Cancer Genetics Professional Education in a Global Community of Practice

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The rapid and ongoing infusion of genomic information into clinical practice continues to fuel the need for a skilled workforce to navigate genomically-informed patient care. National surveys document the continued gap between the need for, and availability of, clinicians equipped with the knowledge, skills and resources to integrate complex germline and tumor genetic information into practice. This R25 proposal outlines a plan to further the mission of the Clinical Cancer Genomics and Community of Practice (CCGCoP) to help address the continuing demand for clinicians competent in evidence-based cancer genomics care. The CCGCoP is built on the theoretical framework of situated learning, the resources and expertise of the academic cancer center, and a distinguished faculty of recognized thought leaders to deliver a multimodal inter-professional course in genetic cancer risk assessment (GCRA) to clinicians practicing in communities with limited access to GCRA services. Over the current project period 719 clinicians from diverse practice settings have completed the course or are now in session, exceeding our projected accrual by 43%. 18% are from underrepresented minorities (13% Hispanic, 5% African American); 68% deliver all or part of their clinical services to socio-economically underserved patient populations, and 9% practice in low to middle income countries. The aims for this continuation proposal are to: 1) Continue the established annual CCGCoP Intensive Course, 2) Update the current curriculum and learning assessments, 3) Develop and pilot a Self-directed Review Course to address the need for course alumni to refresh their knowledge and skills with evidence-based cancer genomics content and case-based activities 4) Evaluate the Intensive Course and Self-directed Review on participant engagement, knowledge, case-based skills, learning experience and value to practice, and incorporate into iterative improvements in the self-directed model. Fulfillment of these aims will further our efforts to grow the number of clinicians with practitioner-level proficiency in genetic cancer genetics across the U.S. and internationally. Additionally, our plan to develop and pilot a self-directed cancer genetics review course will support ongoing quality improvement in GCRA for course alumni, and will serve as a framework for our future development of a fully self-directed version of the intensive course to reach a broader national and international audience of healthcare professionals.