Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Masonic Cancer Center (MCC) recognizes that our people are our greatest asset in our mission to reduce the cancer burden in Minnesota and beyond.
Investing in the professional development, advancement, and career aims of our members, employees, students, and collaborators is an investment to excellence in our cancer center research that benefits all of us. We employ a strategy that aims to attract people who offer new perspectives to cancer research with a long-range goal of enhancing team science and the rigor of our research. This work engages MCC leadership, membership, staff, and stakeholders to continuously work on our structures, systems, environment, and actions for a supportive environment. As a matrix cancer center with people from across multiple departments, navigating resources can be challenging. Through Support & Training for Research Independence, Development, and Engagement (STRIDE), we provide consultations, opportunities, and events for people new to MCC to get what they need to initiate and advance cancer research.
“All of us do DEI work” - Dr. Rahel Ghebre
University-Tribal Healing and Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that the University of Minnesota is located on the traditional, ancestral, and contemporary lands of Indigenous people, the traditional homeland of the Dakota (dah-KO-tah) Nation and other Indigenous Peoples. We acknowledge that this land holds great historical, spiritual, and personal significance for its original stewards, the Native nations and peoples of this region. By offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm tribal sovereignty and will work to hold the University of Minnesota across the state accountable to American Indian peoples and nations. We recognize and continually support and advocate for the sovereignty of the Native nations in this territory and beyond, particularly listening and learning from native health communities. We recognize that land rights are determinants of health outcomes.
Towards Recognition and University-Tribal Healing—TRUTH—project “offers multiple recommendations on how the University of Minnesota community can be in better relation with Indigenous peoples” and is a set of resources and discussions. Please read, listen, and engage with this critical resource and effort.
To learn more, connect with us and the Center of American Indian and Minority Health (CAIMH) about resources available to engage with cancer researchers.
About Us
Rahel Ghebre, MD, MPH
Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Professor, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Medical School
Rahel Ghebre, MD, MPH provides guidance to the Masonic Cancer Center to leverage University of Minnesota and partner assets for hiring, recruitment and retention strategies. Dr. Ghebre reminds us that the environments we create influences our work, which benefits our colleagues, patients, survivors, and communities.
Heidi Eschenbacher, PhD
Diversity, Equity Inclusion Program Associate
Heidi Eschenbacher, PhD works across MCC to collaborate, plan, organize, and contribute to the success of researchers and their supporters at the Masonic Cancer Center. She leads Support & Training for Research Independence, Development, and Engagement (STRIDE) efforts to support early career researchers and group mentoring.
Daanis Chosa
American Indian and Alaska Native Training Navigator at the Center of American Indian and Minority Health (CAIMH) in partnership with the Masonic Cancer Center.
Daanis Chosa is from the Keweenaw Bay Indian (Chippewa) Community in Michigan and is an enrolled member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa in Minnesota. Daanis has worked in public health for over 10 years, starting with the Bois Forte Tribal Health and Human Services developing health and tobacco-related policies and pursuing racial equity within municipal government. Daanis has focused her efforts on engaging and empowering tribal communities throughout Indian Country to implement policy, systems, and environmental change solutions that improve health outcomes for Indigenous people.
For more information about training navigation, please see the STRIDE page.
Our Approach
All of us have the capacity to contribute to our mission, which is to reduce the cancer burden in our catchment area across Minnesota. Our approach is to engage in the science that advances cancer care outcomes throughout the world, starting with Minnesota. We strive to have the people at the Masonic Cancer Center reflect the range of views, experiences, and backgrounds of the people we serve.