LEXINGTON, Ky. — Fifty-six high school students from 28 schools across 24 Kentucky counties recently spent a day at the University of Kentucky, meeting and learning from cancer researchers, physicians and health care professionals. According to a University of Kentucky News report, the inaugural Kentucky NextGen Cancer Summit, organized by the UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network and the Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) program along with Kentucky 4-H Youth Development, aimed to build the state's oncology workforce pipeline. The state has long had among the highest rates of cancer incidence and mortality in the nation, with Appalachian Kentucky bearing a disproportionate share of that burden. Launched in 2016, the ACTION program works to address that gap by preparing and inspiring high school and college students from the region to pursue careers in cancer research and clinical care.

Kentucky ranks first in the nation for cancer incidence and mortality. Kentucky continued to rank first nationally in cancer incidence from 2014 to 2018, with an elevated all-site incidence of 517.8 cases per 100,000 people, which is 18.1% higher compared to the US average of 438.3 cases. Appalachian Kentucky has higher overall cancer incidence and mortality rates and higher rates for several site-specific cancers compared to non-Appalachian Kentucky. Contributing factors include screening rate disparities and increased rates of obesity and smoking.

The summit, held April 17 at the Healthy Kentucky Research Building, featured presentations from Nathan Vanderford, director of the ACTION program, and Timothy Mullett, medical director of the Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network, along with oncologists and cancer researchers. The Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network was established in 2006 to bring high-quality cancer care closer to patients across Kentucky, including in Appalachian communities, with a focus on prevention, education and access to clinical expertise.

The event represents part of a larger effort to address workforce gaps in oncology. The Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) Program offers local high school and undergraduate students who are interested in cancer-related careers hands-on experience at Markey. ACTION was created in 2016 through a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) supplement and has been funded as an NCI Youth Enjoy Science program since 2018.

A student participant from Madison County said the summit shifted perspectives on the disease. "The word 'cancer' holds so many stories, but NextGen was the opportunity to unify all those stories into one force," said Jiwoo Kim. "I loved this summit because I walked away with encouragement, hope, and so, so many new ideas."

The UK Markey Cancer Center is the first and only NCI-Comprehensive Cancer Center in Kentucky, and one of 57 in the nation. Organizers plan to hold the summit annually, with schools interested in participating next year asked to contact Holly Burke at holly.burke@uky.edu.