3024 - Alaska Native Internship in ONcology (ANION): A Novel Pilot Program Addressing Oncology Workforce Deficits in Alaskan Health Care through Mentorship in Radiation Therapy

05:00pm - 06:00pm PT

Hall F

Screen: 32

POSTER

Presenter(s)

Jocelyn Waggoner, - UW Medicine, Anchorage, AK

L. E. Aspelund¹, J. M. Waggoner¹, K. Taparra², A. S. Kusano³, E. Zabrocka³, and D. M. Seible⁴; ¹University of Washington School of Medicine- Alaska Foundations, Anchorage, AK, ²Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, ³Anchorage and Valley Radiation Therapy Centers, Anchorage, AK, ⁴Anchorage & Valley Radiation Therapy Centers, Anchorage, AK

Purpose/Objective(s):

Alaska Natives (AN) are the Indigenous people of Alaska and are underrepresented in radiation oncology and medicine, despite experiencing significant cancer disparities. Healthcare in Alaska faces unique challenges with 80% of communities only able to access urban-centered cancer care by air transportation. There are no NCI-designated cancer centers statewide. To address disparities, we conducted the first-of-its-kind healthcare internship designed to engage AN students in radiation oncology to improve the future of AN cancer care. This pilot program aimed to 1) evaluate the impact of structured mentorship for AN students and 2) survey factors influencing AN student interests in STEM/healthcare careers.

Materials/Methods:

The ANION program recruited AN high school and college students interested in oncology, healthcare, or STEM through community contacts. Participants shadowed radiation oncologists biweekly at a community radiation therapy center that serves a high proportion of AN cancer patients. Students also identified ways to improve AN cancer care through independent mentored quality improvement projects. Local AN medical students also participated by providing mentorship and support for their experience and project development. Students completed pre- and post- program surveys assessing STEM identity, interest in oncology, and career goals.

Results:

Ten AN students (average age of 22, 60% female, all within driving distance of Anchorage) were selected for enrollment in the program over 3 years (5 college and 5 high school students). All completed a pre-program survey. While all students identified as AN, only 40% had family members working in STEM fields. Among 9 students who were strongly considering higher education, 100% reported little to no knowledge of careers in oncology and 77% had limited awareness of STEM careers. Among 5 students who completed the post-program survey, 100% reported feeling highly or mostly knowledgeable about careers in oncology and STEM with an observed 20% increase in reporting “strong interest” in STEM career options. Post-program survey responses also demonstrated that all participants completed the program with more specific career goals with 40% who shifted their interest toward oncology.

Conclusion:

This pilot AN mentorship and radiation oncology clinical shadowing program demonstrated an increase in AN participant-reported knowledge and interest in healthcare careers. Given ongoing AN cancer disparities and AN oncology physician shortage in Alaska, there is a strong need for ANION program expansion to further support AN students in pursuing healthcare careers.