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Dr. Karen Winkfield to Deliver Leadership Diversity Keynote
A thought leader in the areas of workforce diversity and health equity, Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD, is the executive director of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance, holds faculty positions at both Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt University, and was appointed by President Joe Biden to the National Cancer Advisory Board in 2021.
As an implementation scientist, Dr. Winkfield is focused on improving health outcomes for underserved populations through community-engaged research and community-based initiatives designed to improve access to health care, including clinical trials. Her leadership roles have focused on developing bi-directional communication between researchers and community stakeholders to ensure equitable access to care regardless of race, ethnicity, geographic location, or socioeconomic status. Dr. Winkfield will deliver the opening keynote at 8:00 am central time on Monday, March 12, during the 2024 AACI Leadership Diversity and Development Workshop (LDDW). AACI invited Dr. Winkfield to present the keynote after the unexpected passing of Edith P. Mitchell, MD, MACP, FCCP, FRCP (London), in January. Like Dr. Mitchell, she has focused on health equity throughout her career.
The LDDW was developed as a component of the Leadership Diversity and Development Initiative (LDDI), the presidential initiative of AACI Immediate Past President Caryn Lerman, PhD, director of USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The 2024 workshop will be held March 12-13 at Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, IL. The event will convene a diverse group of 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.