Fred Hutch Cancer Center’s Hutch Career Access Network (HutchCAN) Student Program hosts local high school students in grades 11 and 12 for an inside look at the many career opportunities at a comprehensive cancer center. In its third year, this spring’s program covered a range of topics including cancer genetics and prevention, scholarship and ethics, radiation oncology and social work.
Over the course of eight weeks, Fred Hutch faculty and staff met with students to share the details of their work, tour their space or work through a case example. Throughout the programming, students were shown the breadth of roles in providing complex care, coordinating innovative research and supporting patient health and wellbeing.
Students were introduced to the variety of work across the organization by the following faculty and staff:
Week 1:
Week 2:
Week 3:
Week 4:
Week 5:
Week 6:
Led by Mary Grace Katusiime, career exploration and workforce development program manager, the program is part of Science Education Outreach, which provides training and education programs for teachers, undergraduates and high school students.
“Each year, I enjoy learning all the interesting career stories of people across Fred Hutch and seeing how much they care about being a resource for young people’s career navigation,” Katusiime said of the new and returning faculty and staff volunteers.
Each day, Fred Hutch faculty, providers and staff collaborate to keep research and patient care moving forward. During HutchCAN, presenters highlighted the range of teams, roles and the ways they work together.
Radiation oncologist Lia Halasz, MD, showcased the many staff that make up the “team sport” of radiation oncology. Along with Lia, Sarah Ozolins, Fre’Etta Brooks and Frederique Kemogne Tamo, each team member described their role in treating patients with radiation therapy. According to Halasz, this was the first time that the whole team presented together.
“It’s important for high school students to get exposure to the wide variety of careers in health care,” reflected Halasz. “Often students have heard about doctors and nurses, but they don't realize we work with many professionals to provide high quality, complex care.”
Throughout different presentations, students learned about the many perspectives of providers at Fred Hutch when treating patients.
Kasey Hermens, a clinical research coordinator, shared her experience working between patients and a multidisciplinary team in breast oncology. Working through a case example of recurrent breast cancer, students learned the detailed processes of screening patients and overseeing clinical trials.
“Working as a clinical research coordinator wasn’t an option that most of them were familiar with, so it was great to see it sparked an interest for some of them,” she said.
Similar to Hermens, Mercy Laurino, CGC, PhD, director of Cancer Genetics and Prevention, also blends research and patient care in her work.
When meeting students, she said: “I wanted to make the career pathway feel relatable and attainable for students who may be exploring future options in science, health care or patient-centered professions.”
As many staff noted, the engagement from students was a boost for their work, both in their roles and in the program.
“Sharing [my work] with such an attentive audience reinforced why outreach and mentorship are so important,” said Laurino.
Throughout HutchCAN presentations, many experts and providers shared the impacts of working with patients and their families.
Kathleen Shannon Dorcy, PhD, RN, nurse scientist and director of Research, Scholarship and Ethics, shared what inspired her to become a nurse: “The science of cancer care made such a difference for survival for kids with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).”
That science came directly from Fred Hutch: E. Donnall Thomas, MD, developed the Nobel prize-winning bone marrow transplant in the 1960s. Dorcy later worked to refine the treatment in the 1980s alongside Frederick Appelbaum, MD, executive vice president and professor in the Clinical Research Division. A ceramic mouse keepsake, gifted by a former patient, serves as a reminder of hope for patients with leukemia for her.
During Dorcy’s programming, students worked through a cancer case in two groups: one as providers, the other as patients seeking care.
“I tried to translate that science into the story of real families and survival,” she said of her activity. Together, the group worked through the treatment, finances and social support all involved in a cancer diagnosis.
“They all did beautifully in interacting in the roles, and I was so moved by the students’ evaluations following my talk,” said Dorcy.
Another aspect of patient care that the students learned about were the nuances of mental health care for patients with cancer and their families from Jesse R. Fann, MD, medical director of Psychiatry and Psychology. He also shared the varied roles available for mental health providers.
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“I also discussed the reasons why I continue to find my role extremely gratifying and fulfilling, even after 30 years,” he added.
Throughout his presentation, he noted the impact of the student’s engagement. “I was incredibly impressed with the curiosity and thoughtfulness of the high school students … [they] gave me a lot of confidence and optimism for the future,” he said.
In addition to describing their role and work at Fred Hutch, staff had the opportunity to share their education and individual career path that led them to the organization.
For Matt Van Doren, program administrator in the Prevention Center, the HutchCan Program mirrored his own introduction to Fred Hutch. During a class presentation in college, he was introduced to the cancer prevention work of Anne McTiernan, MD, PhD, professor Emeritus in the Public Health Sciences Division.
When Van Doren joined the organization in 2001, he was an exercise science intern with McTiernan. Six months later, he became an exercise specialist. Now, more than 20 years later, he’s still at Fred Hutch and returning the favor to the next generation.
"That one visit changed my perspective and opened a new pathway for me, I am forever grateful for it,” he shared. "I appreciate that we have the opportunity to encourage these students to explore new opportunities or career paths that they didn’t know existed before.”
Watch students from this year's HutchCAN cohort reflect on what they learned from the program:
Learn more about Science Education Outreach on Fredhutch.org.
Shayla Ring is an integrated marketing and communications coordinator at Fred Hutch Cancer Center. With a background in political science and communications, her work aims to reduce disinformation and promote meaningful stories. Her previous roles have also been with mission-driven organizations across the Seattle area. Reach her at sring@fredhutch.org.
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