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Oncology Field Experiences Expansion by Way of Diversified Summer Internship Program for Wilmot

The domain of oncology struggles with a lack of diversity, and Wilmot's Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination program intends to address this issue, not only in Rochester, but on a national scale as well, acknowledging that there are no simple fixes for this problem.

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Oncology internship program aids Wilmot in forging a more diverse career path in cancer treatment.
Oncology internship program aids Wilmot in forging a more diverse career path in cancer treatment.

Oncology Field Experiences Expansion by Way of Diversified Summer Internship Program for Wilmot

The Wilmot Cancer Institute's Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) program, designed to improve diversity in Rochester and nationally, has concluded, but it's clear that it's just the beginning of a transformative journey for many participants.

Dr. Carla Casulo, an enthusiastic mentor at Wilmot, applied to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) to host a summer internship program for students underrepresented in medicine. The University of Rochester became one of five medical schools in the U.S. to offer this unique diversity-focused summer internship program for rising second-year medical students.

One of the participants, George Olverson, had his first clinical experience during the program and realised he enjoys helping patients as well as conducting research. He felt a kinship with two Black patients he met, which made him want to help more patients in the future.

Bianca Duah, another participant, was inspired by the patients and Wilmot oncologists she met during the internship, considering oncology as a potential field. Initially, she had concerns about her emotional strength for pursuing oncology, but now feels it's feasible to push ahead.

The summer internship program involved listening to talks given by prominent oncologists, participating in social events with Wilmot physicians, and shadowing faculty in clinic appointments with patients. Both Duah and Olverson commented on the kindness they saw in the Wilmot oncologists they met.

Ashley Marie Cortes found oncology to be on her radar after the internship, describing the experience as "eye-opening". She was surprised by the variety of different types of cancer and biomarkers used to identify and treat the disease.

Cortes and Duah were moved by the resilience of patients they encountered, noting some were very calm and collected despite their situation. Duah felt that the work of oncologists shapes their perspective on life.

As the internship program comes to a close, Casulo and the education team at Wilmot aim to strengthen the program to serve more students in the future. Olverson expressed a desire to do something impactful after the internship, while Duah feels inspired to continue her journey in oncology.

The ASCO states that less than 1% of medical oncologists are Black, Native American, or Hispanic. The Wilmot Cancer Institute's CRTEC program is a significant step towards addressing this imbalance and ensuring a more diverse future for oncology.

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