The conference did not take place in 1988 and 1989. With encouragement from Victor Schoenbach, who had received NCI funding for a Minority Cancer Control Research Program, Assistant Dean William T. Small, Jr. inspired the Minority Student Caucus to restart the conference for 1990. Bill Small also obtained significant financial support from Dean Michel A. Ibrahim and also significant organizational and logistical support from the School's Office of Continuing Education, led by Bill Browder.