Allen Lichter Visionary Leader Award

2025

Karen E. Knudsen, PhD, MBA, is an internationally recognized oncology leader and health-care executive. She recently completed her tenure as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Prior to ACS, Dr.

Knudsen was Executive Vice President of Oncology Services for Jefferson Health, Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, an endowed Professor, and Chair of the Department of Cancer Biology at Thomas Jefferson University. She is past President of the Association of American Cancer Institutes and served on the NCI Board of Advisors. Dr. Knudsen received numerous awards for her contributions to cancer research and health-care leadership and was recently honored by Forbes as one of “50 Over 50” Women of Impact and a CNBC “Changemaker.”