Programs & Events
Lecture Series: Thought Leaders on Diversity and Inclusion
Thought Leaders on Diversity and Inclusion highlights a woman or minority physician or scientist accomplished in their field. The invited lecturer gives an institution-wide scientific or diversity-in-science talk. Women and Minority Faculty Inclusion brings the lecture series to MD Anderson twice a year.
Names of speakers may be proposed by any faculty member; and women and minority faculty leaders are also asked for suggestions. The Associate Vice President and Women and Minority Faculty Inclusion Advisory Committee make the selection. In addition to the lecture, the visitor spends the day on campus and meets with various faculty groups.
Upcoming and Past Lectures
2016 to Present: Thoughts Leaders on Diversity and Inclusion
Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D. (11/6/2019)
University Professor
Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
CEO, The Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translational in Regenerative Engineering
University of Connecticut
"Success is What You Leave Behind”
Victor Dzau, M.D., and Frazier Benya, Ph.D. (10/17/2019)
Dr. Dzau, President, National Academy of Medicine
Dr. Benya, Senior Program Officer, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine
"Sexual Harassment of Women in Science and Medicine”
David A. Acosta, M.D. (9/28/2018)
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Association of American Medical Colleges
"Becoming an Equity-Minded Academic Health Center Through Inclusion Excellence: The Next Generation of Work"
Scott Page, Ph.D. (4/6/2018)
Collegiate Professor of Complex Systems, Political Science, and Economics
University of Michigan
"The Diversity Bonus: Leveraging Diversity in the Medical Setting"
Brian Williams, M.D. (8/16/2017)
Associate Professor, Trauma Surgeon
UT Southwestern Medical Center
"Bridging Cultural Gaps in America: The Intersection of Race, Violence and Medicine"
Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA, FACS (3/6/2017)
President, Howard University
Former Surgical Oncology Fellow, MD Anderson
"Academia: The Changing Landscape"
Mark A. Nivet, Ed.D., MBA (9/3/2016)
Chief Diversity Officer
Association of American Medical Colleges
"Diversity & Inclusion in Academic Medicine: From Fairness to Excellence"
Otis Webb Brawley, M.D., MACP, FASCO, FACE (5/5/2016)
Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, Executive Vice President, Research
American Cancer Society
"The History of the Health Equity Movement: A Critical Analysis"
2008-2015: Women Leading the Way Lecture Series
Joan Reede, M.D., MPH, M.S., M.B.A. (2015)
Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership
Harvard Medical School
"Diversity Inclusion: A Means to Achieving Diversity and Inclusion"
Julie Freischlag, M.D. (2015)
Vice Chancellor for Human Health Sciences, Dean, School of Medicine
UC Davis, Davis, CA
"Risky Business - Advance Your Career and Enhance Your Life"
Vivian Ho, Ph.D. (2014)
James A. Baker Institute Chair in Health Economics
Rice University, Houston, TX
"Is the Affordable Care Act Making Care More Affordable? A National and Texas Perspective"
Claudia R. Baquet, M.D., M.P.H. (2014)
Professor, Associate Dean for Policy & Planning
Director, National Bioethics & Health Disparities Research Center
University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
"Opportunities to Address Cancer Disparities: Ensuring Access to and Quality of Oncology Care in the Affordable Care Act Landscape"
Women Rising to the Biotech Challenge (2013)
Building Principled Partnerships among Medicine, Science, and Industry
The ABCs of Tech Transfer at MD Anderson: Challenges, Opportunities, and Lessons Learned
What’s Going on in Houston and Beyond: Challenges and Opportunities
UT System Big Picture: Research and Innovation
Working Together To Cure Cancer: A Partnership Between Academia, Biotech, and Big Pharma
Deborah Dunsire, M.D. (2012)
CEO
Forum Pharmaceuticals
"Aspiring to Cure Cancer: Building the Foundation through Partnership"
Mary Estes, Ph.D. (2012)
Professor of Virology and Medicine and Medicine-GI
Director, Texas Medical Center Digestive Diseases Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
"A Passion for Questions and Gastrointestinal Viral Pathogens"
Robin Yabroff, Ph.D., M.B.A. (2011)
Epidemiologist, Health Services and Economics Branch, Applied Research Program
National Cancer Institute
"Economic Burden of Cancer in the U.S.: Challenges and Opportunities"
Nancy Chang, Ph.D. (2011)
Chairman and Senior Managing Director for Asia, OrbiMed Healthcare Fund Management
"My Story, The Tanox Story"
Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Olopade, M.D., FACP (2010)
Walter L. Palmer Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics
Associate Dean for Global Health
Director, Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics and Global Health, The University of Chicago Medical Center
"Epigenetics and Breast Cancer"
Karen Antman, M.D. (2009)
Dean of Boston University, School of Medicine
"You've Come a Long Way Baby - What's Next?"
Nancy Davidson, M.D. (2009)
Director, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute UPMC Cancer Centers
"Musings on the Road to Cancer Center Director"
Virginia Valian, Ph.D. (2008)
Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Linguistics
Co-director of the Gender Equity Project at Hunter College, NY
"Why So Slow? The Advancement of Women in Medicine"
Renu Khator, Ph.D. (2008)
President of the University of Houston
Chancellor of the University of Houston System
"The Power of Higher Education: My Journey from India to the Presidency of Texas' Flagship Metropolitan University System"
Carol Cass, Ph.D., FRSC, FCAHS (2008)
Director of the Alberta Cross Cancer Institute
Vice President of the Alberta Cancer Board
"Lessons in Leadership: A Journey from Biochemistry to Oncology"
Excellence in Leadership Awards
Margaret L. Kripke Legend Award for Promotion of Women in Cancer Medicine and Cancer Science
Women and Minority Faculty Inclusion (formerly Women Programs) established this annual endowed award and lecture in 2008 in honor of Margaret Kripke, M.D., a world-renowned immunologist and first woman to chair an academic department at MD Anderson.
Later in her career she was appointed its executive vice president and chief academic officer. Throughout, she has been an effective advocate for expanding opportunities for women in science and medicine, including serving as first chair of the Committee on the Status of Women and Minorities and founding chair of the Women Faculty Organization. She was also instrumental in creating the role of associate vice president for Women Faculty Programs.
Kripke retired from MD Anderson in 2009 and currently holds the title Professor Emerita. She served as the chief scientific officer of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas from 2013 to 2016.
Past Recipients of the Margaret L. Kripke Legend Award (pdf)
President's Leadership Award for Advancing Women and Minority Faculty
The careers of women and minority faculty in academic medicine have not advanced at the same trajectory as their male colleagues despite ever increasing number of women entering academic medical centers. In an effort to address this discrepancy, then President DePinho encouraged Women and Minority Faculty Inclusion to develop and oversee the establishment of the President’s Leadership Award for Advancing Women and Minority Faculty. The award is an internal annual competition to:
- Recognize one faculty member per year who has demonstrated personal and professional commitment, above and beyond the expected, to the recruitment, retention and advancement of women faculty at MD Anderson.
- Showcase model practices and policies that facilitate the full participation of women and minority faculty, enabling them to thrive at MD Anderson both as a group and as individuals.
- Raise awareness and reinforce the institution's commitment to inclusivity and diversity.