Benjamin O. Anderson, MD, FACS

Global Technical Lead for Breast Cancer
City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), Geneva, Switzerland

Professor of Surgery and Global Health Medicine, University of Washington

Dr. Anderson is Professor of Surgery and Global Health Medicine at the University of Washington (UW). As surgical director of the UW Breast Health Clinic, Dr. Anderson’s cared for patients with breast health issues and diseases from 1994-2020. He served as president of the American Society of Breast Disease (ASBD) from 2005–07 and vice chair of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Breast Panel from 2013-20.

Dr. Anderson has worked internationally in global cancer control for over 25 years. With joint appointments at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Division of Public Health Sciences and the UW Department of Global Health, Dr. Anderson chaired the Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI), which pioneered the development of “resource stratified” guidelines in low- and middle-income countries. Dr. Anderson served on the Board of Directors of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) from 2012 - 2018. In 2020, Dr. Anderson joined the World Health Organization (WHO) and served as WHO Medical Officer to lead the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) launched in March 2021. After overseeing the publication of the GBCI Framework in 2023, Dr. Anderson transitioned from WHO to City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) as Global Technical Lead for Breast Cancer, where he continues to lead implementation projects based on the GBCI Framework in an ongoing partnership between C/Can and WHO.

In recognition of his global work, Dr. Anderson received the 2011 Partners in Progress Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the 2013 Inspiration Award from the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC), the 2019 Pioneers of Global Health Award from the Washington Global Health Alliance (WGHA) and the 2023 Umberto Veronesi Memorial Award from the European School of Oncology (ESO).