Dr. Catheryn Yashar, a leading figure in radiation oncology and the chief medical officer at UC San Diego Health, has been appointed as the president-elect of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), marking a significant milestone in the field of cancer treatment and health policy advocacy. This prestigious designation reflects Dr. Yashar’s deep commitment to advancing radiation oncology through technological innovation and equitable care practices. ASTRO, which represents over 10,000 professionals including physicians, medical physicists, biologists, and radiation therapists around the globe, stands as the foremost organization dedicated to radiation oncology. Dr. Yashar’s upcoming presidency, slated for September 2026, heralds a new era focused on precision, innovation, and collaborative cancer care.
Radiation oncology is a rapidly evolving discipline that harnesses high-energy radiation to treat cancer, offering a non-invasive alternative or complement to surgery and systemic therapies. Dr. Yashar’s expertise lies in advanced radiation techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), and brachytherapy. These modalities are critical for delivering radiation doses with sub-millimeter accuracy, selectively targeting tumor cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. Such precision mitigates side effects and amplifies therapeutic efficacy, especially in complex cancers like breast and gynecologic malignancies. Under Dr. Yashar’s leadership, these technologies have been integrated into clinical protocols that prioritize both patient safety and outcome optimization.
Further underscoring her impact, Dr. Yashar holds multiple prominent leadership roles within UC San Diego, including vice chair of clinical affairs for radiation medicine and applied sciences, associate dean at the School of Medicine, and chair of the UC San Diego Health Sciences Faculty Council. This comprehensive involvement in academic, clinical, and administrative spheres fuels her advocacy for multidisciplinary approaches essential to modern oncology. She emphasizes that effective cancer care transcends isolated medical treatments, requiring tight collaboration between medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists as well as nursing staff, social workers, and nutrition experts, collectively addressing the full spectrum of patient needs from diagnosis through survivorship.
Health policy reform remains a cornerstone of Dr. Yashar’s agenda. As the current chair of ASTRO’s health policy council, she champions legislation like the Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) Act, presently under congressional review. This bill aims to stabilize reimbursement mechanisms for radiation oncology, ensuring funding is aligned with evidence-based guidelines while safeguarding access for underserved populations. By advocating for value-based care, Dr. Yashar and ASTRO seek to dismantle administrative inefficiencies and promote equitable distribution of resources, ultimately enhancing healthcare quality across diverse patient demographics.
Central to Dr. Yashar’s vision is the commitment to innovation-driven oncology care. Emerging technologies, including adaptive radiation therapies that adjust in real-time to tumor changes, and integration of artificial intelligence for treatment planning, are pivotal frontiers under her stewardship. These advances facilitate increasingly tailored treatment regimens, dynamically responding to tumor biology and patient-specific factors. Such precision medicine paradigms represent the future of radiation oncology, optimizing therapeutic ratios, reducing toxicities, and improving patient prognoses on an individualized basis.
Dr. Yashar’s work is situated within the renowned Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, an academic hub famed for its comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach. At Moores, multidisciplinary tumor boards convene specialists across disciplines to devise patient-centric strategies, blending clinical expertise with clinical trial opportunities and psychosocial support services. This holistic model ensures that each patient’s care pathway addresses medical, emotional, and financial challenges, highlighting the critical interplay between scientific innovation and compassionate healthcare delivery.
Her leadership has also elevated the national profile of Moores Cancer Center and UC San Diego’s oncology services. According to Diane Simeone, MD, the center’s director, Dr. Yashar’s appointment as ASTRO president-elect serves as a testament to her far-reaching influence and longstanding dedication. It brings broader attention to the center’s multifaceted cancer program, which spans the continuum from fundamental research and disease prevention to treatment innovation and survivorship care. This alignment accelerates progress in cancer care, fostering an environment where breakthroughs can rapidly translate into improved patient outcomes.
Importantly, Dr. Yashar emphasizes the need to protect evidence-based clinical guidelines that underpin radiation oncology practice. Amidst a changing healthcare landscape, she warns against policies that create administrative burdens or stifle innovation, advocating instead for systems that incentivize quality, efficiency, and equity. Her stance champions the principle that cancer care must be accessible, scientifically rigorous, and sustainably funded, ensuring that both current patients and future generations benefit from continual advances.
Her presidency will continue ASTRO’s mission to foster education, research, and advocacy in radiation oncology. Dr. Yashar’s extensive leadership experience, including a prior presidency of the American Brachytherapy Society and trusteeship of the American Board of Radiology, equips her with unique insights into both the clinical and policy dimensions of cancer care. She oversees national board certification processes, ensuring rigorous standards for the next generation of specialists committed to delivering state-of-the-art radiation oncology.
UC San Diego Health itself stands as a leader in comprehensive cancer care, nationally ranked in 10 specialties by U.S. News & World Report and recognized for its academic excellence by Vizient, Inc. The institutional emphasis on integrating research, clinical care, and community engagement mirrors Dr. Yashar’s vision for radiation oncology: a patient-centered, innovative, and equitable discipline poised to transform cancer outcomes. As she prepares to assume the full responsibilities of ASTRO’s presidency in 2026, her focus remains squarely on enhancing clinical pathways, expanding access, and fostering collaboration that bridges technology and humanity in the fight against cancer.
In Dr. Yashar’s own words, continued progress hinges on sustained support for research and intelligent clinical decision tools that elevate care quality and fairness. Her presidency promises to advance radiation oncology as a leader in informed and compassionate cancer treatment, ensuring that novel therapies reach patients effectively while preserving the ethical standards of medical practice. Under her influence, the field is poised not only to improve survival rates but also to enhance quality of life for millions affected by cancer worldwide.
The appointment of Dr. Catheryn Yashar exemplifies the intersection of scientific innovation, clinical excellence, and policy advocacy critical for the future of oncology. As cancer care becomes ever more technologically sophisticated and data-driven, her leadership will guide a community dedicated to translating emerging evidence into real-world benefits. This marks an exciting chapter for radiation oncology, as it embraces advances that promise greater precision, fewer side effects, and more equitable access to life-saving treatments.
Subject of Research: Radiation oncology, advanced radiation therapies, health policy in cancer care
Article Title: Dr. Catheryn Yashar Named President-Elect of ASTRO, Leading Advances in Precision and Equitable Radiation Oncology
News Publication Date: Not specified
Web References:
- https://www.astro.org/
- https://providers.ucsd.edu/details/11567/radiation-oncology-cancer
- https://www.astro.org/news-and-publications/news-and-media-center/news-releases/2025/rocr-act-2025-press-release
Image Credits: Leslie Aquinde, UC San Diego Health
Keywords: Radiation oncology, breast cancer, gynecologic cancer, health care, cancer, radiology
