Home - STEMMCHEQ

Equity. Workforce. Outcomes.

SCHEQ (STEMM & Cancer Health Equity) Foundation is a New York City-based, Black led, non-profit organization founded by Dr. Eugene Manley, Jr. He is a first generation scholar from inner-city Detroit that has seen the difficulties navigating STEM and how patients don’t have information they need to make decisions about their care.

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Who We Are

SCHEQ was founded to address and mitigate some of the structural and systemic barriers that impede entry of underrepresented individuals into Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical (STEMM) fields, and their advancement and promotion in STEMM fields. We are also committed to improving outcomes for underserved patients navigating their cancer journey. Those most marginalized have to be able to easily access and understand information related to their cancer so that they can receive the quality of care that they deserve

This organization was inspired by the fact that we keep having discussions about increasing workforce, increasing clinical trial diversity, and addressing health equity. However, very little has changed in the last 10-15 years.

Mission

To increase STEMM workforce diversity and improve outcomes for underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized populations across the cancer care continuum.

Vision

To have a trained workforce that reflects the populations experiencing the greatest disparities, and to increase cancer awareness and survivorship for all.

Mentoring is important because many low income, first-generation, and historically excluded scholars do not have a network to lean on for advice. While there are many training and mentorship programs out there, they do not provide comprehensive training, professional development, support, and assistance that is needed. Many leave academia due to bias in grant funding, idea theft, power dynamics, and stress.

Our commitment to patient education stems in part from our founder growing up with chronic asthma and severe allergies. Observing how his family, friends, and colleagues from low-income and minoritized backgrounds have been treated by the medical system has made it clear that the lived experiences and needs of the medically underserved are not met. We have to work with and meet patients where they are.

Workforce diversity is missing in academia and medicine. This shows up when we have basic and translational studies with no samples from diverse populations. This continues through clinical trials where there is a lack of outreach and engagement with underserved groups, lack of diversity in the trial sites, and lack of diversity of trial participants. This means therapies that are developed still may not work in groups with the greatest inequities.

Our Values

Diversity:

As the world is becoming more diverse, we are steadfast in our belief that we have to recognize, appreciate, and respect the lived experiences and backgrounds of our employees, trainees, patients, and others without judgement.

Equity:

We ensure that everyone, especially those disadvantaged, are treated with respect and cultural humility. Interventions must help those with the least access to care.

Collaboration:

No one person or group can solve all of these issues alone. The key to making lasting change is through partnering, highlighting, amplifying, supporting, and working with others so that we can collectively make a difference.

Empowerment:

Enabling and encouraging those we engage to accomplish any personal, academic, professional or healthcare goal. This also includes advocating for your needs.

Transparency:

We are clear about what we do, our impact, and our governance. We strive to help the most marginalized and excluded communities that we serve.

Determination and Action:

We do the things that we set out to do and drive to ensure that we keep our focus on those that are most excluded.

Board of Directors

Eugene Manley Jr,. PhD

FOUNDER & CEO
SCHEQ Foundation

Rochelle Prosser, RN, CLNC

DIRECTOR

Founder
Orchid Healthcare Solutions

Jennifer Ringler, MS

DIRECTOR

OWNER & FOUNDER
ReadHealthy Communications

Mohammed Mahmoud, PhD

DIRECTOR

SENIOR FELLOW & DIRECTOR
The Climate and Water Program
Middle East Institute

Charlotte Owens, MD, FACOG

DIRECTOR

HEAD OF MEDICAL AFFAIRS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH
Organon

Elyse Park, PhD, MPH

DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR
Cancer Center Smokefree Support Service

PROFESSOR
Psychiatry & Medicine
Massachusetts General Hospital

Anthony Magliocco, MD, FRCPC, FCAP

DIRECTOR

PRESIDENT & CEO
Protean BioDiagnostics

PROFESSOR
Pathology and Oncology

Jennie Williams, PhD

TREASURER

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion SBU Cancer Center

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Department of Family, Population and Preventative MedicineStony Brook University Cancer Center