Panel members are distinguished members of the scientific, research, and public communities appointed by the President of the United States to serve three-year terms. 

Dr. Williams is a breast cancer surgeon and patient education advocate. He founded and is medical director of the Breast Cancer School for Patients, an online video-based cancer education platform. His policy interests focus on improving cancer outcomes and disparities by promoting a transparent and patient-focused national healthcare system.

He received an undergraduate degree in psychology with distinction from Duke University and his medical degree from UNC School of Medicine. Dr. Williams then completed his surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine with Dr. Michael E. DeBakey. He is a clinical faculty member at the Institute for Biohealth Innovation at George Mason University and founded the Novant-UVA Breast Center in 2009. Dr. Williams practices breast surgery in Northern Virginia.

Dr. Mitchell is Clinical Professor of Medicine and Medical Oncology in the Department of Medical Oncology, Director of the Center to Eliminate Health Disparities, and Associate Director of Diversity Affairs at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Mitchell is a retired Brigadier General, the first female physician to attain this rank in the history of the U.S. Air Force. Dr. Mitchell was the 116th President of the National Medical Association.  Her research focuses on breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers and other GI malignancies involving new drug evaluation and chemotherapy, development of new therapeutic regimens, chemo-radiation strategies for combined modality therapy, patient selection criteria, supportive care, and disparities in cancer.  She is a Principal Investigator for a NCI Lead Academic Participating Site grant and received the 2018 Jefferson Health Achievement Award in Medicine. Dr. Mitchell currently serves on the NIH Council of Councils and previously served on the NCI Clinical Trials and Translational Research Advisory Committee (CTAC) and the NCI Blue Ribbon Panel. 

Mr. Ingram is a General Partner at Hatteras Venture Partners, a venture capital firm that invests in early stage life science companies.  Prior to joining Hatteras, Mr. Ingram was Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Glaxo/Wellcome. Mr. Ingram co-led the merger and integration that formed GlaxoSmithKline. In 2013, Bob received the NACD B. Kenneth West Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Corporate Directors.

At the request of US President George H.W. Bush, Bob formed and chaired the CEO Roundtable on Cancer. In 2006, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Advisory Board. In 2014 he received the North Carolina Award for public service, the highest civilian honor the state can bestow on an individual. Bob currently serves on the board of the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, the Research Triangle Institute, and is Chairman of the GlaxoSmithKline Foundation, and member of the Advisory Council of the Congressional Task Force on Biomedical Research and Innovation. 

Mr. Ingram is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University.

The President's Cancer Panel monitors the activities of the National Cancer Program and reports to the President of the United States on barriers to progress in reducing the burden of cancer.

The Panel accomplishes its mission by identifying high-priority topics for which actionable recommendations can be made, convening meetings with key experts and stakeholders to develop an understanding of the problems, challenges, opportunities, and potential solutions and then framing possible recommendations, including actions that should be taken by relevant organizations. Following substantial input, the Panel submits a report to the President of the United States.

The Panel communicates its findings using a variety of tools—including print and web-based reports, social media, and presentations to a range of organizations. While reports are to the President, they are also for the larger group of stakeholders, public and private, that form the National Cancer Program as well as other partner organizations. Together, these organizations and others can make a positive difference in accelerating progress against cancer.

National Cancer Program

The President's Cancer Panel was established by law in 1971 when the National Cancer Act was signed by President Richard Nixon.

The Panel was established as part of The National Cancer Act of 1971 (P.L. 92-218). The Act strengthened the national effort against cancer and was signed into law by President Nixon on December 23, 1971. The Panel is a Federal Advisory Committee governed by FACA (Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 [P.L. 92-463]) and is supported by the National Cancer Institute. A summary of the Panel’s charter can be accessed here.

The President's Cancer Panel conducts a series of meetings on a selected topic to gather input from key stakeholders. The Panel forms its recommendations, and findings are presented to the President of the United States. 

Staff members of the President's Cancer Panel coordinate the work that advances the Panel's mission with support from a team of science writers and meeting planners. 

Click the links below to see materials from past series and to download reports. Many of the reports are available in hard copy and can be ordered by sending an email to nci@gpo.gov.

Improving Resilience and Equity in Cancer Screening: Innovation to Increase Screening

Improving Resilience and Equity in Cancer Screening: Lessons from COVID-19 and Beyond

HPV Vaccination for Cancer Prevention: Progress, Opportunities, and a Renewed Call to Action 

Promoting Value, Affordability, and Innovation in Cancer Drug Treatment

Improving Cancer-Related Outcomes with Connected Health

Cancer Communication in the Digital Era: Opportunities and Challenges

Accelerating HPV Vaccine Uptake: Urgency for Action to Prevent Cancer

The Future of Cancer Research: Accelerating Scientific Innovation

America's Demographic and Cultural Transformation: Implications for Cancer

Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now

50 years ago the President’s Cancer Panel was formed by the National Cancer Act. Read about the history of the PCP and its plans for the future here.