2025 President-Elect Election
CAHON will be holding a President-Elect Election from May 1-May 15, 2025. Regular/Active Members current in dues are eligible to vote in the 2025 Election.
2025 CAHON President-Elect Candidates
Dr. Cynthia Ma, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine
Lifetime Regular Member
Professor of Medicine
Washington University
Biography:
Dr. Cynthia Ma, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, is a physician scientist with a research focus in breast cancer biomarker and targeted therapeutics development. Dr. Ma received her medical degree from Beijing Medical University, P. R. China, and her PhD in Developmental Biology from University of Cincinnati. She completed the Internal Medicine Residency training at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina and the Hematology/Oncology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She has been on faculty at Washington University in St. Louis since 2005.
She serves as the Clinical Director of the Breast Cancer Program in the Section of Medical Oncology, Division of Oncology. She is a co-leader of the Breast Cancer Research Program at the Siteman Cancer Center. Dr. Ma has spearheaded numerous biomarker-directed, investigator-initiated trials, including groundbreaking neoadjuvant studies that examine the efficacy of endocrine agents and small molecule inhibitors that target PI3K and cell cycle to overcome endocrine resistance in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. She is the study chair for the Alliance Phase III neoadjuvant ALTERNATE trial, investigating biomarkers of endocrine sensitivity and resistance mechanisms. Her laboratory has focused on biomarkers and resistance mechanisms for agents that target cell cycle and PI3K pathway through analysis of clinical specimens and preclinical studies using breast cancer cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models.
Dr. Ma’s extensive research has garnered significant funding from prestigious bodies including NIH/NCI, DOD, BCRF, Komen, and several industry partners. Her expertise in both translational and clinical research has been instrumental in securing multiple multi-PI grants aimed at developing innovative therapeutic approaches to enhance the outcomes for breast cancer patients. During her career, Dr. Ma has received many awards recognizing her work in translational and clinical breast cancer research, including the ASCO Merit and Career Development Awards, CALGB Clinical Scholar Award, the NCI Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award, the Komen Scholar Award.
Candidate Statement:
As a Chinese American physician-scientist in the field of Oncology, my professional development journey has equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities we face. I am passionate about giving back to the profession and contributing meaningfully to our community. My experience with CAHON has prepared me well to fulfill the role of CAHON President. I served as the Education Committee Chair in the early years of CAHON and was awarded the CAHON Outstanding Service Award in 2022. Last year, I was nominated to serve as the Vice President of CAHON and had the opportunity to work alongside the CAHON President, Board, and committee chairs. With their support and encouragement, I spearheaded surveys and initiatives that facilitated mentor-mentee interactions.
As CAHON President, my vision is to foster a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative community dedicated to advancing the field of hematology and oncology through excellence in patient care, research, education, and advocacy. I am committed to strengthening professional networks, promoting the highest standards of practice, and supporting the personal and professional growth of our members, while emphasizing the unique contributions and perspectives of Chinese American healthcare professionals. In addition, it is important to implement strategies to secure sustainable funding through sponsorships, grants, and fundraising activities to support CAHON's long-term objectives and initiatives.
I will continue the outstanding work of the current leadership to strengthen partnerships with other professional organizations and societies to expand our network and resources, and to develop platforms to facilitate communication, collaboration, and resource sharing among members. I am dedicated to realizing this vision and achieving these goals by working collaboratively with our members, partners, and stakeholders. Together, we will create a brighter future for hematology and oncology, making a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients and the broader medical community.
Dr. Iris Zhi, MD, PhD
Lifetime Regular Member
Medical Director, Clinical Operations, Medical Oncology
Perlmutter Cancer Center
NYU Langone Health
Biography:
Dr. Iris Zhi, MD, PhD, is a breast medical oncologist and integrative oncology expert dedicated to improving patient outcomes and advancing clinical operations. She currently serves as the Medical Director of Clinical Operations in Medical Oncology at NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center – Long Island and Associate Professor at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine. Before joining NYU Langone, she was a member at the Breast Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and served as the Regional Medical Director at MSK Commack, where she played a key role in expanding regional cancer care services. Dr. Zhi has been recognized for her excellence in oncology, research, and mentorship, earning multiple awards, including Top Doctors on Long Island (Newsday), the Lynn Sage Scholar/Fellow Award, the Society for Integrative Oncology New Investigator Award, the Stage IV Champion Award.
Dr. Zhi completed her medical degree at Peking University Health Science Center and earned her PhD in Biochemistry and Structural Biology from Stony Brook University. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Nassau University Medical Center and pursued a Hematology and Medical Oncology fellowship at Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she was an NIH T32 research fellow.
Dr. Zhi’s research focuses on breast cancer in older adults, novel systemic therapies, and integrative oncology. She has led clinical trials evaluating acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and has actively contributed to quality improvement initiatives that enhance patient access and operational efficiency. As a leader in both academia and clinical practice, Dr. Zhi is committed to fostering an inclusive oncology community, mentoring the next generation of oncologists, and driving operational efficiency to improve patient care. She advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative approaches that bridge academic and community oncology, ensuring equitable access to high-quality cancer care.
Candidate Statement:
I am deeply honored to be nominated for the 2025 CAHON President-Elect Board position, especially as we celebrate CAHON’s 20th anniversary. Since joining CAHON as a fellow, I have benefited immensely from its mission of mentorship, professional development, and collaboration, which has profoundly shaped my career. As a long-standing CAHON member and Co-Chair of the Academic Committee since 2021, I have been actively engaged in advancing CAHON’s mission through mentoring early-career oncologists, reviewing Young Investigator Award (YIA) and Junior Investigator Award (JIA) abstracts - key initiatives that support the next generation of Chinese American hematologists and oncologists - and organizing high-impact scientific and educational symposiums. These experiences have reinforced my commitment to fostering emerging oncology leaders and strengthening CAHON’s role within the broader oncology community.
With my expertise in clinical operations, breast oncology, and integrative oncology, I am passionate about expanding CAHON’s impact and aligning its future with its strategic vision. If elected, I will focus on enhancing mentorship and career development opportunities, strengthening collaborations with global oncology organizations, increasing CAHON’s visibility in national and international initiatives, and promoting stakeholder engagement to ensure long-term sustainability. Additionally, I recognize the importance of CAHON’s high-impact journals in amplifying scientific contributions, and I will advocate for a structured succession plan to support our dedicated editorial team.
CAHON has a unique opportunity to not only support Chinese American oncologists but also to broaden its influence as a leading organization in oncology. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to CAHON’s continued growth and to working alongside its dedicated members in shaping the future of oncology.