Four oncology students shadow 17 UArizona physicians in summer internship program

The University of Arizona Cancer Center’s Research Training and Education Coordination program and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, recently completed their third successful Oncology Summer Internship program.

Through the paid, four-week program, four students––Vanessa Ogbuji, Christian Henry, Damaris Zapien and Gustavo Miranda––shadowed 17 physicians in rotation from different University of Arizona departments, including Radiation Oncology, Otolaryngology, and Hematology Oncology.

In 2021, ASCO launched the Oncology Summer Internship (OSI) program in collaboration with various medical schools across the country, including the University of Arizona. This program is a unique and hybrid internship designed to introduce rising second-year medical students from populations underrepresented in the field of oncology. In addition to shadowing physicians, students attend an in-person orientation at the ASCO annual meeting to meet their cohort.

They also join weekly education forums online with their colleagues that cover a range of oncology topics. In addition, the program encourages social and networking events at their individual universities that include weekly breakfast or lunch meetings.

According to Amanda Tillman, operations manager of CRTEC, this year’s summer program at UACC was a resounding success, offering the students invaluable clinical experiences and fostering a supportive environment with various networking and social events.

“We are thrilled with the impact of the OSI program and remain committed to nurturing the next generation of oncology leaders from underrepresented backgrounds,” said Tillman.

To be considered for participation, students must be rising second-year students at one of the selected OSI host sites. For more information, visit the ASCO Oncology Summer Internship website.