Evaluation of short research experiences in cancer

For the past 5 years, the Cancer Education Committee of Louisiana State University Medical School (LSUMS) has selected premedical and medical students to participate in cancer research during the summer months. The students' participation is funded through a NCI R-25 training grant. Each year, LSUMS faculty from both the clinical and basic science departments provide opportunities for the students to participate in cancer research. The students also attend weekly seminars on cancer-related topics and biweekly multi-disciplinary Tumor Conferences. At the end of the summer, the students are required to submit and present a summary of their research project and to complete an evaluation form of the program. The overall evaluation of this experience has been favorable. Seventy-nine percent of the students agreed that the experience exceeded their expectations, and 83% responded that they would be willing to repeat the program. However, when asked if they planned to pursue a career in cancer research or medical oncology, 84 and 62%, respectively, were undecided. These findings raise the following questions: (1) When is the most appropriate time period in the student's education for this experience to take place? and (2) How can students' future career decisions be influenced?