Four Australians have now been recognised as Fellows of ASCO (FASCO) – a distinction honouring members for their extraordinary volunteer service, engagement, and dedication to the Society.
Professor Ian Olver and Professor Michael Jefford were announced in 2024 and recognised at the recent ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago while Professor Georgina Long and Professor Alan Coates have been announced this year.
FASCO eligibility is based on a stringent points-based system which rewards volunteer positions such as membership of ASCO committees, subcommittees, editorial boards, steering groups and task forces.
Professor Michael Jefford
Professor Jefford, Director of the Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre, joined ASCO’s Cancer Survivorship Committee in 2018 and became the first non-US chair-elect of this committee.
He also co-chaired ASCO’s Health Equity and Outcomes Committee, chaired the refresh of ASCO’s Survivorship Compendium and assisted in developing ASCO’s Equity Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan.
He is a current member of ASCO’s Survivorship Guideline Advisory Group, previously served on ASCO’s Cancer Care Delivery Council and has been a liaison to the Annual Meeting Education Committee.
Professor Ian Olver
Professor Olver, a former director of the Royal Adelaide Hospital Cancer Centre and the University of South Australia’s Sansom Institute for Health Research, is no stranger to recognition and accolades for contributions during his career.
They include an Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to medical oncology and Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
His service to ASCO included membership on the International Affairs Committee, the Ethics Committee, and the Oncology Training Programs Committee. Most recently, he sat on an ASCO international grants committee.
Professor Olver was also recently been honoured in the inaugural fellowships for the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) along with colleagues Professor Dorothy Keefe, Professor Greg Crawford and Professor Ray Chan.
Professor Long, medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia, has served as Chair of the ASCO Scientific Committee for Melanoma/Skin cancer and as a member of both the ASCO Plenary Series and ASCO AGM Education committees.
She is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).
Professor Alan Coates
Professor Alan Coates, the inaugural CEO of Cancer Council Australia and founder of Breast Cancer Trials, was the first non-US member of the ASCO board of directors.
He is also a former president of COSA, an honorary member of MOGA, and a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to medicine in the field of oncology, particularly through breast cancer research.
Join us in congratulating the following members on earning the Fellows of ASCO (FASCO) distinction last quarter! We are grateful for their extraordinary volunteer service, dedication, and commitment to ASCO.
Learn more about FASCO distinction: https://t.co/AOfMsRxtH8 pic.twitter.com/vJKpeY3XRq
— ASCO (@ASCO) July 21, 2025