Challenges and Initiatives in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Cancer Molecular Imaging

Heike E Daldrup-Link; Giuseppe Esposito; Zaver M Bhujwalla

doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.638692

Challenges and Initiatives in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Cancer Molecular Imaging

Front Oncol. 2021 Apr 9:11:638692. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.638692. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Heike E Daldrup-Link¹, Giuseppe Esposito², Zaver M Bhujwalla³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States.
² Department of Radiology, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, United States.
³ Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.

Abstract

A diverse biomedical workforce is essential to achieve excellence in patient care, clinical translational, and basic research. Diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges in cancer molecular represent a combination of the challenges facing the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field, and challenges in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. Although there is a growing awareness of conscious and unconscious bias that negatively affect the cancer imaging world, many challenges remain such as overcoming barriers to entry into the pipeline, avoiding program dropout, and providing long-term career prospect. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant setback and further highlighted problems faced by women and underrepresented minorities. In this perspective, we have identified some of the challenges faced and highlighted ongoing and future initiatives to address these challenges.

Keywords: STEM - science technology engineering mathematics; cancer molecular imaging; diversity & inclusion; equity; radiology.