Global Cancer Care Track

Trainees who are passionate about improving cancer care and outcomes for patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and other under-resourced settings, are encouraged to apply. The track is a two-year program, but exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis for applicants who are able to complete track requirements but are limited by the time constraints of their program structure.

Prior to submitting an application, interested trainees should ensure that their training program leadership is aware of and supportive of their participation in the program and willing to accommodate the GCC track requirements. Please submit responses to the following questions as a Word document along with your Curriculum Vitae and a letter of support from your project faculty mentor or complete the online form with your attached documents by October 31, 2024, via email. Applicants will be notified about acceptance by November 30, 2024.

Please contact us with any questions about the GCC track or its requirements.

1. First and last name
   2. Training program
   3. Year in program
   4. Years remaining in program
   5. Program director’s name, e-mail, and signature (Program Director signature indicates approval of track participation)
   6. Please provide a brief description of your intended global oncology project(s) and potential mentors. Please describe your goals during your clinical training as they relate to global oncology, including how participation in the GCC track will help you in your long-term career goals. Limit the description to one page, single-spaced.
   7. Optional: If you would like to complete the GCC Track in one year, please state your reasons for doing so.

Contacts:

• Chidinma Anakwenze, MD, MPH, cpanakwenze@mdanderson.org
• Shubhra Ghosh, MD, sghosh@mdanderson.org
• Darya "Dasha" Kizub, MD, dakizub@mdanderson.org

The core objectives will be achieved through a combination of educational experiences, including coursework, attendance at Global Oncology Lecture Series, participation in either clinical, quality improvement, or research experiences, and presentation of one's work to others interested in global oncology. The core objectives include: 

1. To understand the unique challenges faced by under-resourced cancer patients globally 
2. To identify the socio-economic determinants of cancer outcomes in low- and middle-income countries 
3. To understand the challenges of delivering high-quality cancer care in resource-limited settings 
4. To develop skills relevant to building capacity and conducting collaborative research, educational, or, capacity-building projects in under-resourced settings     
5. To understand the role of the oncology physician in advocating for underserved patients and shaping health policy in low and middle-income countries

Core Curriculum: The core curriculum includes self-guided participation in the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology-Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology (CARO-ARRO) Collaborative Global Oncology Enrichment Program; attendance at >50% of the Global Oncology Lecture Series at MD Anderson; networking and informal discussions with faculty and trainees interested in global oncology during the Global Oncology Happy Hour; selection of a faculty mentor with expertise in global oncology either within MD Anderson or at another academic institution; and completion of a clinical, quality improvement, educational, or research project, that is and presented locally, nationally, or internationally; providing a progress update at the global oncology working group meeting (format to be determined) during each year of track participation.

Clinical Elective/Quality Improvement Track: Trainee will be required to conduct a quality improvement project while on-site. This may be an established MD Anderson Cancer Center host site, i.e. Botswana, or at a site of interest/prior work for the specific trainee. 

Education Track*: The trainee must develop and implement an educational curriculum to build clinical or research capacity in a low- or middle- income country. Trainees may conduct this project at the host site or remotely.

Research Track*: Trainees must partner with collaborators in a low- or middle-income country to conduct a formal research study. Trainees may conduct this project at the host site or remotely. 

*If conducting a project in a low- or middle-income county, trainees may elect to participate in patient care or a clinical observership under the supervision of local clinicians.

Trainees will identify an appropriate global oncology research mentor with whom they will meet with at regular intervals. Trainees will also meet regularly with their GCC Faculty Advisor to evaluate their GCC Track Milestones and project progress. After acceptance into the GCC Track and mid-way through the project during the first year, they will present their project to participants at the quarterly Global Oncology Program meeting to solicit feedback from faculty who are experts in global oncology from different oncology sub-specialties. 

• Establish interest in areas of global health and meet with potential mentors 
• Network with trainees and faculty at the Global Oncology Happy Hour
• Meet with the GCC Track Faculty Advisor and apply to the track as outlined above  
• Establish an individualized curriculum, long-term goals, timing for away electives and projects 
• Attend Global Oncology Lecture Series (see past presentation example)
• Complete formal curriculum (CARO-ARRO Collaborative Global Oncology Enrichment Program) and any additional requirements based on specific training department and individual goals                            

Track Year 2:

• Attend Global Oncology Lecture Series 
• Complete Clinical, Research or Educational Project related to an area of interest 
• Present outcomes of the clinical/quality improvement, research, or educational projects to faculty and trainees interested in global oncology at either the quarterly Global Oncology Program meeting, the Global Oncology Lecture Series, or the GCC Track Annual Conference  
• Submit an abstract to a local, national, or international oncology meeting, submit a manuscript for publication, or deliver a presentation at an institutional, local, national, or international meeting related to your project  

CARO-ARRO Collaborative Global Oncology Enrichment Program, a curriculum that meets global oncology competencies as outlined by the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), will be required for all trainees. Additional relevant coursework may be required within each academic discipline, for example coursework through the McGovern Clinical Research Curriculum (i.e. Intro to Epidemiology Research, Ethical Aspects of Clinical Research) or the School of Public Health Global Health Certificate Program (i.e. Fundamentals of Application of GIS, Epidemiologic Methods in Racial and Ethnic Disparities, Comparative Healthcare Systems: Policy Challenges and Economic Perspectives, Economic and Social Determinants of Health), or a Master of Public Health.