Cancer Biology and You: An Interactive Learning Event for Native American High School Students to Increase Their Understanding of Cancer Causes, Prevention, and Treatment, and to Foster an Interest in Cancer-Related Careers

Public health is indigenous: design and launch of the NW NARCH research academy for American Indian high school students

This article describes the collaborative process of designing the Northwest Native American Research Center for Health (NW NARCH) Research Academy. We describe the NW NARCH partnership-building process with federally recognized tribes in the United States, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho while outlining the goals and steps to indigenize the curriculum. The Research Academy curriculum utilized socioecological models and theoretical frameworks informed by indigenous pedagogies, like the Circle of Courage to further students' sense of belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. NW NARCH recruited four sites in 2023 with tribal representation across the Pacific NW. From October 2023 to April 2024, NW NARCH delivered 11 virtual (live) sessions. Our evaluation of the Research Academy included a student-driven evaluation plan, a visual logic model, student and mentor surveys, and Canvas (online learning platform) page views. Preliminary findings and lessons learned from the first cohort of Research Academy students demonstrate that NW NARCH successfully built a public health pathways program for American Indian and Alaska Native students. The Research Academy successfully connected AI/AN high school students to relatable public health role models from a variety of professional pathways, including university professors and Tribal Epidemiology Center staff. Lessons from this first year of the NW NARCH underscore the importance of community- research collaborations and equity-focused programming for underrepresented racial /ethnic groups.

The impact of Pathology Outreach Program (POP) on United States and Canadian high school students

Given recent trends in National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) data, there exists a looming deficit of practicing pathologists. As such, the Pathology Outreach Program (POP) was established in 2018 in the United States, and in 2022 in Canada, to educate high school students about pathology and laboratory medicine to help curb this projected shortage. We present survey data gathered from several educational sessions hosted at high schools in the United States (U.S.) and Canada over a 5-year period comparing participants' perceptions and awareness of pathology both before and after each session. Using this data, we wish to highlight the positive impact of POP on increasing students' awareness and appreciation for careers in pathology or laboratory medicine. This data will also highlight the additional work that must be done to further boost public knowledge of laboratory medicine's contributions to patient care. We hope this project will lay the foundation for further improvements to laboratory visibility and inspire additional outreach efforts to mitigate a future workforce shortage.

Summer Cancer Research Experience for High School Students from Historically Marginalized Populations in Kansas City

The Accelerate Cancer Education (ACE) summer research program at The University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC) is a six-week, cancer-focused, summer research experience for high school students from historically marginalized populations in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Cancer affects all populations and continues to be the second leading cause of death in the United States, and a large number of disparities impact racial and ethnic minorities, including increased cancer incidence and mortality. Critically, strategies to bolster diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are needed to address persistent cancer disparities. The ACE program offers an educational opportunity for a population of students who otherwise would not have easy access onto a medical center campus to make connections with cancer physicians and researchers and provides a vital response to the need for a more diverse and expansive oncology workforce. Students grow their technical, social, and professional skills and develop self-efficacy and long-lasting connections that help them matriculate and persist through post-secondary education. Developed in 2018, the ACE program has trained 37 high school junior and senior students. This article describes the need for and how we successfully developed and implemented the ACE program.

Tailoring Our Approach in Response to the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Transcending Science Outreach Modalities for Native American Students in a Cancer Research Education Program

In response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a cancer research education program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center designed for Native American middle school, high school and undergraduate students adapted activities to be delivered online. There are considerable challenges to adapting in-person science programming to online delivery that can impact overall effectiveness. These challenges are further exacerbated when the cognate student population also faces significant disparities in health, wealth, and educational outcomes. We encountered both disadvantages and advantages in transitioning programming to online virtual formats. Challenges faced in delivering our programming during the pandemic included varied online accessibility, peripheral stressors, and disconnection to places and people. Despite these challenges, we found several benefits in remote delivery, some of which have alleviated barriers to program participation for Native American students. Some successes achieved by transitioning to fully remote programming included increased program reach, sustainability, and cultural relevancy. In this overview of the implementation of four online programs at the middle school, high school, and undergraduate levels, we highlight the challenges and successes experienced. Through this program description, we aim to provide insight into potential strategies to improve program delivery designed for Native American students during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and beyond.