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Mary S. De Shields, MD, an oncologist with Eastern Shore Oncology, PC, in Easton, MD, was recently appointed to two leadership roles in the field of oncology. Governor Martin O'Malley recently appointed her for a three-year term to the Maryland Council on Cancer Control. Dr. De Shields helped to write the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan and has been a member of the Council's Breast Cancer Committee. The plan is re-written every 10 years and provides standards of care for east cancer patients in Maryland.
Dr. De Shields was also appointed to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Health Disparities Advisory Group. The Advisory Group makes recommendations to the ASCO Board on strategies to effectively address healthcare disparities across the cancer care continuum, from prevention to end of life care. Some major objectives of the ASCO campaign to eliminate cancer health disparities are to educate the oncology community in the care of patients from underserved and minority populations; increase the diversity of the clinical oncology workforce; and support research in the area of health disparities. The Health Disparities Advisory Group is comprised of physicians from cancer centers across the US.
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