Heather Wakelee, MD, FASCO, deputy director of the Stanford Cancer Institute and chief of the Division of Oncology, was honored with a 2026 Giants of Cancer Care award in the Thoracic Malignancies category on May 28, 2026, in Chicago.
Presented annually by OncLive, the Giants of Cancer Care awards honor oncology leaders whose scientific discoveries, clinical innovation, and commitment to patients have transformed cancer treatment and improved outcomes worldwide. The award recognizes Wakelee’s leadership in advancing lung cancer treatment and improving patient care.
“I am honored and humbled to be recognized for the small part I have played in the tremendous progress made in the fight against lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies.”
“I am honored and humbled to be recognized for the small part I have played in the tremendous progress made in the fight against lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies,” Wakelee said. “These advances truly reflect the incredible efforts of many amazing colleagues across the globe who represent a broad community of physicians, health professionals, scientists, and advocates.”
Wakelee is a thoracic medical oncologist who has advanced new standards of care and expanded treatment options for patients through influential clinical research and leadership. She led the landmark phase 3 IMpower010 clinical trial evaluating adjuvant atezolizumab, an immunotherapy given after surgery, in resected early-stage non–small cell lung cancer, which led to the 2021 FDA approval of the therapy and expanded treatment options for patients with early-stage disease.
Wakelee also chaired the steering committee for the KEYNOTE-671 trial, which demonstrated that perioperative pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy given both before and after surgery, improved overall survival in patients with stage 2 and 3 non–small cell lung cancer and helped redefine treatment approaches for early-stage disease.
In addition to previously leading Stanford's efforts within the National Cancer Institute-supported ECOG-ACRIN clinical trials network for over a decade, Wakelee previously served as president of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, one of the field’s leading global organizations. She is also recognized for mentoring emerging oncology leaders and received ECOG-ACRIN’s Remarkable Mentor to Women in Oncology Award in 2024.
