The members of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) have elected four new officers to ASTRO’s Board of Directors. Geraldine Jacobson, MD, MPH, MBA, FASTRO, will begin her term as President-elect in October during ASTRO’s 62nd Annual Meeting, alongside Gopal K. Bajaj, MD, MBA, the new Government Relations Council Vice-chair; Beth Erickson, MD, FASTRO, the new Education Council Vice-chair; and Eric Ford, PhD, the new Clinical Affairs and Quality Council Vice-chair.

In her tenure as President-elect and eventual Chair of ASTRO, Dr. Jacobson will draw on her advanced education in public health and business to address priority areas including diversity and racial justice within the oncology workforce, the impact of COVID-19 on cancer care, and patient health equity.

“I am honored to be chosen as ASTRO’s President-elect at this momentous time. While we are in an age of unprecedented scientific discovery and progress in radiation oncology, there are also enormous challenges facing our specialty and our world. I am committed to listening to, and learning from, all of our members to identify thoughtful steps to foster diversity and inclusion, advance clinical care, support research and innovation, and influence health policy decisions. As ASTRO evolves to include more perspectives, I believe that working together will ensure that our specialty remains strong and provides our patients with the best possible care," said Dr. Jacobson.

Dr. Jacobson is the founding Chair and a professor of radiation oncology at West Virginia University, as well as the Physician in Chief for Radiation Oncology for the West Virginia University Hospital System. An expert in radiation therapy for breast and gynecologic cancers, she has experience treating patients in rural, urban and academic settings. Before joining WVU, Dr. Jacobson helped lead radiation oncology and residency programs at the University of Iowa.

Dr. Jacobson has an extensive record of service to ASTRO and the oncology field. She currently serves on the Board of Directors as Secretary/Treasurer and is a former Chair of the ASTRO Government Relations Council. She also mentors radiation oncologists via virtual tumor boards with international clinics through Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) and contributes to national clinical trials as a member of the NRG Oncology breast cancer working group.

Dr. Jacobson will serve a one-year term as President-elect, followed by single-year terms as President, Chair and Immediate Past Chair of the ASTRO Board.

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