Embedding Community Engagement in Underrepresented Student Cancer Research Training Programs: A Preliminary Report

{"Training":[0],"programs":[1],"designed":[2],"to":[3,47,56],"increase":[4],"participation":[5],"of":[6,24,39,64,88,104,150,162],"underrepresented":[7],"students":[8],"in":[9,28,124,143],"cancer-related":[10],"careers":[11],"rarely":[12],"include":[13],"structured":[14],"community":[15,127,165],"engagement":[16],"components.":[17],"We":[18],"describe":[19],"the":[20,25,40,73,102,105,118,134,160,187],"design":[21],"and":[22,31,45,62,80,84,90,111,129,138,140,154,186],"pilot":[23,157],"Field":[26],"Experience":[27],"Cancer":[29,53,76],"Outreach":[30,79],"Engagement":[32,81],"(FECOE),":[33],"a":[34,51,164,170,179],"program":[35],"developed":[36],"as":[37,136],"part":[38],"CREATE":[41],"Partnership":[42],"(Cancer":[43],"Research":[44],"Education":[46],"Advance":[48],"HealTh":[49],"Excellence),":[50],"National":[52],"Institute-funded":[54],"grant":[55],"San":[57,66],"Diego":[58,67],"State":[59],"University":[60,63],"(SDSU)":[61],"California":[65],"(UCSD).":[68],"Scholars":[69,110,120,132,185],"were":[70],"situated":[71],"within":[72,169],"UCSD":[74,113],"Moores":[75],"Center":[77],"Community":[78],"(COE)":[82],"component":[83],"completed":[85,117],"20":[86],"h":[87],"field":[89,167],"product-development":[91],"activities":[92],"from":[93],"May-August":[94],"2025.":[95],"A":[96],"focus":[97],"group":[98],"was":[99],"conducted":[100],"at":[101],"conclusion":[103],"program.":[106,174],"Three":[107],"SDSU":[108],"Undergraduate":[109],"one":[112],"Medical":[114],"Student":[115],"Scholar":[116],"pilot.":[119],"reported":[121,141],"gaining":[122],"skills":[123],"health":[125],"communication,":[126],"engagement,":[128],"cultural":[130],"humility.":[131],"described":[133],"experience":[135,168],"\\"connected\\"":[137],"\\"eye-opening,\\"":[139],"gains":[142],"career":[144],"clarity.":[145],"Feedback":[146],"included":[147],"improving":[148],"tracking":[149],"hours,":[151],"event":[152],"preparation,":[153],"networking.":[155],"The":[156,175],"FECOE":[158],"demonstrates":[159],"feasibility":[161],"embedding":[163],"outreach":[166,190],"cancer":[171],"research":[172],"training":[173],"COE-embedded":[176],"model":[177],"offers":[178],"scalable,":[180],"sustainable":[181],"approach":[182],"that":[183],"benefits":[184],"host":[188],"institution's":[189],"mission.":[191],"Lessons":[192],"learned":[193],"will":[194],"inform":[195],"refinements":[196],"for":[197],"future":[198],"iterations.":[199]}

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Cancer Education
Published
2026-08-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-026-02969-z
Primary Topic
Service-Learning and Community Engagement
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
article

Embedding Community Engagement in Underrepresented Student Cancer Research Training Programs: A Preliminary Report

Noé C. Crespo, Valesca Largaespada, Dennis R. Trinidad, Ricardo M. Zayas et al.
Journal of Cancer Education
Service-Learning and Community Engagement
article

Embedding Community Engagement in Underrepresented Student Cancer Research Training Programs: A Preliminary Report

Noé C. Crespo, Valesca Largaespada, Dennis R. Trinidad, Ricardo M. Zayas, Tanya Penn, Jill Dumbauld Nery, Jesse Nodora, Richard M. Cripps, Kirti Ghei, Marı́a Elena Martı́nez, Corinne McDaniels-Davidson, James Murphy, Hala Madanat, Dahlia I. Sandoval, Mercedes A. Mendoza
article en

Abstract

Training programs designed to increase participation of underrepresented students in cancer-related careers rarely include structured community engagement components. We describe the design and pilot of the Field Experience in Cancer Outreach and Engagement (FECOE), a program developed as part of the CREATE Partnership (Cancer Research and Education to Advance HealTh Excellence), a National Cancer Institute-funded grant to San Diego State University (SDSU) and University of California San Diego (UCSD). Scholars were situated within the UCSD Moores Cancer Center Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) component and completed 20 h of field and product-development activities from May-August 2025. A focus group was conducted at the conclusion of the program. Three SDSU Undergraduate Scholars and one UCSD Medical Student Scholar completed the pilot. Scholars reported gaining skills in health communication, community engagement, and cultural humility. Scholars described the experience as "connected" and "eye-opening," and reported gains in career clarity. Feedback included improving tracking of hours, event preparation, and networking. The pilot FECOE demonstrates the feasibility of embedding a community outreach field experience within a cancer research training program. The COE-embedded model offers a scalable, sustainable approach that benefits Scholars and the host institution's outreach mission. Lessons learned will inform refinements for future iterations.

Journal of Cancer Education
San Diego State University (US), UC San Diego Health System (US), University of California San Diego (US), Human Longevity (United States) (US), Behavioral Health Services (US)
National Cancer Institute
Partnerships for the goals
Openalex Percentile: Top 3%
Service-Learning and Community Engagement
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.