Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) Program

项目摘要/摘要 阿巴拉契亚肯塔基州农村地区的癌症发病率和死亡率是全美最高的 它也是经济上最不利的州之一，医疗服务不足，受教育程度低 国家的各个地区。这些差距表明了对教育和科学劳动力的迫切需求 针对这一人群的备灾干预战略。通过持续的研究保护伞 2016年经验(治愈)补充，研究、临床护理、教育和推广优势 肯塔基大学的马基癌症中心被用来创建阿巴拉契亚职业培训 肿瘤学(行动)计划，作为青年享受科学教育干预自 2018年。在这次更新中，行动方案每年将使20所未被充分代表的高中和20所 来自阿巴拉契亚肯塔基州的本科生指导癌症研究，癌症护理观察 经验，癌症教育和职业发展活动，以及实践社区外联 活动。该计划的目标是通过准备以下工作来增强生物医学劳动力的多样性 在生物医学职业方面，阿巴拉契亚肯塔基州高中和本科生的代表性不足，而 也增加了社会对癌症的认识，从而解决了癌症的问题和教育 阿巴拉契亚、肯塔基州和其他地区的差距。该计划的影响将包括：1)支持学生 进入大专、专业和/或研究生生物医学学位课程；2)灌输 学生毕生致力于研究、教育/推广和/或医疗保健事业，专注于 阿巴拉契亚、肯塔基州及其他地区的癌症负担和独特挑战；以及3)加强阿巴拉契亚 肯塔基州社区对癌症、癌症研究和临床护理的理解，并将这些方面与 科学教育的好处。总体目标和计划影响将通过以下方式实现 三个具体目标：1)通过跨学科发展学生的癌症研究知识和技能 教师和同行指导的研究培训经验；2)通过以下方式加强学生的职业准备 通过教师和同行指导的课程提供癌症教育和职业发展课程， 讲习班、研讨会以及职业指导和指导；以及3)增加对研究的理解 癌症的临床方面，以及在学生和教师中进行科学教育的重要性， 行动学生的父母/照顾者和家庭，以及普通社区成员通过Impact 在学生社区开展外展活动。该计划的新特点将包括虚拟研究教育 补充实践研究和教育活动的经验，多机构虚拟外联 计划，以及针对初中生和教师的癌症课程推广计划。使用 自创建以来取得了显著的势头，行动计划将继续具有变革性 对阿巴拉契亚肯塔基州学生、他们的家庭和他们的社区的影响。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The rural Appalachian Kentucky region has the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the United States, and it is also one of the most economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and poorly educated regions of the country. These disparities reveal a critical need for educational and scientific workforce preparedness intervention strategies targeted to this population. Through a Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) supplement in 2016, the research, clinical care, educational, and outreach strengths of the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Center were leveraged to create the Appalachian Career Training In ONcology (ACTION) Program, which has been funded as a Youth Enjoy Science education intervention since 2018. In this renewal, each year the ACTION Program will immerse 20 underrepresented high school and 20 undergraduate students from Appalachian Kentucky in mentored cancer research, cancer care observation experiences, cancer education and career development activities, as well as hands-on community outreach activities. The goal of the program is to enhance the diversity of the biomedical workforce by preparing underrepresented Appalachian Kentucky high school and undergraduate students for biomedical careers, while also increasing the community’s understanding of cancer, thereby addressing the cancer and education disparities in Appalachian Kentucky and beyond. Impacts of the program will include: 1) supporting students’ matriculation into post-secondary, professional, and/or graduate biomedical degree programs; 2) instilling in students a lifelong commitment to research, education/outreach, and/or health care careers focused on the cancer burden and unique challenges in Appalachian Kentucky and beyond; and 3) enhancing the Appalachian Kentucky community’s understanding of cancer, cancer research, and clinical care, and linking these facets to the benefits of science education. The overarching goal and the program impacts will be accomplished through three Specific Aims: 1) to develop students’ cancer research knowledge and skills through cross-disciplinary faculty- and peer-mentored research training experiences; 2) to enhance students’ career preparation by providing cancer education and career development curriculum through faculty- and peer-led courses, workshops, seminars, and career coaching and mentoring; and 3) to increase the understanding of the research and clinical aspects of cancer and the importance of science education among students and teachers, parents/caregivers and families of ACTION students, and general community members through impactful outreach activities in students’ communities. New features of the program will include virtual research education experiences that complement hands-on research and education activities, a multi-institutional virtual outreach program, and a cancer curriculum outreach program for middle and high school students and teachers. With significant momentum achieved since its creation, the ACTION Program will continue having a transformational impact on Appalachian Kentucky students, their families, and their communities.