Hoffman Ruth, MPH
Executive Director ACCO & Chair CCI
American Childhood Cancer Organisation (ACCO) Executive Director & Childhood Cancer International (CCI) Advocacy Representative
Ruth is the mother of eight children, including 34 year old Naomi, who is a 27 year survivor of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (M5), and a radiation induced secondary cancer. Since 1999, Ruth has been the Executive Director of the National office of the American Childhood Cancer Organization. She also serves as the Vice-chair of Childhood Cancer International where she works on global childhood cancer initiatives.
Ruth has participated as a patient representative for the FDA where she has served on ODAC as well as the pediatric subcommittee of ODAC. She represents childhood cancer on C-Change, serves on the Alliance for Childhood Cancer and is a member of the steering committee of My Child Matters—an international initiative helping children with cancer in developing countries.
Ruth’s leadership has resulted in the publication of twelve books for children with cancer, their family members and school teachers. She is author of three journals―one for children diagnosed with cancer, one for teens and the other for parents. She is editor of three comprehensive books including Educating the Child with Cancer, Understanding the Journey, A Parent’s Guide to DIPG and A Parent’s Guide to Enhancing Qualify of Life in Children with Cancer. More than 10,000 copies of these books are provided without charge to children with cancer and their families across the U.S. each year.
Ms. Hoffman has personally responded to thousands of requests for childhood cancer information. She is co-founder of America’s largest childhood cancer awareness event entitled “Light Up the Holidays with Hope.” Ms. Hoffman is the proud recipient of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Tree of Life Award which honors an individual who has played a major or lasting role, with national impact in improving the quality of life for patients with cancer and their families.
Ruth received her BA in psychology, and her Bachelors of Education from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, and is a graduate of the Masters of Public Health Program at George Washington University’s School of Médicine.