RSNA 2021 Plenary Lecture
Addressing the Continued Exclusion of Black Physicians in the U.S. Radiation Oncology Workforce
A champion of diversity, equity and inclusion, Iris C. Gibbs, MD, is working toward creating a more gender and race diverse radiation oncology specialty. Unfortunately, trends in Black radiation oncology faculty representation show steady declines since 2006, despite increases in other medical fields.
“These trends are not likely to improve until strategies to confront structural racism, provide access to early exposure to the field, improve opportunities for leadership and eliminate other barriers to entry are addressed,” Dr. Gibbs says.
In her lecture, Dr. Gibbs will discuss strategies to eliminate these barriers.
Dr. Gibbs is a professor of radiation oncology and neurosurgery and associate dean of MD admissions at Stanford Medicine in California. She has served in several educational leadership roles within the institution, including residency program director and director of education for the Department of Radiation Oncology.
Dr. Gibbs’ clinical and research areas of expertise are pediatric and adult brain tumors and robotic radiosurgery. She was the founding co-director of the Stanford Cyberknife Radiosurgery Program for over a decade where she helped to build world-renowned clinical programs in innovative radiation treatments for patients with central nervous system tumors and robotic radiosurgery.
She is currently chair of the board and a former president of the Radiosurgery Society. She serves as secretary of the American College of Radiology’s Council of Affiliated Regional Radiation Oncology Societies and as a board member of the California Radiological Society. Dr. Gibbs is a past chair of the National Medical Association Section on Radiology and Radiation Oncology. She served as a member of the RSNA Patient Information Committee.
Dr. Gibbs serves on the editorial boards of Oncology Biology and Physics and the Journal of the National Medical Association. She is the author of more than 160 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters.
Dr. Gibbs earned her medical degree and completed her residency in radiation oncology at Stanford Medicine.