Abstract PO-032: Virtually SPARCC-ing clinical cancer careers among URM students during a global pandemic
Authors: Kaljo Kristina , Treat Robert , Rader Janet S. 
Published: December 2020

Amidst the COVID-19 global health pandemic and safer-at-home orders, Student- centered Pipeline to Advance Cancer Careers (SPARCC) was redesigned to immerse undergraduate underrepresented minority (URM) students in an intensive 8-week virtual summer program to address cancer-specific disparities and advance clinical research careers. Medical mistrust affects cancer screening frequency, adherence to treatments, and ultimately, rates of cancer mortality. Racial and ethnic concordance or a shared identity between patient and healthcare professionals positively impacts patient outcomes. Recruitment and retention of URM researchers and physicians has posed challenging due to the ‘leaky pipeline’ at the undergraduate level. More than a third of Black and Latinx students change away from STEM majors or drop out of college all together. The lack of URM representation in healthcare has significant implications on research, clinical trials recruitment and ultimately, the wellness of diverse patients. By sealing the ‘leaks’, SPARCC addresses cancer-related health disparities and equips URM students to enter the field of clinical cancer research.

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, face-to-face learning opportunities were restricted and SPARCC was redesigned utilizing Microsoft Teams, a video conferencing/learning platform. Maintaining authenticity of the original SPARCC curriculum, workshops and clinical practicums synchronously engaged Scholars in content framed by the Joint Task Force for Clinical Trial Competency with emphasis on cancer-related health disparities. A holistic evaluation of SPARCC includes pre- post- and retention assessments of knowledge, attitudes, satisfaction and practice. Data from the first and second cohort will be analyzed with stepwise multivariate regression analysis, Spearman rho correlations and inter-item reliability via Cronbach alpha using IBM® SPSS® 24.0. Consensual qualitative research methods identified themes distilled from the Scholar’s experiences. From fall 2019 to winter 2020, 41 undergraduate URM students submitted a complete application. A structured rubric was used to evaluate and rank applicants. Eight Scholars were accepted and participated from June to August 2020. Daily virtual workshops were facilitated by 100 faculty from 32 departments and institutional affiliations. Six clinical practicum rotations provided a virtual shadowing experience of various specialties. Scholars led weekly journal clubs, participated in institutional tumor boards and formally presented a culminating cancer-focused research project. Upon the conclusion of SPARCC 2020, data will be compared from the 2020 virtual experience and the 2019 in-person program. SPARCC builds and sustains a diverse and inclusive network of professionals who engage burgeoning leaders in clinical cancer careers. Regardless of physical location, Scholars acquire knowledge, skills, and mentors for immediate employment and advanced degrees in clinical research.

Citation Format: Kristina Kaljo, Robert Treat, Janet S. Rader. Virtually SPARCC-ing clinical cancer careers among URM students during a global pandemic [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-032.