The ACS National HPV Vaccination Roundtable proudly recognizes Dr. Noel Brewer (pictured center above) as a recipient of the American Cancer Society’s Volunteer Leadership Award, the highest honor bestowed on ACS volunteers for exceptional leadership and enduring impact.
Building the Foundation of a National Movement
Dr. Brewer, Gillings Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina, has been instrumental to the ACS HPVRT since before its official launch. Alongside Dr. Debbie Saslow and an early leadership team, he helped define the ACS HPVRT’s vision and path forward by shaping its mission, contributing to the cooperative agreements that funded its work, and recruiting a diverse coalition of national partners.
As inaugural Chair from 2014 to 2020, Dr. Brewer guided the roundtable through its formative years, establishing it as a leading national alliance focused on improving HPV vaccination rates. His leadership emphasized collaboration across sectors, bringing together researchers, clinicians, public health leaders, and advocates to align around shared goals and coordinated action.
Even after his tenure as Chair, Dr. Brewer has remained a highly engaged leader. Through his role on the Steering Committee and his leadership of the “Getting Back on Track” Task Group, he helped drive recovery efforts to restore HPV vaccination rates following the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring continued momentum toward the ACS HPVRT goals.
Shaping Practice Through Research and Innovation
Dr. Brewer’s contributions to the roundtable are deeply rooted in his groundbreaking research. A leading expert in health behavior, he has dedicated his career to understanding why people take, or do not take, actions that prevent cancer. His work has directly informed the strategies and tools used across the roundtable and its partners.
His most influential contribution, the Announcement Approach, has changed how healthcare providers communicate about HPV vaccination. Developed and scaled through his IMPACT Center with support from the National Cancer Institute, this approach trains providers to deliver clear, confident, and effective vaccine recommendations.
Today, this HPV Vaccination communication strategy is recommended by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics and central to many of our roundtables initiatives and campaigns. More than 1,700 providers across 17 states have been trained, demonstrating how Dr. Brewer’s research has translated into measurable, real-world impact.
With more than 330 publications and recognition as one of the world’s top 1% most cited researchers since 2017, Dr. Brewer’s scholarship has continuously strengthened the evidence base guiding the roundtable’s work.
Extending Impact Nationally and Globally
Dr. Brewer’s influence extends well beyond the Roundtable as well. He serves as a voting member of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and contributes to multiple federal vaccine confidence efforts. He has also advised the President’s Cancer Panel and participated in national cancer prevention initiatives, helping shape policies that align with and reinforce the roundtable’s priorities.
Globally, his work with the Lancet Commission on Vaccine Refusal, Acceptance, and Demand and his advisory role to the World Health Organization bring critical insights into vaccination behavior worldwide, further elevating the reach and relevance of his expertise.
A Legacy of Leadership and Collaboration
Dr. Brewer’s legacy within the ACS HPVRT is one of vision, collaboration, and impact. From helping build its foundation to shaping the strategies that drive its work today, his contributions have positioned the roundtable as a leader in HPV cancer prevention.
We are deeply grateful for his continued dedication and proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition.