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Creating a Cadre of Junior Investigators to Address the Challenges of Cancer-Related Health Disparities: Lessons Learned from the Community Networks Program

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Abstract

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) initiatives such as the National Cancer Institute’s Community Networks Program (CNP) (2005–2010) often emphasize training of junior investigators from underrepresented backgrounds to address health disparities. From July to October 2010, a convenience sample of 80 participants from the 25 CNP national sites completed our 45-item, web-based survey on the training and mentoring of junior investigators. This study assessed the academic productivity and CBPR-related experiences of the CNP junior investigators (n = 37). Those from underrepresented backgrounds reported giving more presentations in non-academic settings (nine vs. four in the last 5 years, p = 0.01), having more co-authored publications (eight vs. three in the last 5 years, p = 0.01), and spending more time on CBPR-related activities than their non-underrepresented counterparts. Regardless of background, junior investigators shared similar levels of satisfaction with their mentors and CBPR experiences. This study provides support for the success of the CNP’s training program, especially effort directed at underrepresented investigators.

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Acknowledgments

This article is written as a team effort by faculty, staff, former and current students and other trainees, and community partners at Community Networks Program sites. We would like to thank the National Institutes for Health/National Center for Minority and Health and Health Disparities for the invitation to moderate the Panel “Supporting Young Investigators in Capacity-Building Towards Eliminating Health Disparities” and present “How to Have Fun, Save The World, And Have A Viable Career In Facing The Challenges of Health Disparities” at the NIH Summit: The Science of Eliminating Health Disparities, National Harbor, MD, 17 December 2008. We also appreciate the contribution of the many individuals who completed the survey from which the data presented were derived. The following are the Community Networks Programs funded by the National Cancer Institute, Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities: The South Carolina Cancer Disparities Community Network (SCCDCN, PI; Hébert) [U01 CA114601-01], ’Imi Hale Native Hawaiian Cancer Network (PI: Chong) [U01CA114630], and Weaving an Islander Network for Cancer Awareness, Research and Training (WINCART, PI: Tanjasiri) [U01 CA114591]. Dr. Hébert was supported by an Established Investigator Award in Cancer Prevention and Control from the Cancer Training Branch of the National Cancer Institute (K05 CA136975).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. South Carolina Statewide Cancer Prevention and Control Program, University of South Carolina, 915 Greene Street, Suite 200, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    Tisha M. Felder, Heather M. Brandt, Cheryl A. Armstead, Philip P. Cavicchia, Swann A. Adams, Daniela B. Friedman, Susan E. Steck & James R. Hébert

  2. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences, South Carolina College of Pharmacy, Columbia, SC, USA

    Tisha M. Felder

  3. Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Heather M. Brandt & Daniela B. Friedman

  4. Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Cheryl A. Armstead

  5. Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL, USA

    Philip P. Cavicchia

  6. Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Kathryn L. Braun

  7. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    Swann A. Adams, Susan E. Steck & James R. Hébert

  8. College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Swann A. Adams

  9. Department of Health Science, California State University—Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, USA

    Sora Tanjasiri

  10. Division of Research and Education, Program on Aging and Care, Scott and White Healthcare, Temple, TX, USA

    Emily R. Smith

  11. South Carolina Cancer Alliance, Columbia, SC, USA

    Virginie G. Daguisé

  12. Division of Cancer, Bureau of Chronic Disease and Community Health, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia, SC, USA

    Virginie G. Daguisé

Authors
  1. Tisha M. Felder
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  2. Heather M. Brandt
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  3. Cheryl A. Armstead
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  4. Philip P. Cavicchia
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  5. Kathryn L. Braun
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  6. Swann A. Adams
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  7. Daniela B. Friedman
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  8. Sora Tanjasiri
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  9. Susan E. Steck
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  10. Emily R. Smith
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  11. Virginie G. Daguisé
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  12. James R. Hébert
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James R. Hébert.

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Felder, T.M., Brandt, H.M., Armstead, C.A. et al. Creating a Cadre of Junior Investigators to Address the Challenges of Cancer-Related Health Disparities: Lessons Learned from the Community Networks Program. J Canc Educ 27, 409–417 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-012-0361-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-012-0361-0

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