Markey STRONG Scholars Program

Kentucky has the highest rates of cancer incidence and mortality in the nation that stem from significant health, socioeconomic, and education challenges that are prevalent throughout the state. To address and reverse these trends, a transformational approach to selecting, educating and training our next generation of researchers and medical care practitioners is needed. To create a better informed and educated scientific workforce that can address the unique challenges of our population, the Markey Science Training in Research, Oncology, Networking and professional Growth (STRONG) Scholars Program will leverage the exceptional research, educational, and career development resources at the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Center to culturally adapt its undergraduate summer research experience, in partnership with stakeholders throughout the university. The STRONG Scholars Program will engage undergraduate STEM-M students in transdisciplinary mentored research experiences, cancer clinical care observational experiences, cancer education, networking, and professional career development activities that include soft skills critical for professional success. The objective of the program is to advance the scholars’ knowledge, critical thinking skills, technical experimental skills, responsible/ethical conduct of research and networking abilities to advance their career and allow them to confidently contribute their talents to our fight to end cancer mortality. The overarching goal of this program is to improve our undergraduate research training experience by reimagining how the selection, education and training of our next generation of researchers and medical care practitioners, thus ensuring these individuals are positioned well to impact change. The goals and objectives of this program will be accomplished through four Specific Aims including: 1) To develop participants’ scientific research knowledge and research self-efficacy through faculty mentored research training experiences; 2) To cultivate participants’ knowledge of cancer, cancer health challenges, cancer research methods, and cancer clinical care through interactive lectures, scientific communication workshops, and clinical shadowing opportunities; 3) To enhance participants’ professional development through thematic workshops, roundtable discussions, networking, and personalized coaching and mentoring; and, 4) To evaluate the effectiveness of the program and its components through quantitative and qualitative assessment methods and longitudinal tracking of participants’ academic and professional careers. Ultimately, the program will build on a solid foundation to create a new paradigm for enhancing cancer-focused research and educational experiences to foster a resilient, confident and informed next generation of cancer researchers and medical professionals that will participate in improving our knowledge of cancer, treatment options, and survival outcomes that will eventually eliminate cancer health challenges and save lives.