On Thursday, 17 February 2022, the American Association for Cancer Education (AACE) Academy of Fellows held their second induction ceremony. This virtual event honored the work of our two new inductees, Clement Gwede, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, and FAACE, and Jamal Khader, MD and FAACE.

Kathleen Heneghan and David Wiljer, cochairs of the academy, hosted the ceremony and opened the event with a review of the academy’s goals. The Academy of Fellows was created to work with the AACE Executive Council to identify trends in cancer education and training, steer advances in the field, foster innovation and collaboration, support and mentor peers and trainees, and enhance the critical importance of cancer education in the rapidly changing cancer care environment.

Fellows contribute to several essential activities of the academy. These distinguished scholars work to foster the exchange of creative ideas within and across disciplines and collaborate with other thought leaders to advance cancer education globally. Additionally, fellows contribute to innovative cancer education training activities and the design and dissemination of cancer education standards and best practices. They support the development and recognition of cancer educators and publish scholarly manuscripts in the Journal of Cancer Education (JCE).

The Academy of Fellows started with a meeting of past AACE presidents in 2018. A change in the AACE bylaws in 2019 then allowed for the expansion of membership beyond AACE past presidents. The academy represents those who have demonstrated the highest achievements in the domain of cancer education. Currently, selection criteria include the following:

  1. 1.

    Established record as a cancer educator

  2. 2.

    Effective mentoring

  3. 3.

    Current contributions to cancer education efforts

  4. 4.

    Established leadership in national or international organizations or committees

  5. 5.

    Impact in cancer education endeavors

  6. 6.

    Scholarship

  7. 7.

    Recognition and awards

This year, the academy inducted Drs. Gwede and Khader in recognition of their exemplary and inspiring work.

Dr. Gwede is a Senior Member of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Division of Population Sciences at the Moffitt Cancer Center, and Professor of Oncologic Sciences at Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida. Dr. Gwede is the immediate past president of AACE and the chair of the Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council. He was recognized as the Moffitt Cancer Center Research Educator of the Year for 2020 and in 2019 received the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s Mentoring Award for the Health Equity SIG. Dr. Gwede’s academic interests include health equity, implementation science, and community-based participatory research. He is active in evidence-based cancer education, screening and early detection interventions, global cancer education, and mentoring. Dr. Gwede is passionate about health equity. His funded work is focused on improving health equity, screening, and early detection among medically underserved populations of diverse backgrounds, including rural and migrant populations and those that are served in federally qualified health centers. Dr. Gwede has a deep commitment to the education, training, and career development of underrepresented minority individuals at different stages in their careers.

figure a

Dr. Khader is a Full Member and Consultant Radiation Oncologist at the King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) in Amman, Jordan. Dr. Khader is the head of the genitourinary cancers multidisciplinary team and the King Hussein Cancer Center training committee. He is also the chair of the KHCC Academy for Training and Education and a senior faculty mentor and member of the College of the European School of Oncology. Dr. Khader is a radiation oncology expert in the International Atomic Energy Agency and a member of both the International Cancer Expert Corps and World Cancer Leaders’ Summit. He is the former president of the Jordan Oncology Society and former member of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Board of Directors. Dr. Khader’s clinical interests are genitourinary, lung, and gastrointestinal cancers. He is currently active in cancer education, mentoring, global health, and leadership development in cancer education. Dr. Khader has a strong commitment to providing superior interdisciplinary cancer care at the King Hussein Cancer Center and enhancing cancer education, capacity building, and training in the region, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Khader is also active in curriculum development and mentoring the next generation of educators.

figure b

Conclusion

The word education is derived from the mid-sixteenth century Latin noun educatio and from the verb educare, “to lead.” The lifetime work of Dr. Gwede and Dr. Khader exemplifies the meaning of the word. They have led patients, families, and communities in a variety of settings, nationally and internationally, to achieve improved health and contribute to the association’s mission to decrease the burden of cancer worldwide through education.

Welcome to the academy!