Community

MD Anderson’s workforce is truly a reflection of Houston’s cultural diversity. Experts from all over the world come here to learn, research, care for patients and train our next generation of cancer leaders. This diversity in our culture, expertise and experiences is not just acknowledged, it is celebrated and fostered. In fact, MD Anderson has been nationally recognized as one of the best employers for diversity, women and disability inclusion.

MD Anderson supports multiple programs to promote diversity, inclusion and equity at our institution, including:

As an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, MD Anderson is committed to educating the next generation of leaders in cancer research.

We offer programs that cover the entire spectrum of career stages: From high school students, to undergrads, graduate and medical students, postdoctoral fellows, residents, and clinical fellows. We also have junior, mid-level, and senior faculty committees that support the development needs of mentors who guide our trainees.

Our Cancer Research Career Enhancement Core coordinates efforts among these programs to facilitate interprofessional collaboration, networking and funding opportunities for the next generation of researchers and clinicians. The Career Enhancement Core also conducts internal evaluations of programs to identify and address needs and strengthen research education and training offerings.

One of the core’s top priorities has been to establish an institutional Training Grants and Fellowships Office, which will assist with finding funding opportunities for postdocs, and facilitating internal reviews and proposal development.

We have a broad range of mentorship programs to help our faculty, staff and trainees grow in their professional and academic careers. Some programs help workforce members cultivate a specific skill or navigate their careers while others work to enhance the art of mentorship itself. Our alumni association also offers mentorship opportunities to graduates of our education and training programs. 

Diversity in the biomedical workforce adds creativity and perspective in research and ensures that we conduct research and deliver clinical care that is responsive to our community. MD Anderson’s Office of Faculty Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion supports all stages of the career pipeline from our young high school learners all the way to faculty development and mentorship. The office strives to recognize excellence and support individuals by addressing barriers that often impact talent retention and career progression. Together with leaders across the institution, this office works to bring equality and inclusion to all our policies and opportunities.

MD Anderson also has multiple employee networks that offer support and a voice to different communities across our institution. Learn more about our networks.

With 50 million developed square feet and 10 million patient encounters per year, the Texas Medical Center (TMC) is the largest medical city in the world.

TMC has 50 member institutions, including MD Anderson, its first. This partnership places MD Anderson squarely at the heart of a health care hub that includes eight other academic institutions and four medical schools. Faculty and trainees collaborate across institutions, share advanced technology core facilities, and develop joint research and educational programs.

Future projects are cementing Houston’s place as a leading biotech center, too. Over the next decade, an additional 3.7 million square feet will be developed in a new campus. Dubbed TMC³, the expansion will feature collaborative research buildings, multi-disciplinary laboratories, start up incubators, as well as commercial, hospitality, and green spaces. TMC³ adds 23,000 full-time jobs and will transform the Texas Medical Center into a place to live, work and play.

The city of Houston is rich in research opportunities. We have more than 100 institutions and companies that generate more than $1.5 billion in development and research funding for various scientific areas, including nanotechnology, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, genetics/ genomics, biodefense and infectious diseases, stem cell research and oncology.

Our city’s career opportunities extend far beyond the field of research, too. We have the second-largest concentration of Fortune 1000 companies in the U.S. and have welcomed 63 of the 100 largest non-U.S.-based corporations into our city. The top industries in Houston include Aerospace and Aviation, Energy, Digital Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, and Transportation and Logistics.

Most importantly, the city of Houston is a great place to call home and raise a family. We are one of the most culturally diverse cities in the nation. More than 145 different languages are spoken across the city, placing us behind only New York and Los Angeles. In fact, about 30% of the city’s population speaks a language other than English at home. And, paychecks here stretch farther than most U.S. metro areas, thanks to our low cost of living.

Click here to learn more about our city’s affordable housing, fine dining, entertainment scene, nationally renowned museums and other great attributes.

MD Anderson's sense of community never goes away. Even after our trainees complete their training, they are invited to join our alumni portal, where they can maintain relationships with colleagues and mentors and stay informed about MD Anderson's latest research and activities. Learn more about the MD Anderson Alumni Association.