2025 cohort in YOU@UVA program
Following successful launches this year, a pair of career development programs facilitated by UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center will reconvene for their second cohorts in the first half of 2026.
Applications are due at noon on Monday, Dec. 22 for:
- The YOU@UVA program—open to School of Medicine faculty, trainees, and clinical research professionals and designed to strengthen leadership, mentorship, and research skills across the University’s academic and clinical community.
- The Emerging Cancer Center Leaders Fellowship Program—open to select UVACCC faculty and staff to prepare them for leadership roles in cancer centers.
“We were overwhelmed by the response to YOU@UVA and Emerging Cancer Center Leaders Fellowship Program and we’re thrilled they’ll continue next year” said Marquita Taylor, PhD, MPH, MBA, UVACCC Associate Director for Organizational Excellence and Workforce Strategy. “Pursuing advancement in both biomedical research and cancer center leadership is daunting, so it’s critical to support our teammates’ growth and development.”
YOU@UVA
Meets Virtually on Wednesdays, February-July 2026 | Apply via InfoReady
Managed by Anesthesiology Department Clinical Research Manager Jennifer Phillips, RN, CCRC, the YOU@UVA program helps participants define their values and vision, develop leadership skills, foster mentorship relationships and expand the impact of their research.
Angela Gummadi, MBBS, was drawn to this year’s program out of desire to excel in her research and in her current role as a pediatrics research lab specialist. “The program helped me realize that many colleagues doing similar work were closer than I expected, and it allowed me to build meaningful, lasting connections,” she said.
Like Gummadi, Drew Weko, MPH, a clinical research coordinator with the Department of Neurology Stroke Division Research Team, said the program showed him “how to lead without a title.”
“Many aspects of YOU@UVA guided through an avenue like this, where you can be a reliable, influential cornerstone, even if you don’t have the title of ‘Manager’ or ‘Director,’ so I was grateful I applied,” Weko said.
Fellow 2025 YOU@UVA participant Surgical Oncology Lab Manger Sara Adair, MS, said that the program “advanced my understanding of mentorship and leadership through reflection and role play. There were times to focus both on personal and organizational goals, and it was a great way to meet new people who are facing similar situations and looking to improve their work environment.
Emerging Cancer Center Leaders Fellowship Program
Meets virtually on Second and Fourth Wednesdays, February-July 2026 | Apply via InfoReady
The Emerging Cancer Center Leaders Fellowship Program seeks to cultivate leaders equipped to address complex challenges in an evolving healthcare landscape. Participants receive targeted leadership training, exposure to various aspects of cancer center operations, and mentorship opportunities.
Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology Kristin Anderson, PhD, applied to the program’s inaugural cohort to learn about cancer center structure and management – in particular aspects she’s not regularly exposed to – and to network with colleagues.
“As someone who predominantly operates on the pre-clinical research side of the Cancer Center, it was especially helpful to meet folks whose efforts are exclusively patient-facing on the clinical side and learn about the completely different challenges they face,” Dr. Anderson said. “I found the program quite valuable, and would highly recommend it to colleagues who envision spending their careers within an academic cancer center, especially for anyone who is interested in leadership opportunities.”
Emerging Cancer Center Leaders Fellowship Program applicants must hold a terminal degree, demonstrate strong leadership potential, and have at least two years of service at UVA.
Questions?
If you have questions about either program, please contact Dr. Marquita Taylor.
Filed Under: Call for Nominations