Celebrating Women’s History Month: A Tribute to Dr. Margaret Foti’s Impact on STEM and Cancer Research

By Mariam Diallo

March is known as Women’s History Month. In honor of this, we would like to commemorate a philanthropist who has exceeded expectations and contributed significant visionary leadership, research, and generosity. Margaret Foti, PhD, MD, is an alumna of St. Maria Goretti. Recently, she donated 15,000 dollars in scholarship grants to support kids interested in the STEM field. Her contribution not only supports young kids’ but also affirms the importance of fostering future leaders in STEM.

By investing in the future of young brilliant minds, Dr. Foti is making a lasting difference. Dr. Foti is a graduate of Temple University and later pursued both an MD and a PhD. She is the CEO of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), where she has served for over 42 years. The AACR is the first and largest cancer research organization in the United States. Under her visionary leadership, the AACR has expanded globally, with membership increasing from 3,000 to 48,000 and involving 127 countries. As one of the most influential voices in advancing the field of cancer research, her contributions have been widely recognized through numerous awards from organizations around the globe, such as the Beacon Award for Women Leaders in Oncology and the Outstanding Leadership Award from the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Many young women and minority scientists owe their career advancements to her mentorship and support. She continues to propel the field forward toward the essential goal of advancing cancer research and focuses on the mission of the AACR.

Thank you for believing in students like me and investing in the future of STEM!