Press Releases
CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 6, 2026 – The American Cancer Society has named Dr. Ruben A. Mesa to its Board of Directors, strengthening leadership as the organization advances its vision to end cancer as we know it for everyone. Serving alongside 19 other board members, Dr. Mesa will help guide the American Cancer Society's strategic direction, resource stewardship, and progress toward measurable, lifechanging impact for cancer patients and their families.
"The mission of the American Cancer Society has been central to my work as a physician, researcher, and advocate for people living with cancer," said Dr. Mesa. "Throughout my career, I’ve seen how the American Cancer Society supports patients and families while driving research, innovation, and policy advances that change outcomes and save lives. I'm honored to join the Board and contribute to an organization whose impact spans the entire cancer continuum, from discovery to survivorship."
Dr. Mesa is based in Charlotte, NC, and is president of the Advocate Health Cancer National Service Line and executive director of the National Cancer Institute–designated Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center. A practicing hematologist and internationally recognized researcher, Dr. Mesa has focused his career on leukemia biology and therapeutic innovation and has led or co-led the development of six US Food and Drug Administration–approved drugs for myeloproliferative neoplasms.
A longtime partner to the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), Dr. Mesa has held volunteer and leadership roles with ACS CAN and the American Cancer Society across Arizona, Texas, and North Carolina. His national leadership includes service on the boards of Blood Cancer United (2018–2025) and the Association of American Cancer Institutes (2021–2024).
Dr. Mesa is the 2025 recipient of the American Society of Hematology’s Ernest Beutler Prize and was named a 2024 Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. He earned his medical degree from Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, where he also completed his residency and fellowship in hematology and medical oncology.
He will be joined by three additional board members, Bryan McLaughlin, Justin Butler, and Courtney della Cava, under the leadership of Board Chair Terri McClements.
The Board of Directors is the governing body of the American Cancer Society, providing strategic direction to the chief executive officer by establishing priorities, reviewing and approving the American Cancer Society’s integrated strategic and financial plans, monitoring the organization's financial health and risk mitigation strategies, and ensuring the responsible use of funds.
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About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 110 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.