Advancing Cancer Workforce Capacity for American Indians and Alaska Natives: The Development of a Validated System to Optimize Trainee Participation and Outcome Tracking

Kelly A. Laurila (), Laurie D. Rogers, Celina I. Valencia, Naomi Lee, Hendrik de Heer, Jennifer W. Bea, Jani C. Ingram and Francine C. Gachupin
Additional contact information
Kelly A. Laurila: Center for Health Equity Research, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Laurie D. Rogers: Office of the Vice President for Research, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Celina I. Valencia: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85716, USA
Naomi Lee: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Hendrik de Heer: Department of Health Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Jennifer W. Bea: Department of Health Promotion Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Jani C. Ingram: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Francine C. Gachupin: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85716, USA

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: Although American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students are the most underrepresented group in the U.S. in biomedical and health sciences relative to population size, little is known about long-term research education programs and outcome tracking. For over 20 years, the Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention (NACP) has been supported under the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI)-funded Comprehensive Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (CPACHE) program. Programming included hands-on mentored research and an array of development opportunities. A validated tracking system combining participation records, institutional records, and enrollment/degree attainment from the National Student Clearinghouse documents outcomes. Collectively (2002–2022) NACP engaged 367 AIAN trainees, of whom 237 individuals earned 220 bachelors, 87 masters, and 34 doctoral/professional degrees. Approximately 45% of AIAN doctoral recipients are currently engaged in academic or clinical work, and 10% in industry or tribal leadership. A total of 238 AIAN students participated in mentored research, with 85% demonstrating strong outcomes; 51% attained a degree, and 34% are currently enrolled. Implementation of a robust tracking system documented acceleration in degree attainment over time. Next steps will evaluate the most impactful training activities on student outcomes.

Keywords: trainee tracking; cancer workforce capacity; American Indian and Alaska Native; National Student Clearinghouse; cancer health disparities; social determinants of health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/6/752/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/6/752/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:6:p:752-:d:1411472

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().