Dr. Monica Baskin To Make History As The First Black Woman Named Director Of An NCI-Designated Cancer Center – AfroTech
There are only nine women in the U.S. who currently lead a comprehensive cancer center and Dr. Monica Baskin is now one of them.
Dr. Monica Baskin, an Atlanta native and alum of Georgia State University, earned a master’s degree in community counseling and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Baskin has held several fellowships:
- Pediatric psychology at Emory University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute
- NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
The loss of her father to colorectal cancer while she was in high school, followed by the deaths of other family members from cancer, inspired her to pursue research in cancer prevention, early detection, and mental health, per a press release.
Baskin has served in several leadership roles at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, including deputy director, associate director for community outreach and engagement, vice chancellor for community health equity, and associate director for health equity, per the release.
She also served as a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Previously, she was a tenured professor in the UAB School of Medicine. She also served as a senior associate faculty member in Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, according to the press release.
Baskin has also led research teams that have received more than $70 million in NIH grants and served on the Cancer Center Support Grant review panels.
Making History
In her next career move, Baskin is set to become director of Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU’s) Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, pending approval by the VCU Board of Visitors, per the release. She will lead a center with 250 scientists and clinical investigators, according to the press release.
What’s more, she will make history as Massey’s first female director. She will also be the first Black woman director at a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, according to the press release.
Her tenure as director begins Aug. 3.
“It is an honor to be named as the next director at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center,” Baskin said in the press release. “Massey is an exemplar, locally and nationally, on what truly matters for a cancer center, and together we will continue to be defined by cutting-edge science, compassionate care, and collaboration with our community to ensure everyone has access to lifesaving cancer prevention and treatment.”
Marlon Levy, M.D., CEO of the VCU Health System, said:
“As a world-renowned scientist and counseling psychologist, Dr. Baskin’s extensive experience in identifying and working to reduce health disparities at the intersection of cancer prevention and mental health has made her a powerful advocate for VCU Health patients and their loved ones.”
