Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-2024
Original Citation
Li C,
Rogers S,
Bult C,
Guerra C,
Talton A,
Williams L,
Law W.
Executing plans to enhance diversity across cancer centers in the United States: opportunities and challenges. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2024;116(8):1198-205.
Keywords
JMG, Humans, United States, Cross-Sectional Studies, Cancer Care Facilities, Cultural Diversity, National Cancer Institute (U.S.), Surveys and Questionnaires, Leadership, Neoplasms, Male, Female, Biomedical Research
JAX Source
J Natl Cancer Inst. 2024;116(8):1198-205.
ISSN
1460-2105
PMID
38710483
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djae100
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lack of diversity in the cancer research workforce persists, which the new requirement for all National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers to have a Plan to Enhance Diversity (PED) seeks to address. However, it is not well understood how different cancer centers are approaching the development and execution of these plans. Our objective was to assess how cancer centers are establishing and pursuing their PED.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of members of the Cancer Center Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Network, which includes all NCI-designated cancer centers and several emerging centers. A total of 62 cancer centers (75% of those invited), including 58 NCI-designated cancer centers (81% of those with this designation), participated and completed a questionnaire that assessed PED leadership, major challenges, implementation strategies, and approach to evaluate PED progress.
RESULTS: The most common PED challenge identified is recruiting diverse faculty (68% of centers), and the most common strategy currently used to address this is reviewing and revising faculty recruitment practices (67%). The most common approach centers are using to measure PED progress is shifts in demographics (68%), and data on the demographics of faculty, leadership, and trainees are available at 79%, 81%, and 75% of centers, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Almost all centers have established a PED leadership structure, however, there is considerable variation in the approaches used to realize PED goals and in the resources provided to support PED work. Realizing opportunities to share and implement common best practices and exemplar programs has the potential to elevate the impact of PED efforts nationally.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.