The UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Academy

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Over the past nine years, the Hillman Cancer Center (HCC) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) has trained and mentored 134 high school students hailing from over 60 high schools. Our newly proposed Hillman Academy will expand the successes of our current program, which is funded under the expiring Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences to the HCC and was recognized in 2014 with the Carnegie Science Center Leadership in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Education Award. Our past participants performed research over a wide range of cancer topics at six research sites across the campus under the tutelage of 106 faculty members who supported our students as hosts and mentors. Our alumni have won numerous scholarships and awards, coauthored manuscripts, presented at national scientific conferences, and continued research both with us and at the top institutions that they now attend. Ninety-three percent of our alumni with known and declared undergraduate majors matriculated into science- and healthcare-related areas of study. We aim to continue these successes with an expanded program to reach even more students—24 per year—to increase the preparedness of the cancer workforce through a multi-modal approach that includes immersive research experiences, didactic training with tailored curricula, and professional and academic development. We will also lead a number of outreach activities in our region to raise awareness of cancer and cancer research through our collaborations with long-standing community partners. These efforts will grow out of the Hillman Academy to engage students at earlier stages, as well as, their schools and other community members. Together, the Hillman Academy will engage, train, and provide paths for young people to advance cancer research and care. Our leadership, infrastructure, mentors, and experience of running a holistic research training program position us for lasting success in this endeavor. We will build on our previous accomplishments of promoting the pursuit of STEM education and careers for our students and continue to address the impacts of cancer by equipping youth of all backgrounds to be agents of change that improve their communities.