In response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a cancer research education program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center designed for Native American middle school, high school and undergraduate students adapted activities to be delivered online. There are considerable challenges to adapting in-person science programming to online delivery that can impact overall effectiveness. These challenges are further exacerbated when the cognate student population also faces significant disparities in health, wealth, and educational outcomes. We encountered both disadvantages and advantages in transitioning programming to online virtual formats. Challenges faced in delivering our programming during the pandemic included varied online accessibility, peripheral stressors, and disconnection to places and people. Despite these challenges, we found several benefits in remote delivery, some of which have alleviated barriers to program participation for Native American students. Some successes achieved by transitioning to fully remote programming included increased program reach, sustainability, and cultural relevancy. In this overview of the implementation of four online programs at the middle school, high school, and undergraduate levels, we highlight the challenges and successes experienced. Through this program description, we aim to provide insight into potential strategies to improve program delivery designed for Native American students during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and beyond.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and marginalized communities are disproportionately affected. There is a significant need to address cancer disparities and the determinants of health that are associated with those disparities. Increasing the diversity of the cancer research workforce is a potential mechanism to address health disparities. The National Cancer Institute's Youth Enjoy Science Research Education Program provides funding to engage middle school, high school, and undergraduate students from underrepresented student populations in cancer research education programming, conduct cancer education outreach to communities, and provide cancer research curricula to kindergarten through grade 12 educators. The ultimate goal of these programs is to motivate, prepare, and support students in pursuing cancer research careers. Herein, we describe how three academic institutions with YES Programs -the University of Kentucky,
The Youth Enjoy Science program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center has engaged American Indian/Alaska Native youth in mentored cancer research internships from 2017 to 2022. The primary purpose of this study was to examine mentor and mentee lived experiences of participation in Youth Enjoy Science research education internships and to provide insights that can inform mentorship practices in research education programs for American Indians/Alaska Natives. We conducted semi-structured interviews with current and former Youth Enjoy Science mentees (n=8) and mentors (n=8). Following a narrative inquiry research approach, we analyzed interview transcripts and collectively re-storied interview data. Participants described program characters, settings, problems, actions to address the problems identified, and resolutions that led to various recommendations for ways to raise contextual awareness between mentees and mentors.
Background: Omaha, Nebraska, has a lead-contaminated superfund site and substandard housing that pose risks for childhood lead exposure. Healthy Housing Omaha (formerly, Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance), an environmental health nonprofit, partnered with the fourth author, an artist, and a newspaper to raise awareness about lead poisoning by publishing portraits and stories of affected community members. Methods: The authors analyzed an interview with the artist, photographs of portraits published in a local newspaper, and quotations from portrait sitters.Results: Shared stories of lead exposure and poisoning conveyed in the portraiture and printmaking processes revealed structural racism as an emergent theme.Conclusions: Arts-based research methods, such as portraiture, can be scaled and applied to support national and international community engagement efforts to advocate for environmental justice and public health.
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