Professional Initiatives

Women in RCC empowers and elevates female physicians in kidney cancer to lead and succeed through trainings, mentorship, open forums, and camaraderie. From its initial gatherings during the KCA’s International Kidney Cancer Symposiums (IKCS), Women in RCC hosts multiple events, initiatives, and resources throughout the year to meet the needs of its members.

“The Women in RCC group enhances career development of women and junior health providers working in the kidney cancer field. One of our main goals is to generate camaraderie and bonding between the women in this field.”

Ulka Vaishampayan, MBBS and Tian Zhang, MD, MHS | Co-Chairs, Kidney Cancer Association’s Women in RCC

Meet the Co-Chairs

Ulka Vaishampayan, MBBS

Dr. Vaishampayan is the Director of the Phase I program at the Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI. Dr. Vaishampayan is a Professor of Internal Medicine and her research is primarily in translational drug development and early phase clinical trials in cancer with a focus on genitourinary malignancies.

Tian Zhang, MD, MHS

Dr. Zhang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of genitourinary malignancies, including kidney, prostate, bladder, and testicular cancers.

This program is made possible with the generous support of

The Kidney Cancer Association Mentorship Academy (KCAMA) is dedicated to nurturing the future leaders in kidney cancer research and treatment. This program seeks patient-facing early-career clinicians who are passionate about patient care and committed to advancing the fight against kidney cancer. By investing in these clinicians and providing personalized mentorship, networking opportunities, and support, the Academy aims to secure a successful next generation of clinicians and trialists.

Participants in this year-long program will engage in tailored learning experiences guided by world-renowned experts in kidney cancer and clinical trials. Mentees will deepen their knowledge, build lasting relationships within the kidney cancer research community, and gain the essential foundation needed to propel their careers forward.

The Dr. Nizar Tannir Rare Kidney Cancer Scholar Program, funded by the Dr. Nizar Tannir Endowment, honors Dr. Tannir’s legacy in kidney cancer research, mentorship, and advocacy. This program, in tandem with the KCA Mentorship Academy, is exclusively designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in rare kidney cancer treatment, focusing on uncommon forms such as renal medullary carcinoma (RMC), papillary RCC (pRCC), chromophobe RCC (chRCC), FH-deficient (HLRCC) and others. The program covers a comprehensive two-year training, fostering the knowledge, skills, and professional relationships necessary for the selected scholar to become a leader in the field.

The Dr. Nizar Tannir Rare Kidney Cancer Scholar Program is an elite, standalone program that integrates a comprehensive two-year curriculum. This program selects one clinician every two years, allowing them to undergo a comprehensive two-year training and gain first-hand experience in patient advocacy and rare kidney cancer research. The program will span two years, culminating in the graduation of the candidate as the Dr. Nizar Tannir Rare Kidney Cancer Scholar.