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Mentoring Minority Cancer Researchers of Tomorrow: Comparison of the Face-to-Face, Virtual, and Hybrid Training Methods of the CaRE2 Summer Cancer Research Education and Training Program

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Abstract

In our previous publication, we reported a framework to develop an undergraduate cancer research training program at Florida A&M University (FAMU) under the umbrella of the Florida-California Cancer Research, Education, and Engagement (CaRE2) Health Equity Center activity by harnessing the resources available at FAMU, the University of Florida (UF), and the University of Southern California (USC) Cancer Centers. The implementation of the CaRE2 face-to-face training platform was dramatically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic during the summer of 2020 and 2021 training periods. However, a concerted effort was made to restructure the face-to-face training model into virtual and hybrid training methods to maintain the continuity of the program during the pandemic. This article compared the three methods to identify the best platform for training URM students in cancer disparity research. The program’s effectiveness was measured through motivation, experiences, and knowledge gained by trainees during and one year after the completion of the program. The results showed that the participants were highly positive in their feedback about the professional and academic values of the program. Although the virtual and hybrid methods experienced significant challenges during the pandemic, the hybrid training module offered an “above average” effectiveness in performance, like the face-to-face mentoring platform in mentoring URM students in cancer disparity research.

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Data Availability

The data that support the study are available on request from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

We want to acknowledge the CaRE2 mentors’ genuine commitment to training underrepresented minority students.

Funding

This research was made possible by Grant Numbers U54CA233396, U54CA233444, and U54CA233465 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, College of Science & Technology, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, 32307, USA

    Bereket Mochona

  2. College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, 32307, USA

    Kinfe K. Redda & Renee R. Reams

  3. Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA

    Ite A. Offringa, John D. Carpten & Mariana C. Stern

  4. College of Pharmacy and College of Medicine, University of Florida Research and Academic Center, Lake Nona, FL, 32827, USA

    John Allen

  5. College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Diana J. Wilkie

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  1. Bereket Mochona
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  2. Kinfe K. Redda
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  3. Ite A. Offringa
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  4. John Allen
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  6. Mariana C. Stern
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  7. Renee R. Reams
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Correspondence to Bereket Mochona.

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Mochona, B., Redda, K.K., Offringa, I.A. et al. Mentoring Minority Cancer Researchers of Tomorrow: Comparison of the Face-to-Face, Virtual, and Hybrid Training Methods of the CaRE2 Summer Cancer Research Education and Training Program. J Canc Educ (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-024-02426-9

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