Kelsen on DEI Initiatives at Columbia University in Patients With Cancer

Moshe Kelsen, MBA, director, administration and clinical operations, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, discusses ongoing initiatives that aim to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion for patients with cancer receiving treatment at Columbia University.

Kelsen highlights that his role within the clinical trial diversity initiative at Columbia University centers around managing administrative facets. Investigators recognize the importance of establishing a 2-way relationship with the community they are serving, he begins. Whendeveloping comprehensive, well-intentioned programs with multifaceted components, it is vital to ensure that these initiatives address the needs of the community, Kelsen states, adding that this can only be achieved through direct engagement and involvement from community members starting in the initiatives’ conceptualization phases.

By engaging the community, investigators gain insights into their priorities and the specific health areas that affect patients the most. These insights are how fundamental new programs are crafted, he expands. For example, investigators work closely with community members to understand and implement patient assistance programs, streamline travel to and from the research center, and ensure fair reimbursement for their time and expenses, Kelsen emphasizes. These considerations have a direct effect on treatment designs, ensuring they're in line with the needs and preferences of the community, he says.

This collaborative approach involves establishing a community advisory board that actively participates in the initiatives, fostering a significant bi-directional relationship, Kelsen continues. Rather than including community members as passive participants, the aim is to integrate them as partners in every phase of the programs, he notes, saying that the overarching goal is to actively involve patients in the design, assessment, and fine-tuning of the programs’ outcomes. This ongoing collaboration from the programs’ inception throughout their implementation has proven to be the most effective way to ensure the success and relevance of these programs. The lessons learned through this interactive approach guide the initiatives’ directions and ensure they truly serves the community they intend to benefit, Kelsen concludes.