Brooklyn College to Launch New Presidential Lecture Series Featuring President and CEO of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Selwyn M. Vickers, MD
January 25, 2023
Brooklyn College President Michelle J. Anderson, in partnership with the New York Jobs CEO Council (Jobs Council), will host Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) President and CEO, Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., FACS, for a discussion around healthcare equity, social justice, and career paths for those interested in healthcare. Vickers is an internationally recognized pancreatic cancer surgeon, researcher, and healthcare pioneer. He is also a member of the Jobs Council, a coalition of CEOs committed to hiring low-income and diverse New Yorkers for career-ladder jobs.
Hosted on February 2, at 5:30 p.m., this event marks the launch of a new Presidential Lecture Series at Brooklyn College, featuring President Anderson in conversation with high-profile leaders aimed at exposing students and the extended Brooklyn College community to inspiring ideas, courageous leadership, and models of civic engagement and civil discourse. Held during Black History month, this discussion is also part of the launch of the Jobs Council’s CEO Speaker Series designed to give CUNY students access to influential leaders and connect large employers to CUNY talent.
“I’m excited to be in discussion with Dr. Selwyn Vickers, a leading scholar in cancer research, about the critical importance of eliminating healthcare disparities,” said Anderson. “Unequal access to healthcare negatively affects the extended Brooklyn College family, and we want to participate in the social and scientific work to provide equitable healthcare for our own neighborhoods and across the wider region. We are pleased to open this event to the public.”
“MSK and Brooklyn College share a commitment to serving Brooklyn and the broader community, empowering people through education and career development, and addressing health disparities in cancer care,” said Dr. Vickers. “I look forward to joining President Anderson and I hope our conversation inspires the next generation of healthcare professionals and change-makers.”
“Our CEOs are committed to creating economic opportunities for low-income and diverse New Yorkers by securing them high-paying jobs,” said Kiersten Barnet, Executive Director of New York Jobs CEO Council. “We are excited to launch this CEO speaker series at Brooklyn College, rich with local talent and consistently recognized as one the most diverse campuses and a leader in promoting social mobility.”
This event is an extension of the college’s mission to serve the community by fostering programs and initiatives that engage community leaders and connect students to professional opportunities, while promoting the college’s expert faculty to provide better healthcare for the community and create career pathways for students. The Brooklyn College Cancer Center (BCCC-CURE) already engages with industry experts including MSK. Last summer, Brooklyn College celebrated the creation of the Healthcare Career Hub of Central and South Brooklyn with New York State Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul, funded by a $9.3 million NY-CUNY 2020 Grant to enhance the College’s healthcare programs, build innovative high school-to-career pipeline, and match skilled talent with healthcare employment opportunities.
About Brooklyn College
Widely known for its offer of an excellent education at an affordable tuition and recognized nationally for its diverse student body, Brooklyn College has been an anchor institution within the borough of Brooklyn and greater New York City for more than 90 years. With approximately 16,000 students in more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, education, and business, the college is renowned for its rigorous academics, award-winning faculty, distinguished alumni, and community impact. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), Brooklyn College offers a vibrant and supportive student experience on a beautifully landscaped 35-acre campus in the borough’s Midwood neighborhood.
About Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
The people of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) are united by a singular purpose: to find a cure for cancer. Our specialized care teams provide personalized, compassionate, expert care to patients of all ages. Informed by basic research done at our Sloan Kettering Institute, scientists across MSK collaborate to conduct innovative translational and clinical research that is driving a revolution in our understanding of cancer as a disease and improving the ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat it. MSK is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists and clinicians, who go on to pursue our mission at MSK and around the globe. One of the world’s most respected comprehensive centers devoted exclusively to cancer, we have been recognized as one of the top two cancer hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report for more than 30 years. www.mskcc.org.
About New York Jobs CEO Council
Formed in 2020, the New York Jobs CEO Council is a nonprofit membership intermediary that works to scale sustainable, market-driven workforce development solutions that benefit both jobseekers and businesses. Led by CEOs of large employers, the Council is committed to hiring 100,000 low-income and diverse New Yorkers into in-demand careers, including 25,000 jobseekers from the City University of New York (CUNY). Jobs Council activities are rooted in the belief that stronger employment outcomes are required to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth in New York City. For more information, please visit: https://nyjobsceocouncil.org
