Events & Awards
Events & Awards
AIM-HI Beacon Award for Oncology Leaders
The AIM-HI Beacon Award for Women Leaders in Oncology honors exceptional women leaders across the health and life sciences sectors who have made transformative contributions to advancing cancer treatment, detection, and diagnosis for patients worldwide.
Laura Esserman, M.D., MBA, Alfred A. de Lorimier Endowed Chair in General Surgery, Director of the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Breast Care Center, and Professor of Surgery and Radiology at the University of California, San Francisco, is selected unanimously by the 2026 Blue Ribbon Selection Committee as the recipient of the 2026 AIM-HI Beacon Award for Women Leaders in Oncology, from a pool of outstanding global nominees. Learn More…
Dr. Esserman will be honored at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on October 9, 2026; the award ceremony is part of the 2026 NFCR Global Summit and Award Ceremonies for Cancer Research & Entrepreneurship, which brings together world-renowned leaders in cancer research and drug development, business leaders, investors, government officials, supporters, and patient advocates. Secure your spot today!
2026 Winner
Laura J. Esserman, M.D., MBA
Alfred A. de Lorimier Endowed Chair in General Surgery, Director of UCSF Breast Care Center, and Professor of Surgery and Radiology at the University of California, San Francisco
Previous Recipients
2024 Winner
Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc)
Chief Executive Officer, American Association for Cancer Research
2023 Winner
Monica M. Bertagnolli, M.D.
Director, National Cancer Institute
2022 Winner
Anna D. Barker, Ph.D.
Chief Strategy Officer, Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine
Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Complex Adaptive Systems, Arizona State University
NFCR Global Summit and Award Ceremonies
for Cancer Research and Entrepreneurship
for Cancer Research and Entrepreneurship
Co-hosted by AIM-HI
We believe that when brilliant leaders are brought into the same space to focus on the same issues, progress happens. That’s why AIM-HI has curated an annual oncology conference in partnership with NFCR. The conference consists of three forums:
New Frontier for Cancer Research
World-renowned scientific leaders discuss their latest life-saving discoveries and the breakthroughs that continue to change the cancer research landscape.
Luncheon & Oncology Leadership Forum
Forum topics include the direction of the healthcare industry, the traits that characterize business leaders, and how young entrepreneurs in oncology and patient-empowering health-tech can best prepare themselves as future leaders.
Emerging Oncology Companies Showcase & Investor's Perspectives
Biotech investment veterans exchange opinions on hot topics in oncology and provide advice to start-up companies seeking institutional funding.
The 2026 NFCR Global Summit and Award Ceremonies will be held on Friday, October 9, 2026, in-person at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Join this day to celebrate cancer research and entrepreneurship and engage with key opinion leaders in the field, including world-class scientists, biotech executives, entrepreneurs, investors, cancer patients, and advocates.
