The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) appointed Daniel Smith as its president. ACS CAN, founded in 2001 as the sister advocacy organization of the American Cancer Society, is dedicated to enacting policies that will help to win the war on cancer by engaging elected officials, policymakers and the public on government’s critical role in the cancer fight.

The appointment of Smith as ACS CAN’s first full-time president signals the 93-year-old Society’s recognition of advocacy’s increased importance to winning the war on cancer.

Smith played a lead role in the creation of ACS CAN as the Society’s national vice president of government relations, a position he held for six years before ascending to this role. He founded and leads One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC), a coalition of more than 40 cancer-related groups that has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in federal funding for cancer research and programs. Prior to joining the Society, Smith spent 10 years on Capitol Hill working for Senator Tom Harkin (D- Iowa), four of those years as his chief of staff.

Posted on December 31, 2006 11:02 AM