Jessica Olson, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin and a long-standing member of the American Cancer Society’s National Lung Cancer Roundtable (NLCRT). She currently serves as co-chair of the State-Based Initiatives Task Group, where she helps individuals working at the state and regional levels apply nationwide best practices tailored to the needs of the communities they serve. During her time as co-chair of the State-Based Initiatives Task Group, Dr. Olson co-led the development of the State-Based Initiatives Planning Tool. This coalition-building guide helps states assess readiness, identify gaps, and launch cross-sector strategies to form statewide lung cancer coalitions.

Her work spans implementation science approaches, workforce development, health disparities, and the translation of evidence into practice through multi-sector partnerships. Dr. Olson collaborates closely with clinical, community, and policy-based partners to design interventions that reduce lung cancer mortality, improve screening quality, and expand support for populations experiencing disparities in screening and early diagnosis. She has also collaborated with NLCRT partners, filmmakers, and national advocacy groups to co-create multimedia educational tools that elevate patient voices and increase public engagement in lung health.

Across all projects, Dr. Olson is committed to building sustainable state-level infrastructure, strengthening local and national partnerships, and advancing equitable, evidence-based systems that ensure individuals at the highest risk benefit from life-saving lung cancer screening.