GI oncologist says ‘opening doors’ for other women is her calling, responsibility
According to Rachna T. Shroff, MD, MS, FASCO, opening doors for other women in oncology, by amplifying and demonstrating the importance and impact of gender equity among women in the field, is her ultimate passion.
Based on this passion, Shroff, interim chief of the division of hematology/oncology, associate dean of clinical and translational research, and associate director of clinical investigations at University of Arizona Cancer Center, received the Healio Woman Disruptor of the Year award given in partnership with Women in Medicine. The award recognizes Shroff’s efforts in the field as a woman who continuously leads and sets the tone for younger women of how a successful career can unfold.
In 2021, Shroff joined the Healio Women in Oncology board to empower and bring a voice to women in the field. Acknowledging her receipt of mentorship and leadership from other women, she hopes to amplify others going forward.
“Receiving this award was truly an honor — any award that centers on shining a spotlight on women in oncology means so much to me,” she told Healio. “This was another example of an award that included an incredible group of female nominees. These women are role models and mentors to me, and they have absolutely paved a path for others. They have not only shattered glass ceilings but have also demonstrated what we can do in terms of changing the face of oncology. With this wonderful recognition, I take the responsibility of being a voice for other women — representing all of the nominees and their work in bringing light to the fact that women are incredible changemakers for oncology.”
Shroff spoke further with Healio about her ongoing work that is disrupting the field of oncology and her goals for continuing the work for many years to come.
Healio: What does it mean to be a disruptor?
Shroff: I love the word: Disruptor. We all know that the only way to bring about change is to disrupt the norm and to shake things up a little bit. To me, being a disruptor means that I am one of many who are working to move the needle forward and saying that the current status quo isn’t enough — that we can do better, we can be better, we can have more of an impact and we can have stronger voices together.
Healio: How are you continuing to disrupt the field of oncology?
Shroff: There are different avenues in which I’m trying to be a disruptor. One is in my space in [gastrointestinal (GI)] medical oncology. I got into this space as a clinical investigator because I felt it was important to do better for our patients with GI cancers and to work to develop new drugs for our patients. Hopefully, as a woman disruptor, I am continuing to bring drug development to the forefront and helping people recognize the importance of clinical trials and enrollment on clinical trials. I want to remind everyone of the fact that we are not doing enough, to not rest on our laurels and to continue to try to improve outcomes for patients with GI cancers.
In supporting women in oncology, some of my national leadership roles — including my positions within ASCO and specifically GI ASCO, as well as the Leadership Empowerment and Development (LEAD) program, which is specifically for women in hematology/oncology — really focus on opening doors for other women. I truly feel this is my calling and responsibility.
As incoming chair of GI ASCO for 2024, it is my job to ensure that we have more women on the podium, and that we give more women a voice and opportunities at those types of programs. Through programs like LEAD, for instance, helping women develop and build a network and village and teaching them leadership skills for how to continue to advance their careers is a personal responsibility of mine. I want to ensure that we’re preparing the next generation of women to be our next generation of leaders.
Healio: Who has had the biggest impact on your career?
Shroff: I have had incredible role models. First and foremost, my mother, who is a retired physician. She is of Indian origin and was an immigrant in private practice in the early 1980s. As a child, I saw firsthand — I trotted along with her to hospital rounds — the type of discrimination that she experienced. It was important that she set such an incredible example for me. It was important to be able to do the same, to be that role model for the next generation — not only for my daughter, but also for other young women oncologists who aspire to be bigger and better than what they’ve been told they can be.
I also had role models early on in my career who did that for me. It is so important to pay it forward. We have come far in oncology and have made incredible progress in terms of diversity, equity and inclusion. However, we all recognize that we have so much more work to do, and I want to be a part of that mission.
Healio: Is there anything else that you would like to mention?
Shroff: We can only move forward with disruption. Being a woman disruptor is important because it sets a tone and an example for other women. I hope it helps others recognize that opening their mouths and speaking up, supporting each other, and amplifying each other is something that we not only deserve, but must do. Whenever I have mentored or supported a female mentee, they ask me what they can do to repay me, and I always say to pay it forward — be a sponsor and a mentor, and a supporter of the next generation of women. That, to me, is what a woman disruptor embodies.
For more information:
Rachna T. Shroff, MD, MS, FASCO, can be reached at rshroff@arizona.edu.
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