Plan to Enhance Diversity

Plan to Enhance Diversity Summary Our Plan to Enhance Diversity is a strategy to attract people underrepresented in science and medicine (URSM) to the Masonic Cancer Center (MCC) with a long-range goal of equitable engagement of URSM populations in the Center. This work engages MCC Leadership, membership, staff, and stakeholders to continuously work on inclusion and to address equity in our structures, systems, environment, and actions. To have the people in our Center mirror the populations of Minnesota, our catchment area, and the nation, we have the following Specific Aims: 1) Prioritize MCC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies within MCC and supporting institutions; 2) Strengthen cancer career entry pathways for URSM staff, trainees, and postdocs; and 3) Advance URSM faculty careers and leadership development. To achieve these aims, we will integrate DEI strategies across MCC, in part through convening a DEI internal advisory board to focus on development, support, and integration for DEI actions across the Center. DEI outcomes and impacts will be evaluated with benchmarks, metrics, and dashboards focused on diverse recruitment, retention, and representation; inclusive environment metrics; and equity measures. University- wide resources, including the University of Minnesota Office of Equity and Diversity, and cancer-specific initiatives will be leveraged to create an inclusive environment. Career development will be supported though internal and external relationships and access to training programs and information on career opportunities, which will help to retain URSM faculty. Administrative support and work to mitigate recruitment and hiring bias will aid in recruiting additional USRM hires. Leadership opportunities will be expanded through mentoring, shadowing, and leadership development efforts in MCC, as well as in the Medical School and across the University of Minnesota community. The Plan to Enhance Diversity is led by Dr. Rahel Ghebre (Screening, Prevention, Etiology, and Cancer Survivorship Program), a gynecologic oncologist; Professor in the UMN Medical School; and a senior leader within the institution for DEI, gender equity, and faculty development. She has expertise in global oncology research and surgical program development. She will work with Dr. Heidi Eschenbacher, a Program and Evaluation Manager for DEI with decades of experience at the University of Minnesota in DEI and global efforts, and Dr. Ana Núñez, who leads the Medical School Office of DEI. This core team will build out priority efforts based on proven effective strategies and building on existing resources within the University.