An ally to female oncologists promotes their work, shares opportunities
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For Don S. Dizon, MD, FACP, FASCO, serving as an ally to his female colleagues is all in a day’s work.
“It’s very easy, because most of my day-to-day colleagues are women,” Dizon, director of the breast and pelvic malignancies program at Lifespan Cancer Institute and head of community outreach and engagement at the Cancer Center at Brown University, said in an interview with Healio. “Many of my own mentors were women who excelled in their fields and were very generous with their efforts to promote me. So, I see this as giving back.”
In this installment of Women in Oncology’s “Oncology Allies,” a HeForShe effort, Dizon outlined the ways in which he has supported and collaborated with the women in his work environment through his everyday actions.
Dizon said his partnership with colleagues often involves redirecting suitable opportunities to them.
“For example, if I’m asked to speak on a topic, I will refer to a [female] colleague who does the same kind of work or has an interest in that area,” he said. “I divert opportunities to them.”
With studies showing sex disparities in clinical trial leadership and income in academic oncology, the need to highlight the work of talented female researchers may be greater than ever. Dizon said he makes every effort to bring attention to the work of his female colleagues.
“If they’re engaged in a clinical trial as a lead recruiter, I make sure they get the acknowledgment as an author on a paper, for example,” he said. “I also always use my platform to promote their work.”
Dizon said when giving a talk before a national audience, he makes a point of mentioning the work of his female colleagues.
“If I’m talking about something nationally, I will find a way to promote their work so that people across the country understand what we’re doing locally,” he said.
Having grown up with four sisters, Dizon said he doesn’t view the women around him based on their sex, but focuses instead on their unique personalities, interests and achievements. He said the same applies to his female colleagues in oncology, with whom he works to treat cancers that frequently affect women.
Dizon said a shift in focus from sex to skill is an important step in elevating women in the oncology field.
“I think we should strive to reach a point where it’s not about gender, but is truly about passion and expertise,” he said. “We are moving in that direction, but we need to move more quickly.”
For more information:
Don S. Dizon, MD, FACP, FASCO, can be reached at donstevendizon@me.com.edu.
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