Plan to Enhance Diversity

Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp, Buffalo NY

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

The overarching goal for Roswell Park's Plan to Enhance Diversity (PED) component is to promote and sustain inclusive training, hiring, and career development processes using diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) best practices. We will achieve this through purposeful and intentional assessment, program planning, resource allocation, and evaluation activities to optimize and enhance the center's DEI infrastructure. Roswell Park leadership has committed to a purpose driven strategic partnership approach to align and sustain DEI activities and best practices across the organization. Broadly, our PED plan will enhance and expand infrastructure to increase participation of women and individuals from groups historically underrepresented in the research workforce, which includes trainees, faculty, research staff, and center leadership. Our specific aims cover the priority areas identified in our PED logic model and address structural factors (e.g., cancer center infrastructure and environment) and institutional level mechanisms (e.g., workforce development, pipeline programs, faculty recruitment and retention) in a complementary manner. The PED team is collaborating with organizational partners to implement DEI best practice strategies to mitigate bias and improve climate across the educational and professional continuum extending to cancer care delivery. Roswell Park's Plan to Enhance Diversity is driven by three aims: 1) Enhance diversity in faculty and center leadership; 2) Enhance the educational, mentoring, and training infrastructure to support participation from diverse and underrepresented populations; and 3) Develop and implement criteria for monitoring and evaluating progress in diversity to support sustainability of diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices. This PED component is led by Elisa M. Rodriguez, PhD, MS, serving as the inaugural Associate Director (AD) of DEI since August 2022. Dr. Rodriguez is an Associate Professor, Population Sciences program member, and former Chief Diversity and Equity Officer for Faculty, which provided valuable insight for the AD of DEI role. The DEI office and PED component work together to support a holistic DEI approach across the cancer center in collaboration with staff affiliated with Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) and the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE). PED partners with COE to include the viewpoints of diverse community stakeholders through multiple feedback pathways to ensure our DEI efforts are inclusive and responsive to the needs and values of the catchment area and beyond. PED, COE, and CRTEC are and will continue to be synergetic in their approaches to ensure alignment and integration of best practices, including routinely sharing and reviewing qualitative and quantitative data to inform prescriptive activities that address opportunities to enhance PED, COE, and CRTEC cancer center operations.