Mentoring for the Future: Why DEI in Oncology Training Matters for Uterine Cancer Outcomes
As the gynecologic oncology field continues to confront rising uterine cancer rates, particularly among historically underserved groups, one thing is clear: achieving better outcomes requires more than clinical innovation. It requires intentional investment in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at every level of training and practice.
This is the guiding vision behind the SGO LEAD Program (Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy, and Diversity), an initiative that pairs early-career gynecologic oncologists from underrepresented backgrounds with seasoned mentors across the field. Designed to foster leadership development, career growth, and advocacy skills, the program also creates space for candid conversations about bias, systemic barriers, and culturally responsive care.
The idea for LEAD was born from a deep sense of gratitude. “I was inspired to co-create the LEAD program based on all the mentorship that influenced me in my training and early career,” Charlotte Gamble MD, MPH, reflected. “The dedication and commitment of both junior and senior mentors at all stages in their career helped guide and ground me as I navigated my medical training. This is my way of paying it forward—doing for others what was done for me.”
The stakes are high. Despite advances in treatment, disparities in uterine cancer outcomes persist, with Black patients being diagnosed at later stages and dying at disproportionately higher rates than their white counterparts. Research shows that diversifying the medical workforce and training all providers to recognize and address bias can help build trust, improve communication, and lead to earlier diagnosis and more effective care.
Mentorship plays a vital role in that effort. For many LEAD participants, the program provides not only professional guidance, but also a sense of belonging in a field where many still feel isolated. By cultivating inclusive relationships between mentors and mentees, the LEAD program is helping to equip future leaders with the tools to both thrive and transform their environments.
“Seeing the impact the program has had on trainees and their vision for their futures has been incredibly rewarding,” Dr. Gamble shared. “I am also so pleased to see the community of dedicated LEAD scholars and mentors we have built that is now starting to form organically over the last two years.”
As we observe Uterine Cancer Awareness Month, the SGO’s investment in the LEAD Program punctuates a commitment to the future of equitable cancer care, starting in the training pipeline. Empowering underrepresented voices and expanding the definition of leadership moves the field many steps closer to a future where outcomes are no longer determined by race, geography, or socioeconomic status but by timely, compassionate, high-quality care.