Connecting students with patients and survivors to enhance cancer research training

Abstract

The professional training of cancer researchers in the basic nity. Through this program, trainees gain a broader under-sciences rarely involves interactions with patients. To provide standing of cancer, beyond the fundamental biology, and nascent cancer scientists with an appreciation for and experi-learn to effectively communicate scientific information to the ence in interacting with the people most vested in their work, public. We find that trainees and community members both we created a program at Cornell University in which cancer benefit from interacting with one another and learning togeth-researchers in training engage with the local patient commuer about cancer using a common language.