Leadership, Planning and Evaluation

ABSTRACT: The University of New Mexico Cancer Center (UNMCCC) is led by Director, Cheryl Willman, MD. Willman is assisted in this role by an experienced senior leadership team composed of 8 Associate Directors, each of whom has expertise in their areas of responsibility. They are: Carolyn Muller, MD (CT), Associate Director for Clinical Research; Sarah Adams, MD (CT), Associate Director for Translational Research; Alan Tomkinson, PhD (CMO), Associate Director for Basic Research; Marianne Berwick, PhD (CCPS), Associate Director for Population Sciences; Scott Ness, PhD (CMO), Associate Director for Shared Resources; Angela Wandinger-Ness, PhD (CMO), Associate Director for Education, Training, and Mentoring; Andrew Sussman PhD, MCRP (CCPS), Associate Director for Community Outreach and Engagement; and Rae Ann Paden, MPH, Associate Director for Administration. The UNMCCC senior leadership is responsible for developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the Center strategic plan as well as providing advice and recommendations to the UNMCCC Director, who has the final authority make decisions and delegate responsibility on behalf of the UNMCCC. The UNMCCC senior leadership meets monthly as a group and also attends a monthly meeting with Research Program Leaders and Shared Resource Directors. These meetings serve as forums for planning and evaluation activities as well as disseminating information to UNMCCC members via subsequent Research Program meetings. The planning and evaluation process employed by the UNMCCC senior leadership relies on a tiered and multi-faceted strategy that involves regular assessment by an External Advisory Committee (EAC), with periodic advice solicited from ad hoc expert reviewers in specific focus areas as well as input from an Internal Advisory Committee and a Community Advisory Board. Finally, planning and evaluation activities benefit from and are guided by regular input from Research Program Leaders, Shared Resource Directors, Clinical Working Group Leaders, and UNMCCC members. Key accomplishments of the UNMCCC leadership in the past 5 years include: • Re-organization and consolidation of Cancer Center research into 3 Research Programs • Restructuring of the clinical research infrastructure • An increase in the number of cancer-focused programmatic, center, and multi-PI grants reflecting the collaborative and supportive environment fostered by the UNMCCC senior leadership In the next grant cycle, Willman and the UNMCCC senior leadership will pursue a set of inter-linked strategic goals that are guided by the overarching mission of the UNMCCC to improve the health and lives of the diverse multiethnic populations of New Mexico through improved cancer prevention and treatment.