Ugonma N Chukwueke1, Elizabeth Vera2, Alvina Acquaye2, Shawn L Hervey-Jumper3, Yazmin Odia4, Laura J Klesse5, Erin Dunbar6, Akanksha Sharma7, Ekokobe Fonkem8, Alissa A Thomas9, Tamra E Werbowetski-Ogilvie10, Sandra Camelo-Piragua11, Na Tosha N Gatson12, Macarena I de la Fuente13, Terri S Armstrong2, Alyx B Porter14, Sadhana Jackson15. 1. Division of Neuro-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 2. Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. 3. Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, San Francisco, Californa, USA. 4. Neuro-Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute (MCI) at Baptist Health South Florida (BHSF), Kendall, Florida, USA. 5. Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. 6. Brain Tumor Center, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. 7. Department of Translational Neurosciences and Neurotherapeutics, Pacific Neuroscience Institute at John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California, USA. 8. Neuro-Oncology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. 9. Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA. 10. Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada, USA. 11. Neuropathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. 12. Neuroscience & Cancer Institutes, Geisinger Health, Danville, Pennsylvania, USA. 13. Neuro-Oncology Division, Department of Neurology/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA. 14. Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. 15. Surgical Neurology Branch, NINDS, and Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neuro-oncology has grown tremendously since 2010, marked by increasing society membership, specialized clinical expertise, and new journals. Yet, modest improvement in racial/ethnic diversity amongst clinical trial participants, researchers, and clinicians led us to conduct a survey to identify opportunities to enhance diversity and inclusiveness amongst neuro-oncology professionals. METHODS: In summer 2020, the Women and Diversity Committee of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) distributed an anonymous online survey to members and affiliates including the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO), Asian Society for Neuro-Oncology (ASNO), Society for Neuro-Oncology Latin America (SNOLA) and Society for Neuro-Oncology Sub-Saharan Africa (SNOSSA). The survey captured personal and professional characteristics, biases, effective mentorship qualities, career service metrics, and suggested field/society changes. Results were analyzed by geography, profession, age, racial/ethnic, and sexual identity. Standard descriptive statistics characterized the study population. RESULTS: The 386 respondents were predominantly female (58%) with a median age range of 40-49 years (31%), White (65%), and SNO members (97%). Most worked in North America (77%) in a research profession (67%). A majority of White respondents reported never experiencing biases (64%), while the majority of non-White respondents reported unconscious biases/microaggressions, followed by a lack of/limited mentorship. Qualitative assessments showcased that personal/professional success metrics were linked to needed improvements in diversity and inclusion efforts within the neuro-oncology field. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of racial/ethnic biases and poor mentorship rates amongst underrepresented groups in neuro-oncology is high and potentially linked to the limited diverse representation amongst members and affiliates. These findings warrant a swift implementation of equity and inclusion practices within the neuro-oncology field. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology 2021.
BACKGROUND: Neuro-oncology has grown tremendously since 2010, marked by increasing society membership, specialized clinical expertise, and new journals. Yet, modest improvement in racial/ethnic diversity amongst clinical trial participants, researchers, and clinicians led us to conduct a survey to identify opportunities to enhance diversity and inclusiveness amongst neuro-oncology professionals. METHODS: In summer 2020, the Women and Diversity Committee of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) distributed an anonymous online survey to members and affiliates including the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO), Asian Society for Neuro-Oncology (ASNO), Society for Neuro-Oncology Latin America (SNOLA) and Society for Neuro-Oncology Sub-Saharan Africa (SNOSSA). The survey captured personal and professional characteristics, biases, effective mentorship qualities, career service metrics, and suggested field/society changes. Results were analyzed by geography, profession, age, racial/ethnic, and sexual identity. Standard descriptive statistics characterized the study population. RESULTS: The 386 respondents were predominantly female (58%) with a median age range of 40-49 years (31%), White (65%), and SNO members (97%). Most worked in North America (77%) in a research profession (67%). A majority of White respondents reported never experiencing biases (64%), while the majority of non-White respondents reported unconscious biases/microaggressions, followed by a lack of/limited mentorship. Qualitative assessments showcased that personal/professional success metrics were linked to needed improvements in diversity and inclusion efforts within the neuro-oncology field. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of racial/ethnic biases and poor mentorship rates amongst underrepresented groups in neuro-oncology is high and potentially linked to the limited diverse representation amongst members and affiliates. These findings warrant a swift implementation of equity and inclusion practices within the neuro-oncology field. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology 2021.
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