Cancer Center Culture

The Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Office of Cancer Center Culture (CCC), established in 2022, supports a culture of excellence, engagement, and professional growth. Through leadership development, mentorship, workforce engagement, and strategic partnerships, CCC works to strengthen organizational culture and create opportunities for faculty, trainees, and staff to thrive. 

In collaboration with institutional leaders, faculty, staff, trainees, the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE), and Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) CCC develops programs and initiatives that support career advancement, workplace engagement, and continuous improvement. These efforts help foster a collaborative environment that advances excellence in research, education, prevention, and patient care.

Cancer Center Culture aims to:

1. Enhance faculty leadership development and retention by implementing person-focused training, coaching, and sponsorship plans.
2. Develop strategies to increase the pool of candidates among staff, faculty and trainees from all backgrounds.
3. Measure work climate and effectively respond to workplace belonging challenges.

Office Hours

The Office of Cancer Center Culture offers weekly office hours with Elisabeth Martinez, Ph.D., Associate Director, for SCCC staff, faculty, and trainees to share thoughts, experiences, and ideas to maintain and further build a culture of openness and dialogue.

When: Thursdays, 11 – 11:45 a.m.
Where: In-person at NB8.104 or virtually with Dr. Martinez by calling her via Teams 

• Faculty Career Development

  These services are confidential and free of charge:

  • Counseling for faculty through the Office of Faculty Wellness.
  • For specific skill coaching/professional adaptability you may reach out to the Office of Faculty Development.
  • Executive coaching is also available as single or multiple sessions by Organizational Development and Training (MyUTSW).
• Partnerships

  SCCC

  • Office of Community, Outreach, and Engagement
  • Office of Education and Training

  UTSW

  • Office for Access & Title IX
  • Science Teacher Access to Resources at Southwestern (STARS)
  • Biomedical Preparatory
  • Provost's Initiative for Diverse Emerging Scholars (PROVIDES) Seminar Series
  • Women in Science and Medicine Advisory Committee (WISMAC)
• Working Groups

  The Cancer Center Culture (CCC) Working Group brings together faculty, trainees, and staff from across the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center to help strengthen organizational culture, engagement, and professional growth. Representing basic, translational, population science, and clinical programs, members work closely with CCC to identify opportunities, provide feedback, and develop initiatives that support the Cancer Center community. 

  Through listening sessions, strategic discussions, and collaborative projects, the Working Group helps inform efforts related to leadership development, mentorship, recruitment, retention, and workplace culture. In partnership with the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) and Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC), the group helps translate ideas into action and supports an environment where faculty, staff, and trainees can thrive while advancing excellence in research, education, and patient care. 

  Faculty

  

  Cristel Camacho, Ph.D.

  Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology

  

  Miguel Angel Cano, Ph.D.

  Associate Professor, Public Health

  

  Ian Corbin, Ph.D.

  Associate Professor, Internal Medicine

  

  Jihan Osborne, Ph.D.

  Assistant Professor, Pharmacology

  Trainee

  

  Clarissa Nunez

  Graduate Student

Trainee Resource Guide

• Educational Opportunities

  Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and its members coordinate and participate in cancer research education, training, and professional development activities across the learner continuum, from high school students to undergraduates, graduates, postdoctoral trainees, clinical fellows, and faculty. Trainees focused on cancer research and/or engaged in oncology-related clinical training are eligible for trainee membership.

  • SCCC Office of Education and Training
  • SCCC Training Associate Membership
  • UTSW Training Opportunities
• Funding Opportunities

  Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center uses intramural, institutional, and external funding to support priorities that will strengthen basic, translational, clinical, and population science research at UTSW, its affiliated health systems, and 13 Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area counties.

  • Cancer Trainee Funding Opportunities
  • SCCC Research Funding Opportunities
  • Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Postdoctoral Funding Opportunities *must be VPN connected to view
• Volunteer Opportunities

  Volunteering can grow friendships, is a rewarding way to give back to the community and can make a positive impact. Volunteer opportunities include:

  • SCCC Office of Community Outreach and Engagement
  • Volunteer at Biomedical Preparatory at UT Southwestern
  • Volunteering Opportunities with SCCC Supportive Care
• Additional UTSW Resources
  • SCCC Shared Resources
  • UTSW Core Facilities
  • Postdoctoral Affairs Office
  • Web Resources for Postdocs
  • Cancer Biology Graduate Program
  • Research Labs
  • For Employees
  • Percipio
  • Graduate Career Development
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Business Resource Groups
  • Office for Technology Development
  • For Students
  • Campus Services
  • Campus Map
  • Pharmacy Services
  • University Police

Leadership

Elisabeth Martinez, Ph.D.

Associate Director, Cancer Center Culture

Contact

Tiji J. Thomas

Sr. Business Analyst

TijiJ.Thomas@UTSouthwestern.edu

Meredith Woosley

Program Coordinator

Meredith.Woosley@UTSouthwestern.edu