MD Anderson researcher elected to ASCO Board of Directors

MD Anderson News Release December 15, 2020

Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, M.D., M.Sc., associate professor in Health Services Research with a joint appointment in Breast Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has been elected to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Board of Directors. Members of the board are elected by ASCO’s members. Those who serve in these roles are cancer physicians and clinical researchers who volunteer their time to ASCO. Chavez Mac Gregor has been elected to an undesignated specialty seat, which is a four-year term beginning in June 2021.

“I am honored to be elected by my peers to ASCO’s board of directors and to serve its members, as well as the patients for whom we care,” Chavez Mac Gregor said. “I look forward to contributing to ASCO’s mission of advancing research and improving cancer care worldwide.”

In addition to caring for breast cancer patients, Chavez Mac Gregor also conducts research related to outcomes of cancer care, with a specific focus on delivery of treatment, long-term effects from cancer treatment, and the impact of health disparities. Her research interests focus on conducting clinical trials focused on breast cancer outcomes and disparities. Her ultimate goal is improving breast cancer outcomes for women by identifying barriers that delay treatment and finding ways to reduce time to treatment initiation.

Chavez Mac Gregor has served in numerous previous roles for ASCO, including co-chairing the ASCO Breast Cancer Guideline Advisory Group, chairing the Clinical Practice Committee and the Methodology Subcommittee, serving as a member of the Resource-Stratified Guideline Advisory Group and the Women’s Networking Center Task Force, and volunteering as a grant reviewer.

“Election to ASCO’s board of directors recognizes Mariana’s longstanding commitment to oncology research, care and survivorship,” said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson. “Mariana is an outstanding clinician who is beloved by her patients, and she is known by her colleagues for being a wonderful collaborator. We join her in celebrating this board position.”

Chavez Mac Gregor has received several awards from ASCO, including Merit Awards and the Advanced Clinical Research Award in Breast Cancer from Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation. She received the prestigious Faculty Scholar Award from MD Anderson in 2018, and in 2020 she was recognized for receiving a perfect score on the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) measures related to patient experience and satisfaction. This year, she also will receive the MD Anderson President’s Recognition of Faculty Excellence award for outstanding clinical quality improvement.