Robert A. Winn represents a transformative force in addressing racial health disparities in cancer care. As director of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winn has become the nation’s leading voice for ensuring that scientific breakthroughs reach all communities, not just the privileged few.
Growing up in Buffalo with a teenage mother, Winn personally experienced the barriers facing medically underserved populations. His journey from working-class neighborhoods to becoming one of only a few African American directors of a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center fuels his mission to eliminate structural inequities in healthcare.
Winn pioneered a community-first approach that flips traditional research models. Rather than imposing studies on communities, he listens first. His work in Petersburg, Virginia, led to groundbreaking clinical trials for endometrial cancer after African American women identified it as their priority concern. His research demonstrates how neighborhood violence and social stresses can influence tumor biology, showing that zip codes impact health outcomes as profoundly as genetics.
Beyond research, Winn created the Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials Award Program, a multimillion-dollar initiative increasing diversity in clinical research. He launched Facts and Faith Fridays during the pandemic, building trust between science and African American communities through conversations with leaders like Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Winn insists the healthcare system must become trustworthy, not just demand trust. His message is urgent: precision medicine and immunotherapy mean nothing if they don’t reach everyone who needs them.
Learn More:
1. VCU Massey Cancer Center – About Our Director: https://www.masseycancercenter.org/about-us/leadership/about-our-director/
2. VPM Interview with Dr. Winn (video interview): https://www.vpm.org/2023-03-17/vcu-massey-cancer-director-dr-robert-winn-addresses-racial-and-economic-health-disparities-in-virginia
3. NIH Record – Winn Urges Tackling Disparities: https://nihrecord.nih.gov/2021/11/26/winn-urges-tackling-disparities
