The American Society for Radiation Oncology announced the results of its recent officer election Friday, naming Dr. Colleen A. Lawton president-elect.

Lawton, a professor of radiation oncology at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, is set to join the board of directors when the medical society gathers for its annual meeting in October.

Also elected were Dr. Brian Kavanagh, professor and vice-chair of radiation oncology with the University of Colorado Denver, as health policy vice chairman, and Mary K. Martel, a professor of radiation physics with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, as research council vice-chairman.

"Strong leaders are essential to the success of an organization like ASTRO, and I am honored to announce the new officers that our members have elected," Dr. Anthony L. Zietman, ASTRO's chairman, said in a statement.

ASTRO's board leaders run on four-year terms. This October, Lawton becomes the 2011-2012 president-elect. The following year, she'll become president. The year after that, chair, and then, lastly, the immediate past chair.

ASTRO's 53rd annual meeting will be held in Miami Beach from Oct. 2-6.