June 18, 2020
As I continue to reflect on the events of the past few weeks, I think it is important to share with you – our partner in advancing cancer research, treatment, and care – how MSK is working to fight racial injustice and take meaningful action together as an institution.
You may have seen MSK’s statement to the community condemning racism and discrimination following the killing of George Floyd. If not, I encourage you to read it here. It conveys the deep sadness and urgency felt by so many of us at MSK, and our shared commitment to do the work needed to create a more equitable world.
We want you to know that MSK has an unwavering commitment to equality and justice for all, and zero tolerance for racism, bigotry, and hate of any kind. In the last few weeks, people around the world have mobilized to fight for equality and safety for people of color. Like so many of you, I have been inspired by the global unity of spirit and determination to end systemic racism and bring about lasting change.
At MSK, our mission is to help people with cancer. In order to fully achieve this, we must continue to raise our voices and advocate for people of color who experience disparities in healthcare access, which has a real impact on outcomes nationwide. We are committed to closing this health gap and are in the process of putting together specific steps across care, research, and education.
To be part of the solution, we must also work to become a more diverse and inclusive institution. As part of this effort, we will gather input from all employees through an all-staff survey and a series of institution-wide listening sessions that began last week. These sessions, led by an external diversity expert, will help us learn from each other and allow employees to share their experiences and ideas as we work together to address inequality and injustice.
We will not stop there. This will be a long process and there is more work to be done. I promise to keep you updated on our plans and progress. MSK’s extraordinary donor community is at the heart of everything we accomplish. Together, we are working towards a better world for each and every person with cancer – with no exceptions.