Meet the Fox alumna improving the lives of cancer patients and their families

Karen E. Knudsen, PhD, EMBA ’19, is passionate when talking about her role as CEO of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the work being done every day to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families.

Her rich, deep history as both a cancer researcher and executive leader of cancer treatment centers, including at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Health, has brought a next-level energy to the fight against cancer.

Most recently, Dr. Knudsen met with President Biden to discuss his administration’s Cancer Moonshot program which seeks to reduce the cancer death rate by 50% over the next 25 years and improve the experience of people living with and surviving cancer.

“We see ourselves as standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the President and the nation in our ability to affect change,” she says. “We know that that will require a multifaceted approach and ACS is already very deep in execution.”

Temple University - April 20, 2022