****Internship Programs at Mount Sinai School of Medicine****
The mission of the Department of Oncological Sciences, Cancer Prevention and Control, at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine is to increase the understanding of the role of psychological, social and bio-behavioral factors in the prevention of cancer and in control of aversive progression of cancer and its treatment. Within the Cancer Center, Community Outreach is devoted to bringing community based cancer education, screening and research programs to medically underserved populations through a variety of interrelated programs.
We have opportunities for both Bachelor and Master level interns interested in becoming involved in one of the following programs:
1. Esperanza y Vida (Hope and Life), is an innovative community outreach program designed to provide a spiritually based, culturally competent method for reaching Latinas in order to increase breast and cervical cancer knowledge and screening behaviors. As part of that goal, we have developed an educational program that includes presentations by Latina breast cancer survivors and lay health advisors in churches and other community- and faith-based organizations. Esperanza y Vida (Hope and Life), empowers women, usually in group-based settings; to take ownership of their health (e.g. breast and cervical cancer screening tests) that produces long-term results, continuity of resources in the community for years, and increasing behavioral impact over time.
Intern’s Tasks, Responsibilities and Qualifications may include but are not limited to:
· Must be bilingual in Spanish
· Community outreach and information dissemination including health fairs
· Train as a lay health advisor and participate in program presentations
· Data entry, follow-ups and analyses of program information
2. Patient Navigation for Colorectal Cancer Screening: This study seeks to understand the most effective method of assisting primary care patients (both African American and Hispanic) in completing their physician recommended screening colonoscopies. In a randomized clinical trial we are comparing the use of professional-led patient navigation (PN-PRO) and peer-led navigation (PN-PEER) to help African American and Hispanics participants manage (i.e., navigate) the health care system in order to complete screening.
Interns will be an instrumental part of this research by:
- Completing interviews with study participants
- Performing statistical software data entry
- Maintaining a filing system
- Conducting a literature review on minority participation in research and health based interventions
- Developing an annotated bibliography from the literature review
3. Barriers to Clinical Trial Participation: The goal of this project is to assist in the development and implementation of three studies. First, we will survey oncologists participating in clinical trials to understand their perceptions of the barriers to increase enrollment. Second, we will survey primary care physicians and oncologist not involved in clinical trials to understand how to better help them refer their patients. Third, we will survey cancer patients to understand their perceptions and interest in participating in clinical trials.
Intern’s Tasks and Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:
· Literature Review and assistance with Protocol Development
· Assist with the development of the surveys
· Development of IRB protocol
· Recruitment of study participants
· Establishment of database
· Data entry, follow-ups and analyses of program information
· Completing interviews with study participants
· Help with routine office tasks
Requirements for All Interns:
· A minimum time commitment of 6-10 hours per week is needed.
· Prior experience with research methodology, health care delivery and/or health administration is preferred.
· Coursework in relevant field of study
