SCHEQ (STEMM Cancer Healthcare Equity) was founded to break down barriers that prevent underrepresented individuals from entering and thriving in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical (STEMM) fields. We are dedicated to improving outcomes for underserved patients on their cancer journey, ensuring they have easy access to vital information and quality care.
While discussions about workforce diversity and health equity have persisted for years, meaningful change is still needed. Our mission is to create tangible impact and empower marginalized communities in STEMM and cancer care.
To increase STEMM workforce diversity and improve outcomes for underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized populations across the cancer care continuum.
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.
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.
FOUNDER & CEO
SCHEQ Foundation
PRESIDENT
FOUNDER & CEO Rubix LS
CO-SECRETARY
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
CO-SECRETARY
AUTHOR
HOST: Cancer Convos with Grace B.
TREASURER
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion SBU Cancer Center
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Department of Family, Population and Preventative Medicine
Stony Brook University Cancer Center
DIRECTOR
PRESIDENT & CEO
Protean BioDiagnostics
PROFESSOR
Pathology and Oncology
DIRECTOR
DIRECTOR
Cancer Center Smokefree Support Service
PROFESSOR
Psychiatry & Medicine
Massachusetts General Hospital
DIRECTOR
HEAD OF MEDICAL AFFAIRS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH
Organon
DIRECTOR
SENIOR FELLOW & DIRECTOR
The Climate and Water Program
Middle East Institute
DIRECTOR
OWNER & FOUNDER
ReadHealthy Communications
SCHEQ is here to increase STEMM workforce diversity and improve outcomes for underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized populations across the cancer care continuum.
SCHEQ is fiscally sponsored by Goodnation, a registered 501(c)3.
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