Cancer Care Delivery and Outcomes Research Fellowship for Medical Students

Cancer Care Delivery and Outcomes Research Fellowship for Medical Students

A One-Year Program for Medical Students Interested in Cancer Outcomes Research

Goal : To provide opportunity for intensive training in cancer population science for medical students. We are especially interested in students who might not otherwise have the opportunity for this type of training. For example :

• First-generation college graduates;
• People for whom English is not a native language;
• People from low-income communities;
• Individuals with disabilities; and
• People from geographically isolated locations.

These examples are intended to be illustrative only. We will not select, exclude, or prioritize applicants based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or other protected characteristics.

Program : The Fellowship will provide a one-year mentored training experience in research focused on cancer care delivery and outcomes.

Students will spend one year (July 2026-June 2027) conducting mentored research within the Division of Population Sciences at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Boston, Massachusetts, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital. Examples of potential areas of focus include cancer care quality, cancer care delivery, health communication, health equity, informatics, ethics, supportive care interventions, and palliative care, among other areas of interest of faculty. The year will start with the 7-week Program in Clinical Effectiveness at the Harvard School of Public Health in July and August, coursework that will help provide the student with a background in research methods. The student will then continue the program of research at DFCI. Based on interests identified at the time of application, the student will be guided toward an appropriate mentor who will provide research oversight and supervision. The mentor will work closely with the student to develop a research question and plan, to assist the student in carrying out the research project, and to facilitate dissemination of research findings through talks and publications upon completion. The goal will be for the student to complete a research project over the course of the year and gain experience in academic oncology as a career path.

An additional career mentor will be assigned to meet with the student regularly to provide academic and career guidance and to foster connections with others in the field.

The student will receive salary support as well as tuition for the Program in Clinical Effectiveness and a stipend for research costs. The position is for one year and is full time; students take a year off from medical school to participate, and return to medical school at completion. The student will have designated workspace within the Division and access to a computer.

We encourage students from medical schools across the US to apply.

Faculty Director : Jennifer Mack, MD MPH, Director of the Center for Outcomes and Policy Research and Associate Chief of the Division of Population Sciences, DFCI

Funding : The fellowship is supported by the McGraw / Patterson fund in the Division of Population Sciences at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Application Process : Interested students should send the following to Nicole Santangelo (Nicole_santangelo@dfci.harvard.edu) by January 5, 2026 :

Questions can be directed to : nicole_santangelo@dfci.harvard.edu

Program Duaration : 1 year (July 2026-June 2027)

Employment Type : FullTime

Regular / Temp : Regular