# Plan to Enhance Diversity

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2024 · $258,642

## Abstract

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.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10768144
- **Project number:** 2P30CA077598-26
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** RAHEL G GHEBRE
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $258,642
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1998-06-01 → 2029-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10768144

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10768144, Plan to Enhance Diversity (2P30CA077598-26). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10768144. Licensed CC0.

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