TY - JOUR
T1 - Preparing historically underrepresented trainees for biomedical cancer research careers at Huntsman Cancer Institute/University of Utah Health
AU - López, Ana María
AU - Rodríguez, José E.
AU - Browning Hawes, Kathryn
AU - Marsden, Anna
AU - Ayer, Don
AU - Ziegenfuss, Donna Harp
AU - Okuyemi, Kola
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute; Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute.
Funding Information:
The PathMaker Research Program (PathMaker) seeks to increase the number HUS pursuing biomedical cancer research. It was our hypothesis that a residential research experience in a supportive environment that included co-curricular experiences and ongoing engagement and support would be most likely to yield success. Co-curricular experiences included cultural and social support, mentorship, and leadership skill development. Our collaboratively developed multi-faceted cohort curriculum (Please see ) supports trainees during the transition from high school to college through specific outcomes. PathMaker is funded by a Supplement to the Cancer Center Support Grant (3P30CA042014-27S6) and receives the highest level of support from HCI. PathMaker leadership includes a senior HCI faculty leader as Program Director, a Program Coordinator, and a broad-based advisory committee that supports Cancer Training and Career Enhancement programs at HCI. The success of the PathMaker experience has resulted in a successful R25 application (1R25CA240171-01).
Funding Information:
PathMaker is a residential summer program based at HCI, University of Utah Health (UUH). Initially funded as a one-year pilot program through the Office of Health Equity and Inclusion (UUH), extramural competitive funding was successfully achieved for the subsequent years through the National Cancer Institute’s Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Supplement. PathMaker focuses on the transition between high school and college and provides incoming HUS (high school seniors and undergraduates) with an enriching cancer research experience; academic, professional, cultural, and social support; mentorship; and leadership skill development. Social support includes extensive peer networking and family engagement.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Given the well-documented inequities in health care outcomes by race, ethnicity, and gender, many health career pipeline programs have focused on supporting the development of a diverse and inclusive workforce. The State of Utah, is vast, but sparsely populated outside the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. More than 96% of our nearly 85,000 square miles is designated rural (<100 people/square mile) or frontier (<7 people/square mile). The Salt Lake City area is home to the Hunsman Cancer Institute, the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the region, also noted the limited diversity in the biomedical cancer research workforce. Our primary objective was to increase the number of underrepresented trainees who pursue higher education with the goal of a career in cancer research. PathMaker is a regional, competitive pipeline program that nurtures high school or undergraduate trainees from historically underrepresented backgrounds towards a career in cancer research. Our faculty and staff team collaboratively developed a cohort model curriculum that increased student awareness of research career options; provided academic and professional development, cultural and social support, evolutionary success strategies, active mentorship, and leadership skill development; and fostered an environment of continuous evaluation and improvement. Since pilot program initiation in May 2016, the PathMaker Research Program (PathMaker) has engaged a total of 44 underrepresented trainees in cancer research labs at Huntsman Cancer Institute, the majority still in college. Eleven trainees graduated college: five employed in STEM, one pursuing a PhD in STEM; two in medical school, and three are lost to follow-up. Alumni report high levels of satisfaction with PathMaker and will be followed and supported for academic success. PathMaker is a replicable model to increase diversity and inclusion in the biomedical cancer research workforce.
AB - Given the well-documented inequities in health care outcomes by race, ethnicity, and gender, many health career pipeline programs have focused on supporting the development of a diverse and inclusive workforce. The State of Utah, is vast, but sparsely populated outside the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. More than 96% of our nearly 85,000 square miles is designated rural (<100 people/square mile) or frontier (<7 people/square mile). The Salt Lake City area is home to the Hunsman Cancer Institute, the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the region, also noted the limited diversity in the biomedical cancer research workforce. Our primary objective was to increase the number of underrepresented trainees who pursue higher education with the goal of a career in cancer research. PathMaker is a regional, competitive pipeline program that nurtures high school or undergraduate trainees from historically underrepresented backgrounds towards a career in cancer research. Our faculty and staff team collaboratively developed a cohort model curriculum that increased student awareness of research career options; provided academic and professional development, cultural and social support, evolutionary success strategies, active mentorship, and leadership skill development; and fostered an environment of continuous evaluation and improvement. Since pilot program initiation in May 2016, the PathMaker Research Program (PathMaker) has engaged a total of 44 underrepresented trainees in cancer research labs at Huntsman Cancer Institute, the majority still in college. Eleven trainees graduated college: five employed in STEM, one pursuing a PhD in STEM; two in medical school, and three are lost to follow-up. Alumni report high levels of satisfaction with PathMaker and will be followed and supported for academic success. PathMaker is a replicable model to increase diversity and inclusion in the biomedical cancer research workforce.
KW - Pipeline program
KW - health care career
KW - health equity
KW - partnership
KW - underrepresented trainees
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106602472&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1080/10872981.2021.1929045
DO - 10.1080/10872981.2021.1929045
M3 - Article
C2 - 34024270
AN - SCOPUS:85106602472
VL - 26
JO - Medical Education Online
JF - Medical Education Online
SN - 1087-2981
IS - 1
M1 - 1929045
ER -