Consortium names associate director of diversity, equity and inclusion
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Christopher Li, MD, PhD, has been named the first associate director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium.
He will coordinate and lead efforts to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion across the consortium’s partner institutions, which include Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, University of Washington and Seattle Children’s.
Li will continue to serve as professor in the public health sciences division and faculty director for the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Fred Hutch, as well as research professor in University of Washington’s department of epidemiology.
“Achieving greater diversity among our scientists and leadership is absolutely critical to our mission of eliminating cancer, as diversity is a major driver of innovation and collaboration,” Li said in a press release. “Through fostering an environment that is inclusive of those from different backgrounds and with different perspectives, we will expand our opportunities to deeply challenge existing paradigms and advance research that we hope will improve people’s lives and reduce health inequities.”
Efforts to drive diversity, equity and inclusion within the organizations and across their research endeavors is critical, according to Thomas J. Lynch Jr., MD, president and director of Fred Hutch.
“Chris is widely recognized for promoting diversity in cancer research and is a thoughtful leader and exceptional partner in the Hutch’s journey to become an anti-racist institution,” Lynch said in the release. “I could not be more excited for him to step into this role, and I look forward to partnering with him on the next steps of this mission-critical work.”
Li — an epidemiologist whose work focuses on colorectal and breast cancer causes, screening, early detection and survivorship — will develop and implement a plan to increase the diversity of trainees, faculty and leadership across the consortium. He also will create programs intended to increase diversity in the cancer research workforce.
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