ASCO 2023 Annual Meeting – 3 June 2023
We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Hans Wildiers, a highly-respected and valued member of the BIG network, on receiving the B.J. Kennedy Geriatric Oncology Award at the ASCO 2023 Annual Meeting. With this well-deserved recognition, Dr. Wildiers follows in the footsteps of Dr. Etienne Brain, who received this prestigious award last year.
Established in 2007 in honour of the late B.J. Kennedy, MD, the award acknowledges the exceptional contributions of an ASCO member in the fields of research, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in elderly patients. It also recognises their efforts in promoting awareness and understanding of geriatric oncology among young clinicians and researchers.
In his Award Lecture titled “Looking Back and Moving Forward”, Dr. Wildiers highlighted the significant progress made in the field of geriatric oncology and emphasised the continued efforts needed to improve the quality of care for older individuals facing cancer.
Please also consider reading the insightful pre-award interview with Dr. Hans Wildiers, published on ASCO Connection (April 7, 2023). In this interview, Dr. Wildiers shares his perspectives on the field of geriatric oncology, discussing his initial fascination with the subject, tracing its evolution over the years, and shedding light on the unanswered research questions that continue to drive his work. The interview provides valuable insights into the intersection of geriatrics and oncology and highlights Dr. Wildiers’ expertise in the field:
Breast Oncologist Dr. Hans Wildiers Works at the Intersection of Geriatrics and Oncology | ASCO Connection
Dr. Hans Wildiers is a medical oncologist dedicated to breast cancer research. He has been a valuable member of the Department of Medical Oncology at the University Hospital Leuven, Belgium, since 2004. Since 2015, he has played a key role as the coordinator of the Leuven Multidisciplinary Breast Center. Dr. Wildiers has been instrumental in leading numerous academic studies in the fields of breast cancer and geriatric oncology, and his contributions are reflected in over 350 peer-reviewed publications. He has demonstrated long-standing commitment to the field by serving on the Board of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) for many years, including a term as the organisation’s president from 2018 to 2020. From 2009 to 2015, he chaired the Cancer in the Elderly Task Force of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC).
Other source: Special Awards | ASCO Annual Meeting
See also the themed article “The unmet needs of older patients with breast cancer”, published in BIG Research in Focus 17 (Oct 2022), which features interviews with Dr. Hans Wildiers and Dr. Etienne Brain, among other experts from the BIG network:
https://bigagainstbreastcancer.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/big-research-in-focus-unmet-needs-of-older-people.pdf
