The Leadership, Engagement, and Action in Diversity (LEAD) Program is a six-month mentored pathway opportunity created by the SGO Committee on Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity (DIHE). In it’s third year, the LEAD program offers Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) trainees sponsorship, resources, and a network to support their development as future gynecologic oncologists.

This initiative is fully dedicated to formalizing, improving, and strengthening the pathway of URiM trainees in preparation for a successful match to gynecologic oncology fellowship, with the express goal of diversifying our field. 

The Association of American Medical Colleges definition of underrepresented in medicine is:

Underrepresented in medicine means those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population.

Eligibility

• Senior (third and fourth year) medical students, residents of all years, research/pelvic surgery fellows or early career generalists who identify as URiM based on the AAMC definition of Underrepresented in Medicine
• Participants must be SGO members. Please find membership options below:
  • Applicants may apply for SGO membership at time of application.
  • SGO institutional membership offers a membership opportunity for entire training programs. These programs (for example, an OB/GYN residency or a gynecologic pathology fellowship) can purchase an annual membership to SGO for all current trainees.

Application Requirements

The online application procedure requires the following items:

• Personal statement: Describing your interest in gynecologic oncology, caring for people with gynecologic malignancies, and expressing what aspect of this field provides you with meaning or excitement
• Letter of support: Confirmation that you will have protected time to participate in the LEAD program; ensuring acceptable academic standing, secured time to attend the day long summit at the 2026 SGO Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer, and approval for continued virtual engagement (group cohort meetings at 1, 6, and 9 months; small quarterly group meetings)
• Your C.V.
• Essay questions

Key Dates

 aPPly To Be a mentee

 aPPly to be a mentor

Hear from Travis T. Sims, MD, MPH, about the importance of formalizing, improving, and strengthening the pathway of diverse trainees for the future of the subspecialty.