Lessons Learned for Improving Trainee Engagement and Utilization of Education and Training Materials for Cancer Research

Authors

• Katerina M. Santiago, Yale UniversityFollow
• Tania Galindo, Yale School of MedicineFollow
• Michaela Dinan, Yale UniversityFollow

Document Type

Brief Report

Abstract

Background: A core component of the National Cancer Institute Cancer (NCI) Cancer Center Support Grant requires cancer centers to coordinate research career enhancement and related activities. The Yale Cancer Center, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, established the Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) component in 2016. In response to the needs of trainees, CRTEC has developed several initiatives that we have identified and described here as best practices to engage and support trainees.

Methods: We had 2 aims to improve engagement: 1) increasing our visibility and trainee awareness of CRTEC and nurturing bidirectional communication and 2) offering meaningful events for trainees pursuing a career in cancer research. To accomplish these goals, we created a CRTEC logo, email account, centralized trainee database, monthly announcement newsletter, centralized repository of trainings, website, and LinkedIn profile. A networking event series called “Brewing Connections” and a cancer center trainee membership program were also developed and implemented.

Results: The CRTEC email has sent approximately 932 emails. Six of these pertained to the Brewing Connections series, which has had a total of 61 trainees attend. The CRTEC LinkedIn page has amassed 91 followers, and a single post has reached 2535 impressions. A total of 14 trainees have utilized the toolkit.

Conclusion: These initiatives demonstrate successful practices for engaging with trainees at cancer centers.

Grants and Funding

NCI CCSG , P30CA016359 (Yale Cancer Center)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Santiago KM, Galindo T, Dinan M. Lessons Learned for Improving Trainee Engagement and Utilization of Education and Training Materials for Cancer Research. Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement. 2026; 2(1).