As a company, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month annually to honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of those who make up the Latino and Hispanic communities. Acknowledging the backgrounds and traditions of our employees plays a large role in our ongoing commitment to cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our Black, African, and Hispanic Alliance (BAHA) employee resource network (ERN) led a variety of events throughout this month, ranging from educational sessions, social gatherings, and even a Latin dance class!

To commence the celebrations, BAHA welcomed all US employees to try tasty treats and get to know ERN members in our Boston and Research Triangle Park (RTP) sites. Employees got the chance to try traditional Latin foods, including pastelitos, croquetas, and yuca bites.

Following these gatherings, BAHA and our Medical Affairs team hosted a company-wide medical educational webinar featuring speaker Ruben A. Mesa, MD,FACP who is the first Latino Director of any NCI-Designated Cancer Center, the President and Executive Director, Atrium Health Levine Cancer, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, and a world-renowned oncology experts. In this role, Dr. Mesa oversees all efforts related to cancer practice, research, and education across the Atrium Health system. The event welcomed all Foundation Medicine employees and was moderated by Jennifer Eubanks MS, RN, OCN, Strategic Account Manager and BAHA Chair of Finance and Jennifer Mills, PhD, VP of Medical Affairs.

Dr. Mesa began with sharing some tidbits about his Cuban-American background and acknowledging the diversity of the Hispanic community with “many different experiences, influences, and genetic influences.” His talk further delved into the work he has done throughout his career, such as his work in addressing health disparities and contributing to cancer health equity by reducing barriers to education, health screening, clinical trial access, and treatment options.

He notes that genomic testing has “evolved from being a luxury to being essential…for treatment planning and for the proper identification of eligibility for clinical trials” as well as targeted therapies. Lack of access to genomic testing limits treatment options in so many ways. Without this testing, patients may not be eligible for personalized treatment options such as clinical trials. Dr. Mesa reports that clinical trials have significantly evolved throughout his career, but we still have a long way to go to achieve true equity. He shares the importance of having them reflective of our general population stating, “if we are not testing the drugs with the people that are going to be receiving them, then we are flying blind in terms of knowing whether these therapies are going to be safe or whether they are going to be effective.” Consenting processes, disparities in education of testing and cancer treatment, strict eligibility criteria, and language barriers can also limit access to underserved communities that may be able to benefit from precision medicine.

Watch the full webinar below!

Some final activities honoring Hispanic Heritage Month included trivia and a Latin dance class led by Sindy Ortiz Pimentel, Sr. Clinical Program Lead and BAHA lead. This month and beyond, we are committed to providing an inclusive place for all employees to be and celebrate their most authentic selves. Through programming, open discussions, and gatherings within our community, we strive to continue to listen, support and learn from each other.