The University of Illinois Cancer Center Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Office is proud to announce, “Inclusive Impact: Voices of Diversity in Cancer Research,” a new recurring feature highlighting the wonderful diversity at the Cancer Center.
The DEI office has chosen Shaveta Khosla, PhD, MPH, Director of Emergency Medicine Research and a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago, for the inaugural spotlight. She was a pilot grant awardee from the Illinois Cancer Health Equity Research (I-CHER) Center at the Cancer Center in 2022.
We invite you to learn more about her in the Q&A below.
What has motivated you to pursue a career that addresses health equity?
During my clinical training at a dental school in India and participation in community health campaigns, I observed health disparities closely. I am acutely aware of the socio-economic divide and the effect it has on health awareness, access to care and outcomes. Although my journey in healthcare started with individual patient-based care, I decided to expand into public health with a purpose of understanding and reducing health inequalities to make an impact at a larger community level.
How does your work impact health equity and cancer?
I am an epidemiologist with a strong interest in addressing health disparities and designing strategies that promote health equity among minoritized racial/ethnic groups and vulnerable populations. Cancer research, including cancer epidemiology and survivorship, has been one of my key interest areas. Some of my previous work has focused on cancer screenings, differences in distribution and type of cancer, cancer outcomes, barriers in access and distress experienced by cancer patients. My work has been supported by strong collaborators in the Emergency Department (ED) and the UIC School of Public Health. The UI Health ED has been highly invested in promoting health equity and we have created strategies to improve the awareness of cancer screenings and implement protocol-based treatment and patient navigation for cancer survivors. Our work has helped in not just understanding where the disparities exist but also ways in which those can be addressed.
What experiences or values motivate your work in cancer research or practice?
I have seen the effect of cancer on lives in my own family. That is how I started to think about cancer research. A lot of good work is being done in cancer research and that makes me very hopeful for future. I am just trying to do my part in understanding and addressing disparities, access to screening and care and survivorship. I am passionate about working on projects that have a strong impact on the community and benefit society at large.
From your personal or professional experiences, what work do you think needs to be done to fully address health equity?
That is such an important question but also one that does not have an easy answer. It must start with giving everyone an optimal opportunity in terms of healthcare knowledge, access and awareness. A multipronged approach is needed that not only addresses after-diagnosis care but also preventive care and improved baseline health. It must involve a combination of policy, research, health education and improved equitable healthcare services; hence, involving individual, institutional and system-wide change.
Why do you believe diversity is needed in the healthcare world?
Diversity is important in the healthcare world whether it is for clinical care or research. Our patients and research participants need to see a workforce that is reflective of them. It helps in improving the trust of our patients and research participants. It can help improve patients’ perception of care and their willingness to participate in clinical research. The diversity of workforce also helps us in understanding our patients/participants better and improving communication.