NASHVILLE, Tenn.– Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), one of the world’s leading oncology research organizations conducting clinical trials, is pleased to announce that Ishwaria Subbiah, MD, MS, has been appointed Executive Director, Cancer Care Equity and Professional Wellness. In this role, Dr. Subbiah will focus on reducing cancer outcomes disparities and diversifying clinical trial participation within SCRI’s combined research network of more than 1,300 physicians at over 250 locations in 24 states across the US. Dr. Subbiah will also build the organization’s healthcare professional well-being program to support multidisciplinary oncology research professionals in the community.
“Participating in a clinical trial is the first step in fighting cancer, and we must ensure that more patients – especially underserved populations – can access these treatment options,” said Howard A. “Skip” Burris, III, MD, President, SCRI. “With Ishwaria’s leadership, we can implement strategies to reduce barriers while accelerating drug development and improving patient outcomes.”
Dr. Subbiah is a globally recognized expert in geriatric oncology, symptom management, palliative care, and healthcare professional well-being. She previously was an Associate Professor in the Division of Cancer Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. With her unique qualifications from having trained in Developmental Therapeutics, Medical Oncology, and Palliative Medicine, Dr. Subbiah has more than a decade of experience leading teams in developing and implementing organization-wide programs to improve cancer care and clinical workplace experience, including leading their integration of patient reported outcomes-based remote symptom monitoring.
In her new role, Dr. Subbiah will work in concert with SCRI’s site management and contract research organizations to advance unmet needs that both trial sponsors and physicians are seeking to address for people facing cancer. Additionally, Dr. Subbiah will interface with external stakeholders with a shared commitment to broadening access to cancer clinical trials for patients across the US.
“Broadening access to high-quality cancer care and cutting-edge cancer therapies on clinical trials is possible by bringing all stakeholders to the same table and enacting changes together,” said Dr. Subbiah. “With SCRI’s national reach, we have the ability to develop transformational approaches to diversify clinical trial recruitment and reduce care disparities at an unprecedented scale. At the same time, we have an opportunity to also focus on workplace experiences for thousands of clinicians engaged in research across SCRI’s network. By strengthening our workforce, we can strengthen the fight against cancer for every individual we treat.”
Dr. Subbiah contributes to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) clinical practice guidelines update in geriatric oncology, new ASCO guidelines on medical cannabis and cannabinoids, and serves on the Older Adult Oncology guidelines committee of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). She holds several peer-reviewed grants and serves in editorial leadership roles for the American Cancer Society (ACS) journal Cancer, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI), JNCI Cancer Spectrum, and the Journal of Geriatric Oncology. She is the Chair for the ASCO Women in Oncology working group and the ASCO State of Cancer Care in America initiative shaping organizational and system-level strategies to ensure a sustainable and thriving oncology workforce.
