IAOTP names Dr. Susan Littman Global Icon Award winner in healthcare

The International Association of Top Professionals will honor Dr. Susan Littman with its Global Icon Award in Healthcare at its annual gala in December at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. The recognition adds to a long list of awards for the medical oncologist and hematologist, who has spent more than 30 years advancing cancer research, treatment and hereditary cancer services.

Why it matters: - The award puts a spotlight on Dr. Susan Littman’s work in medical oncology, hematology and cancer care. - IAOTP says the Global Icon Award in Healthcare is reserved for a single physician each year. - The honor highlights leadership in cancer research, treatment and broader healthcare advocacy.

What happened: - The International Association of Top Professionals selected Dr. Susan Littman for The Global Icon Award in Healthcare. - IAOTP will present the award at its Annual Awards Gala in December at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. - Stephanie Cirami, president of IAOTP, called Littman a leader in cancer research and treatment and said the organization looks forward to celebrating her at the gala. - More information on the gala is available in IAOTP’s event page.

The details: - Littman has worked in healthcare for more than 30 years. - Her work has focused on advancing cancer research and treatment. - Her specialty areas include gastrointestinal cancers, including pancreatic, liver, biliary tract, colorectal, anal, esophageal, gastric and neuroendocrine tumors. - Littman has also worked with senior patients and has served as director of Hereditary Cancer Services and Expert Panels. - Her role has included genetic assessment of malignancies and evaluation of cancer risk. - Her education includes a B.S. from Cornell University, an M.S. in Molecular Biology from SUNY Albany and an M.D. from Albany Medical College. - She completed her residency and internship in internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern and a hematology/oncology fellowship at Duke University Medical Center. - After several years on Duke’s faculty, Littman moved to Pennsylvania and has worked at Duke University Medical Center and Thomas Jefferson University. - As a principal investigator, Littman has led more than 16 oncology studies and authored peer-reviewed articles and selected abstracts.

Between the lines: - IAOTP has repeatedly recognized Littman, naming her a Hall of Fame inductee in 2020 and giving her Lifetime Achievement Award and Doctor of the Decade honors. - She was also named Top Hematologist/Oncologist of the Year by IAOTP in 2017 and 2018 and appeared on the cover of T.I.P. Magazine as Empowered Woman of the Year in 2019. - Littman was featured on a Reuters billboard in Times Square as IAOTP’s Top Influential Leader in Healthcare and included in the group’s book, TOP 25 GLOBAL IMPACT LEADERS. - She received IAOTP’s Presidential Award in Healthcare last year. - Additional recognition has come from Doctors of Excellence/Leaders in Healthcare, Leading Physicians of the World, the International Association of Healthcare Professionals, the National Association of Professional Women and America’s Registry. - Littman said her success comes from ethics, experience, mentors and enthusiasm for her work. - The release also notes her personal interests include time with family, gardening and yoga.

What's next: - Littman is set to receive the award at IAOTP’s December gala in New York. - More information about Dr. Littman is available on her LinkedIn profile and a video interview. - IAOTP says membership is by invitation or nomination and is not open to the general public. - More information on IAOTP is available at the organization’s website.

The bottom line: - IAOTP is using one of its top honors to recognize a longtime cancer specialist whose career spans research, clinical care, education and hereditary cancer services.