Participants in the year-long Leadership Development Program (LDP) will learn valuable leadership skills, gain exposure to the roles and mission of ASCO, and learn about the Society’s powerful place in developing the future of cancer care.  This program requires a time commitment for travel, training, and standing program virtual calls.

The purpose of this program is to:

• Identify, select, and train mid-career level ASCO members to become future leaders in the Society 
• Provide leadership skills training through an orientation to ASCO’s structures and programs
• Facilitate the promotion of program graduates into leadership positions in ASCO

Program Format

Each year, ASCO accepts 16 participants. ASCO encourages application submissions from all practice settings and oncology subspecialties.

Participants will be required to attend and actively participate in five sessions:

• Orientation - May 29, 2026 at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL
• Session 1 - July 22-24, 2026 at ASCO HQ in Alexandria, VA
• Session 2 - October 14-16, 2026 at ASCO HQ in Alexandria, VA
• Session 3 - March 3-5, 2027 at ASCO HQ in Alexandria, VA
• Graduation - June 3, 2027 at the 2027 ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL

Eligibility Criteria

For the 2026-27 Class, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be an ASCO member
  • Non-members must submit a membership application before initiating an LDP application. Applicants listed as non-members during the review stage will not be considered for the program.
• Be a physician (MD, DO, or international equivalent) 
• Completed final subspecialty training between 2016 and 2021*
• Be able to commit to all required program session dates

*Note: ASCO will consider extending an eligibility exception for a qualifying life event that impacts a candidate’s ability to apply for or participate in the program. Candidates who wish to request an eligibility extension, are required to submit their rationale in writing to the Leadership Development Program Committee via email at ProfessionalDevelopment@asco.org.

Compliance with Applicable Legal Requirements (Applies to Non-U.S. Institutions and Entities)

The ASCO Leadership Development Program is subject to applicable financial and legal requirements, including but not limited to United States laws addressing foreign corrupt practices and economic and trade sanctions and embargoes (including but not limited to those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury). Notwithstanding any other provision in this Request for Applications, any acceptance to the program is contingent on ASCO’s ability to transfer funds [TS2]or provide reimbursement to the sponsoring institution and/or individual applicant(s) in compliance with all applicable legal requirements. ASCO will not accept applications from, and/or permit program participation by, certain foreign sponsoring institutions or individuals if ASCO is prohibited from doing so under U.S. sanctions laws, or if ASCO would be required to obtain a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control or Department of Commerce for such program participation. If it is impossible or inadvisable for ASCO, in its sole and absolute discretion, to transfer funds or provide reimbursement to the sponsoring institution and/or individual(s) pursuant to applicable legal requirements, that individual will not be permitted to participate in the program. If, after acceptance in the program or payment or coverage of the first expense, it becomes impossible or inadvisable for ASCO, in its sole and absolute discretion, to transfer funds to the sponsoring institution and/or individual(s) pursuant to applicable legal requirements, then ASCO shall have no obligation to pay additional expenses or permit continued participation in the program. It is the responsibility of the sponsoring institution and the applicant to provide ASCO with the information or lawful means that permit ASCO to transfer the funds in compliance with all legal requirements.

Among the resources available to evaluate compliance with requirements administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) are:

OFAC Homepage: http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Pages/default.aspxOFAC Sanctions Programs and Country Information: http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Pages/Programs.aspxOFAC Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons List (SDN) Human Readable Lists: http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/SDN-List/Pages/default.aspx

Notification Process

Applicants to the 2026-27 cycle can expect to be notified in April 2026. Status updates will not be shared prior to final selection.

All application communications will be sent to the primary email address on your ASCO profile. Please confirm that this email address is current and correct prior to initiating your application.