UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Interim Physician-in-Chief David Tom Cooke is stepping into the role of associate director of the cancer center’s Office of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEAL).

Cooke will lead the newly appointed IDEAL team that includes assistant directors Miquell Olivia Miller and Luis Godoy. Cooke replaces Luis Carvajal-Carmona as the leader of IDEAL after Carvajal-Carmona became the associate vice chancellor for the UC Davis Office of Academic Diversity.

Cooke said he hopes the Office of IDEAL will help achieve a leadership roster that reflects the communities the cancer center serves. Overall objectives include:

• Promoting pathways for career and leadership development opportunities for under-represented cancer center academicians
• Developing infrastructure and policies designed to promote a culture of inclusivity, diversity equity and accessibility

“The Office of IDEAL is a mission critical facet of UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, as required for our National Cancer Institute ‘comprehensive’ designation,” said Cooke. “It will lead the development of our plan for enhancing diversity, which includes increasing the number of diverse cancer center members, who are skilled clinical, translational, and basic science cancer research.”

Rounding out the Office of IDEAL team are Allyn Fernandez, chief operations officer of the cancer center, and analyst Krandalyn Goodman.