Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Representation in Leadership Positions at National Cancer Institute–Designated Cancer Centers

Key Points Question What is the diversity of the leadership teams of National Cancer Institute–designated cancer centers, and how does this compare with the populations served by each center? Findings In this retrospective cross-sectional study including 63 cancer centers with 856 leadership team members, non-Hispanic White men were disproportionately represented in leadership while Black, Hispanic, and Asian leaders were underrepresented. Centers with more women leaders were more likely to have at least 1 Black or Hispanic leader; however, diverse cities were not necessarily more likely to have representatively diverse leaders. Meaning These findings suggest that establishing policy and pipeline programs to address significant racial and ethnic disparities in cancer care leadership positions is crucial for change.