Research and Patient Support
What does it take to outsmart cancer? Research. We've invested more than $4.6 billion in cancer research since 1946, all to find more – and better – treatments, uncover factors that may cause cancer, and improve cancer patients' quality of life. Reducing health disparities across diverse and multicultural populations is one of our priorities.
Public Policy Advocacy
If we are to succeed in our mission to end suffering and death from cancer, it won't just happen in the doctor's office or research lab. It will require action at the statehouse and in Congress. ACS Cancer Action Network volunteers lobby their elected officials to secure funding for cancer research, ensure all Americans have access to cancer care, and support public health legislation that reduces cancer risk and improves cancer care for all Americans.
Career Opportunities & Culture
The American Cancer Society strives to build a workplace culture of belonging and collaboration; a culture where diversity is not only welcomed, but is pursued as an essential strategy in the fight against cancer.
A Culture of Inclusion
All staff participate in diversity and inclusion training, designed to expand cultural awareness and promote real dialogue about inclusion.
- Foundations of Diversity and Inclusion includes a cultural awareness self-assessment, and an instructor-led webinar titled The Power of Small; Micro-messages in the Workplace.
- Our “population deep dives” provide comprehensive review of specific communities including history, cultural norms and values, medical beliefs, and patterns of volunteerism and philanthropy. These are among our most popular trainings, utilizing external resources like TED talks to foster appreciation of various multicultural topics and perspectives.
- Our manager program, titled “Leadership Matters”, focuses on the role of people managers in modeling inclusive behaviors, and eliminating unconscious bias from management decisions. The essential learning objective for this program is clear in the title; when it comes to diversity and inclusion, leadership DOES MATTER.
Employee Engagement Groups
At the American Cancer Society, Employee Engagement Groups (EEGs) serve as a resource for their members and the Society by fostering learning, generating dialogue and supporting multicultural engagement. We have six very active groups in place including: the African American and Black EEG; MiACS – our Hispanic Latino EEG; the Military Families and Veterans EEG; the LGBT and Allies EEG; genACS – our millennials EEG, and our AAPI EEG.
Every EEG welcomes all members of the Society, including full-time, part-time, and temporary employees, regardless of identity, background, or heritage. Staff from every region and department are involved in these voluntary, employee-led groups, and many staff participate in several EEGs.
A few examples of projects the EEGs have undertaken include creation of community engagement toolkits; representing the Society at large-scale community events such as PRIDE festivals; and hosting external speakers for continued staff education. In addition to their direct impact on our business goals, participation in our EEGs provides staff the opportunity to expand their peer networks, and develop team leadership skills.