Everybody Should Have Access

Monica L. Baskin

After leading research programs aimed at reducing health disparities, most recently at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Monica L. Baskin joined Pitt in 2022 as assistant vice chancellor for community health equity and professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology. She also serves at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center as associate director of community outreach and engagement and of health equity.

For nearly 20 years, Baskin headed a funded research program aimed at reducing health disparities in the deep South, focusing on linking academics to community- and faith-based networks to better understand and address factors associated with healthy eating, physical activity, obesity, and cancer prevention and control.

Baskin is dedicated to expanding the reach of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. “As a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, we want to make sure everyone can access high-quality care and eliminate the barriers to accomplishing that,” she says.

“We also want to ensure that UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is addressing and enhancing the diversity within the center— not just at the staff level but everywhere, including leadership. That is a critical step to making sure the issues of diversity are always addressed.”