Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center Women's Initiative Network

Women’s Initiative Network

We’re proud to promote gender equality in recruitment, retention, and career development at Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, as we strive to eliminate bias across all aspects of the work environment. Among our many efforts, we aim to identify barriers to advancement faced by women researchers and clinicians in the cancer field—and to offer solutions.

Women represent about 50% of the population globally. We see a day when Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers and clinicians will reflect this balance at every faculty rank as well as in institutional leadership positions.

There should be equal participation in decision-making, education, training, research and/or patient care across our cancer enterprise.

Steps to achieving this vision include:

  • Identifying barriers to advancement for women in their departments and working with institutional leadership to promote effective changes
  • Increasing participation of women faculty in leadership positions and recruitment committees
  • Eliminating gender disparity in salaries
  • Promoting the prominence of work done by Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center women faculty
  • Identifying and encouraging participation in women’s career enrichment opportunities
  • Pursuing philanthropic funding for awards to recognize the achievements of Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center women faculty

Mission & Vision

Our Mission

To promote gender equality in recruitment, retention, and career development of the women faculty at the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center and to eliminate bias across all aspects of the working environment.

Our Vision

To increase women representation at every faculty rank and in positions within institutional leadership ensuring their equal participation in decision-making, education, training, research and/or patient care.

Leaders & Members

Maria Soledad Sosa, PhD

Maria Soledad Sosa, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Oncology

Rebeca San Martin, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology

Led by Dr. Sofia de Oliveira (Chair) and Dr. Maja Oktay (Vice-Chair), the Women's Initiative Network consists of Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center faculty and staff who identify as women and are committed to advancing gender equity in multiple areas across the cancer field.

Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center Women's Initiative Network

Initiatives & Advocacy Work

The Women’s Initiative Network has been pursuing multiple goals and initiatives since being formed at the direction of Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center Director Edward Chu, MD, MMS, in 2021.

Initiatives

The multiple efforts to date include the introduction of career enrichment and career development support programs, a mentorship program for postdocs, fellows and junior faculty, and a speaker’s program.

Advocacy Work

Along with building awareness, we are implementing policies to ensure a gradual increase in women’s representation in chief, chair, and other high-level department positions. As part of this effort, we’ve started to collect data about women’s career trajectories at Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Contact Us

The Women’s Initiative Network meets on the 3rd Wednesday of every month, from 4:30pm to 5:30pm.

All Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center females are invited to join; email sofia.deoliveira@einsteinmed.edu for membership and Zoom link information.