Board member spotlight: Susan Cox

Meet Susan Cox, NCC’s board president who’s been a member of the coalition so long she can’t recall when she joined. It was 2008, maybe, or 2010? It’s been a while. She’s helped draft or execute at least four of our five-year cancer plans and probably attended every Summit we’ve hosted.

As a nonprofit, NCC relies on our volunteer board of directors to provide strategic oversight, governance, and accountability. As president, Susan does all of that and helps to guide the focus of the remaining board members and support them in their work with the coalition. That’s all in addition to her work as director of cancer services at Renown Health.

Susan says what she has always appreciated about NCC is that it truly feels like a community, not just an organization.

“It brings together people who care deeply about improving the lives of Nevadans affected by cancer—people who would otherwise be working in silos, doing the best they can but without the benefit of shared insight and collective strength,” she said. “NCC gives us a central place to connect, think big, and act with purpose. For me, the importance of NCC lies in its ability to unify diverse voices—from clinicians to public health leaders, from community organizations to survivors—and turn that shared passion into real, measurable progress. That’s something special.”

Susan has been in clinical healthcare for more than 30 years, and despite the network and connections she’s been able to build through that work—including more than two decades at Renown Health—she said coalition membership is still valuable for collaboration.

“Being part of NCC has opened doors for Renown and the patients we serve, that we simply wouldn’t have had on our own. It’s made it easier for us to collaborate with partners throughout the state, especially in areas like prevention, screening, and improving access for rural communities,” she said. “On a personal level, I’ve appreciated the opportunity to learn from others who face challenges different from ours. These partnerships have helped us improve our own programs at Renown, sparked new ideas, and created a sense of shared responsibility for the health of our broader Nevada community. It reminds us that while we each serve our own patients, we also serve something bigger.”

We asked Susan why she believes partnerships through the coalition are important for reducing the burden of cancer in Nevada. Her answer? No single organization can meet all of the needs that cancer creates. And it’s so true.

“When you bring together teams who are passionate, creative, and committed, you can achieve incredible things."

“Cancer touches everything, from families, workplaces, communities, access to care, mental health, financial stress. Addressing that requires many hands and many perspectives,” Susan said, adding that collaborative partnerships ensure there aren’t gaps that harm vulnerable populations or duplication of efforts that waste resources.

“They allow us to combine strengths, share what’s working, and create consistency across the state. Most importantly, these partnerships help us reach people who might otherwise fall through the cracks. And that, to me, is where we make the greatest difference,” she said.

As with many people who work in cancer control or oncology, Susan says her journey into cancer care was very personal.

“I was drawn to the field early in my career because I saw how much compassion, skill, and teamwork it takes to care for patients during some of the hardest moments of their lives. Over time, I found that I wasn’t just passionate about providing care. I was inspired by the people I met and relationships I made.”

Among the things she said inspire her to persevere in what can be an emotionally stressful career are patients showing incredible resilience, families supporting each other, and teams who bring their hearts to work every day.

“Cancer care has always felt like meaningful work, and I’ve never looked back. It’s where I feel I can make the most impact,” she said.

Looking ahead

Despite being a member of NCC’s board for more than a decade and serving multiple years as board president, Susan said this year feels a bit different. She said she’s feeling a strong sense of optimism and purpose.

“We have so much opportunity ahead of us—opportunities to strengthen existing programs, deepen relationships across the state, and continue addressing disparities that affect too many of our communities,” she said. But what excites her most is the energy and dedication of the NCC team and all of the coalition’s members.

“When you bring together teams who are passionate, creative, and committed, you can achieve incredible things. My hope for the year ahead is that we continue building on that momentum, supporting one another, and staying focused on the shared goal that brought us all here: making life better for Nevadans facing cancer. I’m honored to serve in this role, and I’m grateful for the trust and collaboration of everyone in this coalition.”