What We Do

Inclusive Excellence team members (from left) Dr. Dorothy Wiley, Nishtha Agarwal, Dr. Vivian Chang, Juliana Ryan, Marsha Flamer, Mary Moua, Dr. Beth Glenn and Dr. Amy Cummings.

Our Mission

Greater inclusivity saves lives, improves science and strengthens organizations by engaging and recognizing excellence across the cancer research community. At the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, we share the commitment of the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute to ensure that every American benefits from the medical advances made through cancer research. As an NCI-designated cancer center, we are actively working to reduce the burden of cancer and ensure world-class care for every patient.

Our mission is to foster excellence and support for every member of our team, improve the experience of our patients through innovative research and compassionate care, and invest in our community through education, service, and advocacy.

Our Objectives

To accomplish our mission and to strengthen the Cancer Center by advancing inclusive excellence in workforce development and leadership, our plan is organized into four key objectives:

• Expand opportunities for Cancer Center participation and leadership for all
• Establish criteria for monitoring and evaluating progress in building a stronger, more innovative Cancer Center
• Build infrastructure and utilize institutional resources to support career-enhancing research opportunities
• Leverage institutional commitments through training and mentoring to grow future Cancer Center leaders

Five-Year Plan

We recognize that building a stronger community takes time. We have implemented a five-year plan to strategically and holistically approach challenges, lay a foundation for collaborative work, connect with key stakeholders, and listen to feedback from our community.

• 2022–2023: Strategy
  • Form a steering committee and advisory board
  • Identify current resources, gaps, and benchmarks
  • Select priority projects and recommendations
• 2023–2024: Build
  • Expand membership to include trainees and non-faculty members
  • Launch a Emerging Leaders Program
  • Develop initiatives and pilots with all Center shared resources and research programs (e.g., investigator-initiated trial translation funding)
• 2024–2025: Refine
  • Launch a Researcher Toolkit to support collaboration and innovation
  • Support and refine inclusive excellence pilots into Center-wide initiatives
  • Establish data to assist with national progress and reform
• 2025–2026: Benchmark
  • Collate information on Center activities and inclusive excellence pilots
  • Perform a comprehensive review of Center activities and initiatives
• 2026–2027: Review
  • Determine ongoing initiatives for future funding
  • Identify current resources, gaps, and opportunities
  • Select priority projects and recommendations for the next five years