Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and a fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania. He began his academic career at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and moved to Fox Chase Cancer Center in 1998. Meropol also completed a sabbatical at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Meropol currently holds the Dr. Lester E. Coleman, Jr. Chair in Cancer Research and Therapeutics at UH Case Medical Center.