Steven Itzkowitz, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF

Professor of Medicine, Oncological Sciences, and Medical Education
Director, GI Fellowship Program
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Steering Committee Chair

Dr. Itzkowitz is Professor of Medicine, Oncological Sciences, and Medical Education, and Director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Itzkowitz is Chair of the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable and past Co-Chair of its Family History/Early Age Onset Task Group. He is a member of the President’s Cancer Panel Subcommittee on Colorectal Cancer Screening. He is a former Chair of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Section of the American Gastroenterological Association, and past Co-Chair of the New York Citywide Colon Cancer Control Coalition (“C5 Coalition”). His research has focused on reducing disparities in colorectal cancer screening in the general population, developing new non-invasive stool DNA tests to screen for colon cancer, and detecting and preventing colon cancer in high-risk individuals: inflammatory bowel disease and hereditary syndromes. His team at Mount Sinai was among the first in the nation to demonstrate the effectiveness of patient navigation to enhance screening colonoscopy adherence, proving also that patient navigation is cost effective. Since 2014 he has been an integral part of the medical school’s efforts to enhance anti-racism education and training for students, trainees and faculty.

Robert A. Smith, PhD

American Cancer Society

Steering Committee Co-Chair

Quality Assurance Task Group Co-Chair

Dr. Robert A. Smith is a cancer epidemiologist and Senior Vice President, Cancer Screening at the National Office of the American Cancer Society (ACS) in Atlanta, Georgia. He also is Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University School of Medicine, and an Honorary Professor, Centre for Cancer Prevention, Wolfson Institute of Preventative Medicine at Queen Mary University of London. His primary research interests are cancer epidemiology, evaluation of cancer prevention and early detection programs, quality assurance in the delivery of health services, and cancer rehabilitation and survivorship. He received his PhD from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1983. Prior to joining the staff at the ACS, he held positions with the Boston University School of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control. At the ACS he leads the development of cancer screening guidelines, and special research and policy projects focused on cancer prevention and control. He is the author of over 300 peer-reviewed scientific articles, reports, and book chapters, and a frequent lecturer on cancer screening issues. He serves on many international and national government and professional advisory committees and working groups, and in 2017 was a member of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Handbooks Working Group for volume 17 on Colorectal Cancer Screening. Dr. Smith was one of the founding members of the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, and has served as its Co-Director for 20 years. He also is a founding member of the National Lung Cancer Roundtable and the Principle Investigator of the first 3-year supporting grant. Among his honors, Dr. Smith is an Honorary Fellow of the Society of Breast Imaging; in 2004 he received the Cancer Prevention Laurel for Outstanding National Leadership from the Prevent Cancer Foundation; and in 2011 he received the Medal of Honor from the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Lisa C. Richardson, MD, MPH

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Steering Committee Executive Member

Dr. Richardson is the Director of CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC). As director of DCPC, she provides leadership and direction for all scientific, policy, and programmatic issues related to four national programs: the Colorectal Cancer Control Program, the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, and the National Program of Cancer Registries. Dr. Richardson’s public health service includes the following: medical director for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer and Early Detection Program (1997-1998), medical officer in CDC’s Division of Blood Disorders (1998-2000) and later served as the division director, faculty member at the University of Florida in Medical Oncology collaborating with the Florida Cancer Data System funded by CDC’s National Program of Cancer Registries (2000-2004), medical officer in the DCPC’s Epidemiology and Applied Research Branch (2004), team lead for Scientific Support and Clinical Translation Team supporting the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (2006-2009). From 2010 to 2013, Dr. Richardson served as DCPC’s Associate Director for Science and helped set scientific priorities to maintain high-caliber integrity in public health activities.

Dr. Richardson received her medical degree and Bachelor of Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Master in Public Health from the University of Michigan, School of Public Health. Her public health knowledge and expertise has well-positioned her for leading DCPC.