6 PHILADELPHIA, PA: COMMENDATIONS CONTINUE to pour in following last month’s appointment of Camille Ragin, PhD, MPH, as associate director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), at the Fox Chase Cancer Center Philadelphia location. In sharing the news with faculty and staff, centre director, Jon Chernoff, MD, PhD, said that the facility’s pursuit of meaningful growth must be channelled along a pathway of diversity. “We recognise the importance of welcoming diverse voices, valuing different skill sets and backgrounds, and celebrating the collective richness of our individuality. This appointment formalises leadership to move us forward in this area,” he said. In this newly created role, Ragin, a Jamaican national, will be responsible for enhancing hiring practices to encourage diversity, facilitating more diverse leadership at all levels of the institution, providing training and education on race-related issues to the community, and facilitating collaboration among the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Temple University Health System, and Fox Chase, on issues of diversity and inclusion. “DEI is a significant focus of the Fox Chase Cancer Center Support Grant, reflecting the serious commitment of Fox Chase and its collaborators to affect positive change that draws on the talent and experience of the center’s growing faculty and staff,”Chernoff said. An accomplished and well-funded scientist, Ragin is a professor in the Cancer Prevention and Control Program, who joined Fox Chase in 2011, from State University of NewYork – Downstate. Her research focuses on cancer disparities affecting populations of African descent. Drawing inspiration from her family, Jamaican roots, and professional experiences, Ragin has dedicated her career to understanding why blacks have the highest incidence and death rates, as well as the shortest survival for most cancers, in comparison to all other racial and ethnic groups. In 2006, she founded the AfricanCaribbean Cancer Consortium (AC3), which today facilitates research collaborations among more than 150 members from 17 institutions in the United States and 23 countries in the Caribbean and Africa. Their work furthers the study of viral, genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors for cancer risk and outcomes in people of African descent. Camille Ragin, PhD, MPH. CONTRIBUTED Natalie Joseph/ Contributor CHARLOTTE, NC: J AMAICAN IMMIGRANT Vinroy Reid is seeking a historic nod as the first Caribbean American elected into public office in the state of North Carolina and is counting on the support of his community on primary day, May 17. Originally from Kingsvale, Jamaica, he came to the United States (USA) with an open mind and an entrepreneurial spirit. In just under thirty years, he established several very successful small businesses and has been devoted to serving his community on the East Side of Charlotte. Reid started out as a carpenter and worked his way up to be a general contractor, providing employment for District 5 residents with his construction company,VR King Construction. His close-knit family provided the inspiration for Mama’s Caribbean Restaurant, a popular neighbourhood gathering spot on historic Central Avenue in the bustling downtown business enclave. Over the past three decades, he has worked to contribute to the development of Charlotte’s East Side. He advocates for issues important to the community on his radio and television show, ‘The Caribbean Connection’, and currently serves on the Charlotte Business Inclusion Advisory Committee (CBIAC), and is a founding member of the African Caribbean Political Action Committee (ACPAC). An activemember of the Democratic Party, Reid was elected to the North Carolina State Executive Committee (NCSEC), representing Mecklenburg County. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and members of the Charlotte International Cabinet (CIC) presented Reid with the CIC International Entrepreneur Award during the 2021 Annual Mayor’s International Community Awards (MICA). Reid will focus on issues such as: living wages for seniors, veterans and working families, economic opportunities for business owners, entrepreneurs, and graduate students, and affordable housing with equity. He hopes to bring his business acumen and love of community to the Charlotte City council. J’can Vinroy Reid to contest Charlotte seat J’can cancer research scientist appointed diversity lead at Fox Chase Cancer Center CAMILLE RAGIN PLEASE SEE RESEARCH, 7 THE MONTHLY GLEANER | APRIL 4 - 30, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS Vinroy Reid
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