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Cancer centers offer numerous career pathways, some more apparent than others. Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD, will deliver the opening keynote, "Crafting Your Career Path: A Strategic Planning Workshop," at 8:00 am central time on Tuesday, March 11, to kick off the 2025 AACI Leadership Diversity and Development Workshop (LDDW). Drawing from last year’s inspirational keynote, Dr. Winkfield will guide attendees as they explore a variety of opportunities within the oncology field and learn how to navigate their personal career journey.

Dr. Winkfield is the executive director of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance and a national expert in community engagement. Her work is focused on the design and implementation of programming to reduce sociocultural and economic barriers that contribute to disparate health outcomes. Through community-engaged research, she co-develops interactive programs and educational tools to provide timely and accurate information regarding health and health care, with special emphasis on the importance of clinical research. Dr. Winkfield partners with institutions, organizations, and policymakers to identify and implement strategies to remove barriers to cancer care for everyone. In 2021, she was appointed to serve a six-year term on the National Cancer Advisory Board and currently chairs the Ad hoc Subcommittee on Population Science, Epidemiology and Disparities.

The LDDW was developed as a component of the presidential initiative of AACI Immediate Past President Caryn Lerman, PhD, director of USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The 2025 workshop will be held March 11-12 at Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, IL. The event will convene emerging leaders from AACI cancer centers with both didactic and experiential leadership development sessions on topics including authenticity in leadership, influential communication, and inclusive team building.

Please note: the workshop schedule and content is subject to change.

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