Fostering Student Engagement via a Community Outreach and Engagement Internship Program.

IF 1.6 4区医学 Q3 EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES

Journal of Cancer Education Pub Date : 2026-10-13 DOI:10.1007/s13187-026-03000-1

Aisha Choudhri, Lucile L Adams-Campbell, Mary Mills, Mireille Bright, Jennifer Hicks, Jefferny Lin, Rebecca B Riggins, Chiranjeev Dash

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) is a mandated component of National Cancer Institute (NCI)- designated comprehensive cancer centers. Community partnerships are necessary to address cancer disparities, yet few examples of training programs exist to guide career development focused on community-engaged cancer prevention. We designed and assessed a COE internship to enhance workforce development through experiential learning in cancer prevention and control.

Methods: We implemented a six-week, part-time COE internship that paired didactic training with hands-on experience in patient navigation, community outreach and engagement, health education, and clinical research. Undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students engaged in staff-led learning and participated in outreach at the community-level. Intern experiences and self-perceived competency development were assessed using post-program surveys.

Results: 35 interns successfully completed the COE internship between inception and Spring 2026. Twenty-eight interns responded to the program evaluation survey. 92% of interns rated their overall experience as either excellent (64%) or very good (28%). The majority of interns reported significant competency development in communication, health education, and knowledge dissemination skills (46%). Awareness of community health disparities (36%), professional skills and interpersonal relations (29%), patient navigation and administration (29%), and research and analytical skills (25%) were also noted. Themes identified through qualitative responses included appreciation for interdisciplinary mentorship and hands-on experience.

Conclusions: Our COE internship provided students an opportunity to gain experience in community-engaged cancer prevention. Integration of COE components will continue to develop the necessary workforce skills for those pursuing careers in public health and cancer research.

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通过社区外展和参与实习计划促进学生参与。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Cancer Education 医学-医学：信息

CiteScore

3.40

自引率

6.20%

发文量

122

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： The Journal of Cancer Education, the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education (AACE) and the European Association for Cancer Education (EACE), is an international, quarterly journal dedicated to the publication of original contributions dealing with the varied aspects of cancer education for physicians, dentists, nurses, students, social workers and other allied health professionals, patients, the general public, and anyone interested in effective education about cancer related issues. Articles featured include reports of original results of educational research, as well as discussions of current problems and techniques in cancer education. Manuscripts are welcome on such subjects as educational methods, instruments, and program evaluation. Suitable topics include teaching of basic science aspects of cancer; the assessment of attitudes toward cancer patient management; the teaching of diagnostic skills relevant to cancer; the evaluation of undergraduate, postgraduate, or continuing education programs; and articles about all aspects of cancer education from prevention to palliative care. We encourage contributions to a special column called Reflections; these articles should relate to the human aspects of dealing with cancer, cancer patients, and their families and finding meaning and support in these efforts. Letters to the Editor (600 words or less) dealing with published articles or matters of current interest are also invited. Also featured are commentary; book and media reviews; and announcements of educational programs, fellowships, and grants. Articles should be limited to no more than ten double-spaced typed pages, and there should be no more than three tables or figures and 25 references. We also encourage brief reports of five typewritten pages or less, with no more than one figure or table and 15 references.