CPCRN Scholars Program

The CPCRN Scholars Program strives to educate students, postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty, practitioners, and other health professionals in dissemination and implementation (D&I) science focused on cancer prevention and control and health equity. Scholars will be provided with opportunities to engage in mentored projects with workgroups that most align with their interests. Scholars will have different tracks to follow, but an educational component covering core competencies is required. Through a formalized process, it is our hope that this program can increase: the depth and breadth of the Scholars' connectedness within the CPCRN and the diverse cancer research pipeline, and applied D&I work in academic and clinical settings.

Scholar Testimonials

Yousra Yusuf, Cohort 3, Graduate/Post-doc Track

“The CPCRN Scholars Program is an incredible program and I'm thankful for the opportunity to be a CPCRN Scholar. My knowledge on implementation science and cancer health equity has broadened and I’m excited to bring these concepts into my research. I will also cherish connecting with folks from the scholars program and the CPCRN network throughout the year at the various events.”

Nicole Kim, Cohort 3, Research Track

“As a CPCRN Scholar, I not only strengthened my skillsets in D&I science, but also learned about the importance of developing and maintaining multidisciplinary collaborations in order to improve cancer prevention and control. The opportunity to learn from faculty and peers outside of my field was especially invaluable, and I look forward to engaging in cancer research that more effectively promotes the uptake of liver cancer screening.”

Scholar Achievements

Publications

Presentations

Consortium for Cancer Implementation Science (CCIS)

These CPCRN Scholars lead CCIS Action Groups:

Community Participation in Implementation Science

  • Perla Chebli

Context and Equity in Implementation Science

  • Yue Guan

Funding Awards & Other Achievements

NCI Public Goods Awards

  • Ha Ngan (Milkie) Vu (Northwestern University) received a NCI Public Goods funding award for Case Studies of Engaging Champions in Implementation Science for Cancer Prevention and Control  (Cycle 2, 2023).
  • Serena Xiong received a NCI Public Goods funding award for Applications of Implementation Science Frameworks, Models, and Theories in Cancer Screening Interventions: A Systematic Review (Cycle 3, 2024).

Alumni Updates

Alumni from the CPCRN Scholars program have transitioned into a variety of roles, including:

Caitlin Biddell

Caitlin Biddell serves as a Health Services Researcher at Mathematica.

David Garcia

Dr. Garcia currently serves as co-Principal Investigator of the University of Arizona CPCRN network site.

Jessica Islam

Jessica Islam works at Moffitt as a researcher in the Cancer Epidemiology Program.

Sarah Kerch

Sarah Kerch is now at the University of Illinois Chicago as the Assistant Director for Leadership, Organizational Change, & Workforce Development within the Policy, Practice, and Prevention Research Center.

Melissa Lopez-Pentecost

Melissa Lopez-Pentecost is completing her post-doc at the University of Miami within the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Karly Murphy

Karly Murphy took a new position following her post-doc at East Carolina University as an Assistant Professor in Pyscho-Oncology within the Psychology Department.

Hiten Patel

Hiten Patel is now at Northwestern University practicing Urologic Oncology.

Jingxi Sheng

Jinxi Sheng is at the University of Wisconsin Madison within the School of Nursing as a postdoctoral trainee.

Serena Xiong

Serena Xiong works at the University of Minnesota working in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Program in Health Disparities Research.

Austin Waters

Austin Waters currently serves as a co-lead of the CPCRN LGBTQ+ Workgroup.