Plan to Enhance Diversity Office

Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center is committed to ending cancer health disparities. To achieve this goal, the cancer center’s Plan to Enhance Diversity (PED) Office developed a detailed strategy to enhance diversity across our cancer workforce. The cancer center strives to create a cancer workforce of researchers and healthcare professionals that truly reflects the diverse communities we serve. This representative workforce will improve the quality of scientific innovations, advance comprehensive cancer research, enhance health equity initiatives and transform care for everyone, including those traditionally underserved in cancer care.

To identify those most in need of support, PED reviewed data on lived experience and representation for five groups:

Women.
Underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities (URM).
Individuals living with a disability.
People from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Sexual and gender minorities.

Based on this review, the PED definition of those historically underrepresented in the scientific workforce (URSW) includes women, URM and individuals living with a disability. People from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and sexual and gender minorities both have experiences similar to other cancer center members and were represented with similar levels as those represented nationally.

Mayo Clinic is committed to recruiting, training and providing professional development for USRW individuals.

To enhance representation in the cancer research workforce, the Plan to Enhance Diversity Office works closely with Mayo Clinic partners, such as the Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) Office. CRTEC's culturally responsive programs help learners and professionals alike use their unique talents to build successful careers in cancer research and medicine. We also work closely with the Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) Office and Community Advisory Boards to incorporate community voices and recruit skilled individuals into scientific education and careers. Together with CRTEC and COE, we are reaching diverse exceptional talent in our communities in Arizona, Florida and the Midwest.

The Plan to Enhance Diversity Office also assists individuals from USRW groups with a variety of professional development opportunities. Our aim is to ensure retention of people with critical perspectives and the development of the future of cancer research and care. Every new member of our community — whether a learner, researcher or healthcare professional — is connected to members of our research and care teams.

New participants are fully incorporated into training and professional activities that develop critical skills, advance scientific discoveries and build strong careers. We simultaneously drive efforts to increase cultural awareness, foster an environment of respect and inclusivity, and promote belonging for everyone. This includes professional development programs that identify and prepare the next generation of emerging leaders in cancer research.

Woven into the fabric

Including all voices is part of the culture at Mayo Clinic. Our long-standing commitment against racism dates back to 1912, when during the construction of the first Mayo Clinic building, Dr. William J. Mayo declared, "Within its walls, all classes of people, the poor as well as the rich, without regard to color or creed, shall be cared for without discrimination."

Mayo Clinic's mission of equity, inclusion and diversity is delivered across our sites in Arizona, Florida and the Midwest through the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity and through equity and inclusion offices across our medical shields of patient care, research and education.

We embrace all people who come through our doors, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, military service, faith, or culture. Success is only possible when diverse experiences and perspectives are included in everything we do.

For more information on our programming and learner pathways, please contact our office at [email protected].