Susan G. Komen Training Program to Reduce Breast Cancer Disparities
The Susan G. Komen Graduate Training in Disparities Research Program is a paid internship for Houston-area graduate level students to gain valuable experience in breast cancer disparities research to better understand how social and environmental inequities and biological differences contribute to disparities in risk, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship of breast cancer among black and Hispanic women.
Our program is supported by the Komen Research Program, part of the world’s largest breast cancer organization, with the goal of reducing breast cancer deaths by 50% in the U.S. by 2026. Our goal is to train a diverse pool of highly-qualified scientists to emerge as the next generation of leaders in the field of breast cancer research focused on disparities in breast cancer outcomes.
This program will support five students each year and students will participate in individually-tailored, mentored research projects in breast cancer disparities, as well as interactive, community-based and clinical breast cancer experiences, didactic coursework and seminars in breast cancer disparities, and breast cancer disparities symposiums.
Download the 2018-2019 Komen Scholars & Mentors photo roster.
Eligibility
- No citizenship requirement or restrictions. Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and foreign nationals holding valid and appropriate Visas.
- Must be currently enrolled in a masters, combined masters/doctoral, or doctoral degree program by the fellowship start date.
- Doctoral students must be in the 2nd year of their institution's program; all Master’s students are eligible.
- Individuals from populations affected by disparities in breast cancer outcomes preferred.
- Must have an interest in cancer disparities and this must be reflected in your personal statement.
- Current mentor with expertise and/or interest in breast cancer disparities research (doctoral students only).
The following applicants are NOT eligible:
- High school students
- Students with a degree but not enrolled in a program within a degree-granting institution while being supported by the training program.
- Students who are taking a year off from school or who are in a gap year.
Funding Support, Benefits & Duration
- This fellowsip award provides one (1) year of support for salary up to $29,000 (less taxes), including institutional holiday pay and sick leave.
- Trainees must be available during the entire fellowship timeframe indicated.
- Doctoral students may be eligible to extend their appointment for an additional year.
Application Process
There are three (3) phases of the application process.
Phase 1 (Pre-Application), Phase 2 (Recommendation), and Phase 3 (Pre-Appointment). These phases take place primarily through the Discover system, with a few items requiring electronic submission via email.
The following Phase 1 items are required for upload into the Discover System by the application deadline.
- Discover Application Form
- Additional Demographics & Future Plans Form
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
- Personal Statement
- Biosketch and Letter from current mentor describing their cancer disparities expertise and/or interest, and experience and ability to successfully guide the applicant in this fellowship.
- Two (2) Letters of Recommendation (no more than 2 letters are accepted)
- Unofficial Transcript of Highest Degree (please include most current or recent college transcript)
If the applicant is awarded a fellowship, additional documents will be required for submission after the initial phase of the application (Phases 2 & 3). For more information regarding the application process, read the Komen Program FAQs.
Important Dates & Deadlines
We are not accepting applications at this time.
Prospective Mentors
Associate Medical Director, Breast Cancer Survivorship
Assistant Professor, Department of Breast Medical Oncology
Areas of Expertise: Breast cancer survivorship, breast cancer treatment options, treatment outcomes.
Dalliah (Shon) Black, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Associate Professor, Department of Breast Surgical Oncology
Areas of Expertise: Clinical care and surgical management; disparities in breast cancer treatment outcomes; biological differences.
Professor, Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention
Attending Physician, Department of Breast Medical Oncology
Areas of Expertise: Molecular epidemiology of clinical, epidemiological, and biological determinants of breast cancer risk/survival.
Karen Basen-Engquist, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Professor, Department of Behavioral Science; Director, Center for Energy Balance in Cancer Prevention and Survivorship
Areas of Expertise: Cancer survivorship; health behavior interventions; optimizing quality of life and reducing chronic disease risk.
Department Chair, Department of Health Services Research
Areas of Expertise: Quality of health care delivery, disparities, and outcomes.
Chair & Professor, Department of Breast Surgical Oncology
Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology
Areas of Expertise: Clinical breast cancer disparities.
Professor, Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology
Professor, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Areas of expertise: Radiation treatment of breast cancer
Chief of Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center LBJ Oncology Program
Areas of Expertise: General cancer treatment in underserved populations
Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, M.D., M.Sc.
Associate Professor, Department of Health Services Research
Associate Professor, Department of Breast Medical Oncology
Areas of Expertise: Breast cancer patient outcomes, prognostic predication modeling.
Chair, Department of Health Disparities Research
Areas of Expertise: Breast cancer risk factors and health disparities in African Americans and Hispanics.
Assistant Professor, Department of Breast Surgical Oncology
Areas of Expertise: Neoadjuvant therapy in treatment of breast cancer.
Professor, Department of Health Services Research
Areas of Expertise: Patient education, decision making, breast cancer screening.
Komen Graduate Scholar Program Leadership & Trainees
Program Leader: Lorna McNeill, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Professor & Chair, Health Disparities Research
Program Leader: Kelly Hunt, M.D., Professor & Chair, Breast Surgical Oncology
2018-2019 Komen Scholars and Drs. McNeill and Hunt, Program Directors
Komen Training Program Leadership & Staff
Komen trainees at orientation, June 13, 2018
2018-2019 Komen Scholars with Program Director, Dr. Lorna McNeill
Roster of Komen Scholars & Mentors 2018-2019
FAQs, Contact & More
Contact
If your question is not found in the FAQs, contact 713-745-0299 or e-mail:
KomenTrainingProgram@MDAnderson.org
Komen Training Program
Department of Health Disparities Research
1515 Holcombe Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77030