Outstanding Trainee & Leading Mentor Awards

For Trainees

• Eligibility period: Any trainee appointed at MD Anderson Cancer Center at any time during the last fiscal year (Sept. 1 of the previous year through Aug. 31 of the current year) is eligible. 
  • Example: For the event in 2023, you may nominate a trainee you mentored at any time during 9/1/21 and 8/31/22. If the nominated trainee was appointed beginning 9/1/21 through 12/31/21, the trainee is eligible. The trainee may be appointed at any time within the eligibility period and is not required to be appointed during the entire fiscal year. 
• The outstanding research and postdoctoral trainee winners from the previous award year will not be eligible to be nominated this year. See Previous Award Winners below.
  

For Mentors

• Eligibility period: Any individual of MD Anderson Cancer Center who has mentored a trainee in cancer prevention during the last fiscal year (Sept. 1 of the previous year through Aug. 31 of the current year) are eligible.
  • Example: For the event in 2023, you may nominate an individual who mentored you at any time during 9/1/21 and 8/31/22. If the nominee mentored a trainee from 8/30/22 to 10/1/22, they are eligible. As long as the nominee mentored the trainee at any time within the eligibility period noted above, the individual is eligible. 
• The leading mentor winner(s) from the previous award year will not be eligible to be nominated this year. See Previous Award Winners below. 

Who Can Nominate?

• Trainees may nominated by MD Anderson Cancer Center faculty or staff members.
• Mentors may be nominated by anyone who was/is a trainee appointed at MD Anderson Cancer Center within the last fiscal year (Sept. 1 of the previous year to Aug. 31 of the current year).
• NOTE: Self-nominations are not accepted.

Criteria 

For Trainees

• Made unique contributions to their area of research within cancer prevention and control
• Demonstrates the core values of MD Anderson Cancer Center: caring, integrity, discovery, safety, and stewardship
• Exemplifies good character and leadership by performing above and beyond what is required in assigned position or through service to others
• Consistently demonstrates professionalism, dedication, motivation, and enthusiasm in education duties and activities

For Mentors

• The mentor must have a faculty appointment as Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor.
• Demonstrated extraordinary performance as a teacher, coach, and sponsor in the field of cancer prevention
  
• Serves as a role model, enthusiastic about inspiring trainees to work in the field of cancer prevention
  
• Contributes to the field of cancer prevention
• Encourages trainees to reflect on individual strengths and weaknesses (understanding of self, strengths and weaknesses)
• Serves as a role model for the core values of MD Anderson (caring, integrity, discovery, safety, and stewardship)

Submit Your Nomination

To submit a nomination, complete the online outstanding research trainee nomination form or leading mentor nomination form between September 1 and October 31 (11:59 p.m., Central time).  

Review Committees

Review of Trainee Nominations

• Division Head/VP of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences
• Chairs of the five departments within the division
• Directors of the CPRTP
• Faculty reviewers with conflicts of interest will not participate in the review.

Review of Mentor Nominations

• The selection committee of trainees who will review the nominations and select the Leading Mentor in Cancer Prevention will be made up of at least five current trainees from the division.
• The selection committee members may nominate mentors; however, they will not score or comment on their nominations during the selection process.
• Reviewers with conflicts of interest will not participate in the review.
  

Winners of the awards will be announced and honored at the first Cancer Prevention and Control Grand Rounds of year following the nomination deadline. The research trainee awardees will give a 90-second elevator speech at this event and both trainee and mentor awardees will receive a certificate and cash honorarium. The award announcement will be posted in Employee Notes and the Alumni and Faculty Association Newsletter.

These honorees of the prestigious Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences: Outstanding Trainee and Leading Mentor Award in Cancer Prevention, were MD Anderson trainees or mentors from September 1 through August 31 of the fiscal year indicated.

The outstanding research trainee(s) made unique contributions in their area of research within cancer prevention and control; and consistently demonstrated professionalism, dedication, motivation and enthusiasm in education duties and activities. The leading mentor(s) served as a role model, teacher, coach, and a sponsor in the field of cancer prevention; was enthusiastic about inspiring trainees to work in cancer prevention, and encouraged trainees to understand and reflect on self, strengths and weaknesses. Both the trainees and mentors demonstrated MD Anderson Cancer Center's mission and core values: caring, integrity, and discovery.

Awardees by Fiscal Year