Advancements in care: Early results from the Alliance for Equity in Cancer Care
“We have seen so much growth and progress in not just our grantee sites, but across the national landscape when it comes to equitable cancer care,” said Alliance Deputy Director Marcie S. Wright, MD, MPH. A cancer diagnosis comes with a complicated burden—not just a battle against a complex disease, but a stressful journey overcoming barriers associated with social drivers of health (SDOH). The Alliance for Equity in Cancer Care (Alliance) works to identify those significant barriers, including geographic isolation, limited access to transportation, and financial instability.
Dismantling these systemic gaps is the driving force behind the Alliance. Backed by funding from the Merck Foundation and led by the National Program Office at the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, the multi-site initiative was designed with an uncompromising mission: to advance health equity and ensure timely access to high-quality, culturally responsive cancer care for patients from underserved communities.
Driving Impact through Community-rooted Solutions
What makes the Alliance particularly effective is the recognition that equitable care is not a one-size-fits-all approach. “Although all of our programs were designed to improve equitable cancer care, at the end of it, none of it looks the same,” said Wright. Instead, grantees are empowered to address the specific hurdles of their own communities with the help of trusted community partners. Whether it’s those in the frontier region of Montana who live a significant distance from their care providers, or those in the deep south of Louisiana, where access to quality education is limited – this program targets and addresses specific barriers to receiving life-saving cancer treatment.
The Alliance saw a 139.3% increase in patients referred to support services over the past two years. Of those who received referrals, grantees saw a 132.9% increase in the amount of patients who used the resource.
Alliance efforts have also influenced patient outcomes, with more than 90% of those patients adhering to the recommendations provided.
Now moving into its fifth and final year, Alliance grantee sites across the country have experienced a pivotal shift toward sustainability and scalability, with grantees implementing dozens of institutional policies that directly impact patients' access to care. It is no longer just about establishing localized, innovative pilots; it is about turning those pilots into permanent programs and tracking progress along the way.
A Look Ahead
Reflecting on how far the program has come, former Alliance Director Robert A. Winn, M.D., shared, "I am proud of the progress we have made so far to advocate for better health outcomes and more community-focused approaches, but there is still work to be done."
Effective June 1, 2026, Monica L. Baskin, PhD, FSBM, FABMR, has assumed the role of Alliance Director, bringing new opportunities and perspectives. “It is my honor to step into this role as director of the Alliance,” said Baskin. “The Alliance has made a significant impact on cancer care across the country, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue to support efforts to ensure all patients have access to the same, life-saving care, regardless of race, income or zip code.”
The trajectory of the Alliance proves that when strong leadership, philanthropic funding, and grassroots community trust come together, systemic barriers begin to fracture. As the initiative navigates its final stages of the grant and looks toward the future, it isn’t just delivering equitable cancer care today—it is working towards a fairer healthcare system tomorrow.
Learn more about the Alliance and the work of its grantees at equityincancercare.org, and follow it on social media @OncAlliance.