The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has honoured Professor Lorna Awo Renner; a faculty at the Department of Child Health, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences and Deputy Director for the West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC) also at the University of Ghana for her extraordinary volunteer service, dedication, and commitment to ASCO. She was honoured with the “International Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award”.
The Women Who Conquer Cancer (WWCC) is a programme of Conquer Cancer that is designed to offer critical support to young women in cancer research to help them build their careers and stay in the field. Mentors play a critical role in the development of the next generation of oncologists. The Mentorship Awards signals ASCO and Conquer Cancer’s commitment to women oncology professionals by recognising women who have dedicated their time, energy, and expertise to advance the career of oncology professionals.
The award recognises extraordinary female leaders in oncology and role models who have excelled as a mentor and have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the professional development of women colleagues as clinicians, educators, and researchers in oncology. The award seeks to recognise and promote the work of women mentors in oncology and, ultimately, narrow career gender disparities through the mentorship and professional development of women oncology professionals.
Founded in 1964, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (the Society) is committed to the principle that knowledge conquers cancer. Together with the Association for Clinical Oncology, ASCO represents nearly 45,000 oncology professionals who care for people living with cancer. Through research, education, and promotion of high quality and equitable patient care, ASCO works to conquer cancer and create a world where cancer is prevented or cured, and every survivor is healthy. Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, supports the Society by funding groundbreaking research and education across cancer’s full continuum.
Professor Renner is also a Consultant Pediatrician and heads the Pediatric Oncology Service at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. She serves as the Chairperson for the Faculty of Child Health at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and is the Coordinator for the Pediatric Oncology Programme. She is the past President of the African Continental branch of the International Society for Pediatric Oncology (SIOP). She is a mentor/supervisor for Pediatric Oncology trainee fellows including doctors from other countries in the West African sub-Region. She is the Ghana country project lead for World Child Cancer, a charity based in the United Kingdom. As a founding trustee of Lifeline for Childhood Cancer Ghana, she has been actively involved in raising funds so children can access care expeditiously and inability to pay is not a limitation. She has served on several national and international boards and committees and received awards including the First Lady’s award for excellence in health. Her advocacy for improved access to childhood cancer services in Ghana has led to support from policymakers at the national level with Ghana being one of the first targeted countries under the World Health Organization Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. She also works closely with the Ghana Health Service as a member of the National Childhood Cancer Steering Committee.