ASPO Abstracts
Cultivating Sustainable Partnerships to Promote Cancer Health Disparities Research: Models for Outreach and Engagement in the Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMaP) Regions 3 and 4
Category: Cancer Health Disparities, Cancer Health Disparities
Conference Year: 2018
Abstract Body:
Purpose: The Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMaP), initiated in 2009, is funded by the National Cancer Institute's Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD). Based on the belief that a diverse workforce is essential for advancing cancer research and reducing cancer health disparities (CHD), CRCHD developed comprehensive research training programs including the Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) and funds efforts to promote early career cancer and CHD investigators. Recruitment and retention of underrepresented investigators, trainees, and students is the most challenging yet crucial objective of GMaP initiatives. Region 3 is the network hub for southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. Region 4 serves Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. To engage these distinct regions, Region 3 and Region 4 teams utilize strategies to: 1) increase recruitment and retention of diverse investigators, 2) expand the CURE Pipeline, and 3) cultivate professional development for students and early stage investigators conducting cancer/CHD research. Methods: We present two models, a recruitment/expansion model utilized by Region 3 and a sustainment/retention model from Region 4, as case studies for effective outreach and engagement of cancer and CHD researchers. We analyze quality improvement data collected through surveys to consider the effectiveness of these approaches. Results: We provide examples of how these strategies support GMaP’s goal of promoting early career cancer/CHD researchers, allowing the national program to engage more than 3,290 researchers, faculty and students across the U.S., and to distribute nearly 4,000 cancer/CHD training, funding, and career opportunities in 2017. Conclusions: Utilizing a multidisciplinary approach to recruit and retain cancer/CHD interested students, faculty and early career investigators is an efficient and effective way to increase engagement of diverse investigators in cancer research. This presentation substantiates the need for continued efforts to recruit and support diverse cancer/CHD scholars.
Keywords: Cancer Health Disparities Early Career Investigators Underrepresented researchers