TY - JOUR
T1 - SNO 2020 diversity survey
T2 - Defining demographics, racial biases, career success metrics and a path forward for the field of neuro-oncology
AU - Chukwueke, Ugonma N.
AU - Vera, Elizabeth
AU - Acquaye, Alvina
AU - Hervey-Jumper, Shawn L.
AU - Odia, Yazmin
AU - Klesse, Laura J.
AU - Dunbar, Erin
AU - Sharma, Akanksha
AU - Fonkem, Ekokobe
AU - Thomas, Alissa A.
AU - Werbowetski-Ogilvie, Tamra E.
AU - Camelo-Piragua, Sandra
AU - Gatson, Na Tosha N.
AU - De La Fuente, MacArena I.
AU - Armstrong, Terri S.
AU - Porter, Alyx B.
AU - Jackson, Sadhana
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology 2021.
PY - 2021/11/1
Y1 - 2021/11/1
N2 - Background: Neuro-oncology has grown tremendously since 2010, marked by increasing society membership, specialized clinical expertise, and new journals. Yet, modest improvement in racial/ethnic diversity amongst clinical trial participants, researchers, and clinicians led us to conduct a survey to identify opportunities to enhance diversity and inclusiveness amongst neuro-oncology professionals. Methods: In summer 2020, the Women and Diversity Committee of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) distributed an anonymous online survey to members and affiliates including the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO), Asian Society for Neuro-Oncology (ASNO), Society for Neuro-Oncology Latin America (SNOLA) and Society for Neuro-Oncology Sub-Saharan Africa (SNOSSA). The survey captured personal and professional characteristics, biases, effective mentorship qualities, career service metrics, and suggested field/society changes. Results were analyzed by geography, profession, age, racial/ethnic, and sexual identity. Standard descriptive statistics characterized the study population. Results: The 386 respondents were predominantly female (58%) with a median age range of 40-49 years (31%), White (65%), and SNO members (97%). Most worked in North America (77%) in a research profession (67%). A majority of White respondents reported never experiencing biases (64%), while the majority of non-White respondents reported unconscious biases/microaggressions, followed by a lack of/limited mentorship. Qualitative assessments showcased that personal/professional success metrics were linked to needed improvements in diversity and inclusion efforts within the neuro-oncology field. Conclusions: The prevalence of racial/ethnic biases and poor mentorship rates amongst underrepresented groups in neuro-oncology is high and potentially linked to the limited diverse representation amongst members and affiliates. These findings warrant a swift implementation of equity and inclusion practices within the neuro-oncology field.
AB - Background: Neuro-oncology has grown tremendously since 2010, marked by increasing society membership, specialized clinical expertise, and new journals. Yet, modest improvement in racial/ethnic diversity amongst clinical trial participants, researchers, and clinicians led us to conduct a survey to identify opportunities to enhance diversity and inclusiveness amongst neuro-oncology professionals. Methods: In summer 2020, the Women and Diversity Committee of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) distributed an anonymous online survey to members and affiliates including the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO), Asian Society for Neuro-Oncology (ASNO), Society for Neuro-Oncology Latin America (SNOLA) and Society for Neuro-Oncology Sub-Saharan Africa (SNOSSA). The survey captured personal and professional characteristics, biases, effective mentorship qualities, career service metrics, and suggested field/society changes. Results were analyzed by geography, profession, age, racial/ethnic, and sexual identity. Standard descriptive statistics characterized the study population. Results: The 386 respondents were predominantly female (58%) with a median age range of 40-49 years (31%), White (65%), and SNO members (97%). Most worked in North America (77%) in a research profession (67%). A majority of White respondents reported never experiencing biases (64%), while the majority of non-White respondents reported unconscious biases/microaggressions, followed by a lack of/limited mentorship. Qualitative assessments showcased that personal/professional success metrics were linked to needed improvements in diversity and inclusion efforts within the neuro-oncology field. Conclusions: The prevalence of racial/ethnic biases and poor mentorship rates amongst underrepresented groups in neuro-oncology is high and potentially linked to the limited diverse representation amongst members and affiliates. These findings warrant a swift implementation of equity and inclusion practices within the neuro-oncology field.
KW - biases
KW - diversity
KW - equity
KW - mentorship
KW - neuro-oncology
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U2 - 10.1093/neuonc/noab172
DO - 10.1093/neuonc/noab172
M3 - Article
C2 - 34302487
AN - SCOPUS:85119261153
SN - 1522-8517
VL - 23
SP - 1845
EP - 1858
JO - Neuro-oncology
JF - Neuro-oncology
IS - 11
ER -