The Cancer Letter

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Black History MonthConversation with The Cancer Letter

VCU’s Rob Winn reflects on a year of COVID, racial reckoning, and being the sole Black director of an NCI-designated cancer center

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Being Black and running an NCI-designated cancer center at a time of a worldwide pandemic, an ugly election, and a racial reckoning in a Southern town puts you in a position to make profound observations.

“Would I have chosen a different path or a different year to be a cancer center director? There are days where I think it would have been much easier,” said Robert Winn, director of VCU Massey Cancer Center.

For the next couple of weeks, until March 1, when Adekunle “Kunle” Odunsi becomes director of the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winn will remain the only Black director of an NCI-designated cancer center. (With Odunsi’s appointment, the number of Black cancer center directors doubles.)

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Paul Goldberg
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