Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits
Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.
Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits
Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.
Apply for Committee Membership and Leadership Roles
Get the Latest Accreditation and Site Visit Updates at the ACS Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference
Deadline Approaching for ACS Cancer Clinical Scholar in Residence Program
Study Probes NAPBC and NAPRC Accreditation Barriers
Updated FAQs Are Available for CoC Operative Standards
Sustained SDOH Screening Linked to Better Adherence to Cancer Standards
Surgical Nodal Sampling Is Essential for Accurate Lung Cancer Staging
Join the May 6 Gastric Cancer Surgery Webinar
Nominate an Outstanding CLP
Review Updates to CoC Accreditation Standards
Learn About NAPRC Standards Updates at April 21 Webinar
Register to View QI Webinars and Earn Credits
American Cancer Society Offers New Resources
CoC Recognizes Accredited Sites
NAPBC Recognizes Accredited Sites
Mark Your Calendar
Cancer Programs
Apply for Committee Membership and Leadership Roles
ACS Cancer Programs are seeking applications for new volunteers for committee membership. The application process, available to ACS fellows, is open April 1–June 5. New members will be announced after the ACS Clinical Congress in September.
New committee members are appointed to a 3-year term and are eligible for reappointment to a second 3-year term based on performance, which includes a formal assessment of meeting attendance and engagement.
The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) is also seeking liaison members with expertise in the following: medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology (with a focus on oncology), and pathology.
This year’s committee leadership openings include:
AJCC
Education Committee Chair and Vice Chair
ACS Cancer Programs
Advocacy Committee Chair and Vice Chair
Quality Improvement (QI) Chair and Vice Chair
CoC
Executive Committee Chair and Vice Chair
Committee on Cancer Liaison Chair and Vice Chair
Quality Assurance and Data Committee Chair and Vice Chair
CSSP
Executive Committee Chair and Vice Chair
Education Committee Chair
ACS CRP
Executive Committee Chair and Vice Chair
Accreditation Committee Chair and Vice Chair
Education Committee
National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC)
Accreditation Committee Vice Chair
Candidates for committee chair and vice-chair roles must be members of the specific cancer program. Candidates for committee chair must have served in a leadership role within the committee, typically as vice-chair (some exceptions may apply). All Applicants must be ACS Fellows. The application period is open April 1–June 5. New leaders will be announced in September.
Committee chairs are appointed to a 2-year, nonrenewable term. Committee vice-chairs are appointed to a 1-year term, with the eligibility to renew once.
For questions about the new committee membership and leadership opportunities, contact cpmembership@facs.org.
Get the Latest Accreditation and Site Visit Updates at the ACS Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference
Attend the 2026 ACS Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference, July 30–August 2, in Orlando, Florida, to get the latest updates on standards for the CoC, NAPBC, and NAPRC, and learn what these changes will mean for your program.
Hear directly from site reviewers as they share practical tips, common pitfalls, and proven strategies to help you navigate the review process successfully, and get your questions answered during interactive office hours and live Q&A sessions.
Deadline Approaching for ACS Cancer Clinical Scholar in Residence Program
Do you know a resident looking to advance their career in cancer research and quality improvement (QI)?
The ACS is accepting applications for the 2027-2029 Cancer Clinical Scholar in Residence Program, a prestigious 2-year, on-site fellowship focused on outcomes research, health services research, healthcare policy, and quality improvement. Applications will be accepted through April 13, at 11:59 pm CT.
The selected scholar for this program will work closely with ACS Cancer Programs staff and national physician leaders to advance high-impact QI initiatives and conduct meaningful research in surgical oncology and cancer care. Scholars receive robust mentorship in clinical research, statistics, and health services research, while collaborating with experts across the country. As part of the program, participants also earn a master’s degree aligned with their research focus.
Applicants must be US citizens, have completed at least 2 years of clinical training, and obtain approval from their home institution. One Cancer Clinical Scholar position is open for the 2027–2029 period.
Study Probes NAPBC and NAPRC Accreditation Barriers
The ACS CoC and ACS CRP® are seeking participants for a national study to examine the barriers and facilitators to obtaining NAPBC and NAPRC accreditation. The goal of the study is to identify strategies that make accreditation more valuable and attainable for programs varying in size, structure, and resources.
The study team is looking for sites that are CoC-accredited but are not currently NAPBC and/or NAPRC-accredited. Programs that previously held or considered pursuing NAPRC or NAPBC accreditation are encouraged to participate; however, programs that have never considered NAPBC or NAPRC accreditation are also welcome to partake in the study.
Participation involves a 30-45-minute virtual interview between a program clinician or administrative stakeholder and a member of the research team. Responses will be kept confidential and reported only in aggregate. No incentives, including credit for any CoC standard, are provided for participation in the survey.
If you are interested in participating in the study, contact Raheem Bell, rbell@facs.org
Cancer Surgery Standards Program
Updated FAQs Are Available for CoC Operative Standards
To support programs with the implementation of standards 5.3–5.6, the Cancer Surgery Standards Program has updated the Operative Standards Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) with additional information regarding the internal audit of compliance process. The FAQs include information on common questions regarding case eligibility, templates, and determining technical compliance. Any additional questions may be submitted to CSSP@facs.org
Sustained SDOH Screening Linked to Better Adherence to Cancer Standards
Using a cross-sectional survey linked to data from the ACS National Cancer Database®, the authors of a recent article published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeonsfound that only one-third of responding CoC programs routinely screen for national social determinants of health (SDOH). Sustained screening was independently associated with improved adherence to time-sensitive colon cancer chemotherapy, supporting the integration of SDOH assessment into oncology care delivery.
Surgical Nodal Sampling is Essential for Accurate Lung Cancer Staging
The diagnostic accuracy of mediastinal staging modalities for non–small cell lung cancer is assessed in an article published in a recent issue of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
The authors conclude that systematic intraoperative lymph node evaluation is essential for accurate staging, which reinforces the importance of adherence to CoC Standard 5.8: Pulmonary Resection in clinical practice.
This webinar will review evidence-based operative standards for gastric cancer surgery as outlined in Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, Volume 2. Planned topics include intraoperative staging and resection of the primary tumor, assessment of surgical margins and technical aspects of regional lymphadenectomy, and reconstruction options following gastric cancer surgery. The panel discussion will feature case-based insights into the clinical management of gastric cancer.
The program is applicable to senior residents, fellows, and surgeons who perform or have an interest in gastric cancer surgery. Surgeons who attend the rescheduled webinar will be eligible to receive Continuing Medical Education credits.
The CoC is accepting nominations for the annual CLP Outstanding Performance Award. To submit a nomination, complete this survey by May 4. The CoC State Chair CLP Education Advisory Group will review the nominations and choose the award recipients, which will be announced this summer.
CLPs can be nominated by members of an accredited program’s cancer committee, registrars, CoC site reviewers and State Chairs, American Cancer Society regional staff members, and by self-nomination. Cancer care teams from the same institution are encouraged to submit one nomination per CLP if there are multiple nominations. Previous CLP Award winners are not eligible for consideration.
For more information on eligibility criteria and the nomination process, visit the CoC website. Email mleeb@facs.org with any questions.
Standard 4.2 was revised effective January 1, 2026. The March 2026 version adds an option for programs to utilize an action plan during the annual review requirements if the program is not meeting its policy or Standard 4.2 requirements.
Register now for a webinar on April 8, 2026, which will review Standard 4.2 requirements in detail.
Standard 6.1: Cancer Registry Quality Control
The Standard 6.1 Specifications by Category for Integrated Network Cancer Programs and NCI Networks has been updated. Previous language was subject to multiple interpretations, so the requirements have been clarified to better accomplish the goals of this standard.
Rural Cancer Program Specifications
The recently released rural cancer program requirements were added to the Specifications by Category section. To learn more about this new CoC participation category, review our recent webinar.
Previously Announced Changes
In addition to the updates published in March, previously announced updates affecting 2026 compliance are summarized below.
Annual Review Timelines: The requirements for standards requiring annual evaluation, review, and/or reporting were updated and standardized. Please review pages vii and viii of Optimal Resources for Cancer Care (2020 Standards) for more details.
Double Dipping: Work to obtain compliance with one CoC standard may not replace, duplicate, or augment the work required to obtain compliance with another standard. Please review this Cancer Program News article for more details.
Standard 4.8: Survivorship Program was updated to clarify that services must address the needs of patients who have completed their first course of treatment. Services evaluated to meet this standard cannot be single events and must be available to patients throughout the calendar year or at specific intervals during the calendar year. Please review this Cancer Program News article and this webinar for more details.
Operative Standards (Standards 5.3-5.6): A new process is required starting with 2026 activity. Programs must conduct an internal audit each calendar year to confirm compliance with the technical requirements and synoptic reporting requirements for each of the operative standards (Standard 5.3–5.6). Required templates are posted in the Resources section of the Quality Portal. Please review this Cancer Program News article for more details. A webinar detailing these requirements is also available.
Standard 7.1: Quality Measures was reactivated starting in 2025. The cancer committee must review program compliance against the four quality measure benchmarks. Please review this Cancer Program News article for more details.
Standard 7.3: Quality Improvement Initiative: CoC programs that are also accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) and/or the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) may count one complete breast-specific QI initiative and/or one complete rectal-specific QI initiative toward compliance with CoC Standard 7.3. The QI initiative must meet compliance with their respective NAPBC/NAPRC QI standard.
Standard 9.1: Clinical Research Accrual:
Programs unable to meet Standard 9.1 may provide a report to the cancer committee and develop an action plan as an alternative compliance pathway. Please review this Cancer Program News article for more details.
Patient enrollment in retrospective studies is not eligible for accrual toward Standard 9.1. Please review this Cancer Program News article for more details.
For a full list of recent standards-related Cancer Program News articles, please visit the Resources section of QPort.
Please submit any questions about these updates or the CoC Standards through the CAnswer Forum.
Education
Learn About NAPRC Standards Updates at April 21 Webinar
Stay current with the latest updates to the ACS National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) standards by registering for the webinar on April 21. This informative session will provide an overview of the 2026 standards and template updates, including a detailed look at key revisions and enhancements.
Webinar participants will gain valuable insights into how these changes may impact their program’s documentation processes and overall compliance. The webinar will also offer practical guidance to help programs effectively prepare for and implement the updated requirements.
ACS Cancer Programs offers educational opportunities, including webinars and coaching calls, to help accredited programs meet QI standards. Recent webinars include:
QI for NAPBC Programs: Presenters discussed the nuances of the NAPBC QI standard, including problem identification, goal setting, and reporting requirements.
Each webinar offers one Continuing Education credit from the National Cancer Registrars Association and California Board of Registered Nursing. Register today to view the recordings and claim credits.
Are you interested in receiving feedback from a QI expert or meeting in a small group to discuss your CoC, NAPBC, or NAPRC QI initiative? Sign up for QI Office Hours to be notified of upcoming sessions.
From the Field
American Cancer Society Offers New Resources
The American Cancer Society has developed a new ECHO program to equip multidisciplinary cancer care team members and primary care clinicians with a foundational understanding of multi-cancer detection tests and to support the evidence-based communication regarding these tests and their results. Monthly 1-hour sessions will be held April 28 through August 25. This program offers no-cost Continuing Medical Education.
The American Cancer Society offers a new online resource for those coping with a cancer diagnosis, including practical resources to help people with cancer and their loved ones find support.
Congratulations
CoC Recognizes Accredited Sites
The ACS CoC recognizes the following cancer sites for demonstrating their commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered cancer care to patients and the community by recently earning CoC reaccreditation:
Ascension St. Vincent Mercy Elwood, IN
CMC Cancer Center Conway, SC
Emory Healthcare Atlanta, GA
Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital Milwaukee, WI
HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital Hudson, FL
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Sacramento Sacramento, CA
Mercy Hospital Springfield Springfield, MO
Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center New Orleans, LA
Queen of the Valley Medical Center Napa, CA
St. Michael Cancer Center Silverdale, WA
Texas Health - Arlington Memorial Hospital Arlington, TX
Tidelands Health Murrells, SC
VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven, CT
VA Loma Linda Healthcare System Loma Linda, CA
NAPBC Recognizes Accredited Site
The ACS NAPBC recognizes the following breast site for demonstrating its commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered cancer care to patients and the community by recently earning NAPBC reaccreditation:
The Breast Health Center Towson, MD
Ellis Fischel Cancer Center Columbia, MO
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center Long Branch, NJ
Legacy Breast Health Center - Good Samaritan Portland, OR
