ASCO summer interns seen here with Chunkit Fung, M.D., and Richard Dunne, M.D.
Summer Internship Program Helps Wilmot Blaze a More Diverse Path in Oncology The oncology field has a diversity problem. It’s no secret and there are no easy solutions. Less than one percent of medical oncologists are Black, Native American, or Hispanic, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and yet research has shown that a more diverse physician workforce improves patient care. Wilmot Cancer Institute’s Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) program wants to do its part to make things better in Rochester and nationally. Last year, Carla Casulo, M.D., took a new step in that direction. An enthusiastic mentor who already supervises Wilmot’s fellowship program, Casulo learned of an opportunity, through an ASCO committee that she sits on, to encourage students who are underrepresented in medicine to consider the field of oncology.
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She applied to ASCO to host an inaugural summer internship program geared toward diversity — and that’s how the University Carla Casulo, M.D. of Rochester became one of five medical schools in the country to offer this unique experience to rising second-year medical students. “The U.S. is a country of immigrants,” Casulo says. “Having that reflected by demonstrating that we’re taking this seriously, and that we’ve been recognized by ASCO as a leader in the field to shepherd them, is really important.” While the program began with a longterm desire to help diversify the field, in the short term, the students were the real winners. The five of them spent an
immersive four weeks listening to talks given by prominent oncologists from around the country, participating in social events with Wilmot physicians, and shadowing faculty in clinic appointments with patients. It had a big impact on George Olverson. “I didn’t know a lot of mentors or know a doctor or a lot about medicine. I knew what I saw on TV,” Olverson says. “This was my first experience in a clinical setting seeing patients, having more patient interactions and seeing the clinical aspects.” Olverson thought his medical career might veer toward research; the experience helped him realize how much he enjoys being able to help patients, too. Specifically, he felt a kinship with two Black patients he met. They seemed to appreciate having someone who looks like them in the room, and it made him want to help more patients.