[ad_1]
Women are underrepresented in research leadership positions, particularly Black and African American women. That’s just one of the reasons Amber Skinner is so excited to be a part of Moffitt Cancer Center’s research diverse workforce development team.
As project manager, Skinner’s job is to provide programs to enhance diverse recruitment and retention of Moffitt’s research team.
“Our goal is to remove barriers to recruitment and retention,” she said. “Our mission is to create or foster an inclusive, equitable research environment.”
One of the pillars of the National Cancer Institute Cancer Center is serving populations underrepresented in biomedical research. These populations include marginalized racial and ethnic communities, but also individuals who may have disabilities, first-generation college students, gender in specific biomedical fields, and more. Skinner participates in all cancer research projects to ensure Moffitt’s workforce reflects the communities we serve.
It’s a perfect fit for Skinner, who joined Moffitt in 2017 as coordinator of youth and young adult programs. When the Office of Research Diversity Workforce Development was established in 2023 under new associate center director Dr. Brian Gonzalez, Skinner became interested in the new team and quickly found himself Applying for a new position there, which she will start before the end of 2023.
“It was truly a full-circle moment for me,” Skinner said. “Throughout my life, I have been a part of programs that exposed me to science and STEM, and now I am able to do the same for others like me. We have a great corporate equity team here, and Moffitt is very Support our efforts to expand and create programs that enhance our mission to prevent and treat cancer.”
Skinner, who has three daughters herself, hopes Moffitt’s work by studying diverse workforce development will inspire young people of all backgrounds to pursue careers in science and medicine. For many people in underserved or marginalized communities, this is a career path that may seem out of reach or unknown. She hopes her work will not only impact the many marginalized communities in the Tampa Bay area, but also directly benefit her children.
In the department, Skinner is responsible for managing demographic data collection and project implementation to recruit, retain and develop Moffitt’s current and future diverse and inclusive research teams.
“This is about representation, which is very important,” Skinner said. “Seeing a woman of color in a role, or anyone representing you, is important. It makes it easier for you to ask questions and get the information you really need. I know that’s what I did as a student and a The feelings of a young professional.”
Skinner said she is excited to help Moffitt recruit diverse talent and create opportunities for employees to potentially move into leadership roles.
Exposure to black female leaders like Skinner made her realize she had options. She hopes her new role at Moffitt will continue that for those who follow in her footsteps.
It’s also important to realize that her job is more than just a numbers game. This is about reaching professionals and inspiring them to pursue careers they may not have considered.
“Increasing diversity is one thing,” Skinner said. “But it’s about recruiting quality and maintaining an inclusive culture at Moffitt to retain diverse talent and strengthen our research team. A more diverse faculty will bring innovative ideas and conduct research on health disparities that are important in There is a great need in the cancer field.”
[ad_2]
Source link