Testimonials

I cannot speak highly enough about the post-doctoral training experience in the Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program at NCI. This program gave me the opportunity to expand my research interests in pediatric energy balance behaviors in ways that I never thought possible. The immense resources, flexibility to design my own research agenda, and opportunities for transdisciplinary collaboration made it possible for me to pursue population-based research and conduct my own laboratory-based behavioral research study at NIH. Additionally, there is a large network of mentors through-out the NIH (and beyond) who are willing to help support fellows as they transition into a variety of independent careers. The research experiences and collaborations that I built during this time will continue to influence and strengthen my future research.

The CPFP has made a huge impact on my professional development. One of my favorite training opportunities was the presentation skills course. The practice delivering scientific talks in front of my peers greatly enhanced my presentation skills. The CPFP presentation skills course is the best workshop on scientific presentations I have ever attended.

The program gave me another dimension in my understanding of cancer care. Before the fellowship, I thought that the only way to help people, being a doctor, was through a direct person-to-person consultation in a clinic or hospital. I thought that direct care was my only camino (way). But through the fellowship and Masters in Public Health Training, I saw there were many different avenues in the arena of cancer and public health that I could choose from to develop my career in cancer prevention.

The CPFP made a huge impact on my professional career. I was trained as a medical oncologist but had limited exposure to science, except as an observer or an investigative team member. The CPFP introduced me to the ideas of cancer chemoprevention, many of the leading scientists working in the area, and gave me the opportunity to develop and test ideas that had the potential to transform cancer prevention from a conceptual theory into a greater element of clinical practice.

As a clinician with varied research interests in cancer prevention, I can think of no better postdoctoral fellowship. The mentoring, training and research opportunities of the CPFP are extraordinary.

The strength of the CPFP is in its flexibility. The fellowship pairs structured training opportunities with fellow-led research projects and initiatives. It encourages fellows to pursue their own ideas and develop broad collaborations. The independence and networks I have developed during this fellowship have spurred my growth as a scientist and opened up my career opportunities.

The CPFP is a remarkable opportunity that is enabling me to grow as a researcher and leader in the field of cancer prevention and is unlike traditional postdoctoral training programs. Rather than being restricted to just one area of research, this program allows me the flexibility to work with renowned mentors to explore new areas of research and build on my transdisciplinary training by connecting multiple health behaviors related to cancer, such as tobacco use, physical activity, and eating behaviors. There are networking opportunities, leadership trainings, and other skill-building activities that not only prepare me for the next step in my career, but propel me to heights greater than what I would have achieved through any other postdoctoral training program. 

I feel immensely grateful to be part of the CPFP. This program has given me the unique opportunity to transition from more lab-based work to the population sciences—a move I would not have been able to make without my M.P.H. training. To compliment this training, the research opportunities at the NCI are unparalleled. Finally, the opportunity to regularly interact with such a diverse group of fellows has been invaluable to my personal and professional development.

Coming from a basic science background, this fellowship has given me a tremendous opportunity to apply my knowledge and integrate it into the world of cancer epidemiology. I have met people and participated in projects that I never would have thought of before. The training I have received so far has provided me with incredible chances for professional and personal growth. I do not think I would have benefited as much as I have though any other post-doctoral experience.

The CPFP is the gift that keeps on giving—best thing that's happened to me career-wise and continues to be. The Fellowship is where I learned team science and team work and how to be a good collaborator. I love collaborating and working with folks. I don't have the entire skill set or breadth required to adequately address the issues we face in the field of cancer prevention, so by collaborating we can cover a lot more ground.

Enthusiastic applicants should not miss the opportunity to benefit maximally from attending the Summer Curriculum. The topics are quite exciting, faculty are at the frontlines of cutting-edge cancer research, and the administrators are seasoned. We learned the beauty of teamwork as well as improved our leadership qualities. We started as diverse strangers from different backgrounds and ended up as friends, through different academic as well as social activities. At the end, I realized that all skills are indeed useful in the cancer control continuum as they translate into the different perspectives to formulate research questions as well as useful interventions. The Principles and Practice of Cancer Prevention and Control Course was a blast. I wish the Molecular Prevention Course would last a little longer as I discovered my eureka moment in radiomics. I highly recommend the Summer Curriculum to everyone, as a world of enlightenment is but an attendance away.

It has been a great experience. I work in the implementation and dissemination of cancer prevention strategies in my country. In this course, we learned more about how to promote cancer prevention, screening and early detection, research and evidence-based programs. To help put sustainable plans in action, organizers gave personal attention and help to participants. Teachers were very professional and interested in supporting us. The program included high level materials in different topics. Thank you very much to the organizers and professors! Many classes were interactive. I got to know people from around the world with the same visions and goals as I have. The friends I made not only provided me support and laughs but are still good friends now. In this course, you can also identify possible collaborations for your projects. I highly recommend it. Now I feel more confident in what I am doing every day. I am sharing knowledge with my colleagues which will be very useful to achieve good results in our projects.

The NCI Summer Principles and Practice of Cancer Prevention and Control Course offered a complete and pedagogically structured program based on its multidisciplinary audience, which enriched my learning experience. I could appreciate a broader dimension of cancer as a public health issue in both developed and non-developed countries. The actors, methodologies and factors necessary in the planning of cancer prevention and control programs determine how the different populations strategically impact each one. The meticulous design of the program also led me to know the different perspectives of the disease, from the patient, the doctor who provides the treatment, the politician who balances the financing, as well as the researcher who studies any part of this process. Renowned researchers with vast experience inspired us to explore different areas of research and at the same time integrate knowledge. This experience gave me the opportunity to acquire and update knowledge and reaffirm my desire to continue my training in epidemiology.

The NCI Summer Curriculum is a very well organized, interesting and compact program for anyone with an interest in the field. It gave me a broader perspective of the topic and provoked a lot of thought for action in my current field of work, public health. Even though there was a lot of information to sort through in the 4 weeks—in addition to the lectures there were some site visits that were designed to cement the information—there was also time for some recreation and we were encouraged to do something fun and relaxing at the end of the day. We also had exercise breaks to begin the lunch hour and sometimes tea time and potluck lunches. We were able to make new connections with other international participants and to realize that some of our challenges are similar. Overall, this was a balanced program. The facilitators were patient, accommodating and understanding. I highly recommend it.

What a great opportunity to discuss the real biology of cancer and how cancer could be tamed.

I am very grateful and happy that life brought me to the Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program. My classmates created a warm environment for learning. I understood that I was in a very select group of outstanding classmates and that is why I was ready to learn from them and from the speakers. Given that the students came from many different countries, I could see that English is a very important language because it allowed me to communicate with people from different continents. But even more important was the tolerance, respect and inclusion that let me create closer relationships with people from different cultures. The last two weeks of the course were my favorite because I learned techniques to implement first level action plans. This was very enriching. The summer program promotes learning in an integral way. It gives us the tools we need related to the prevention-promoting international networks of support between the program participants. I recommend taking the courses to everyone and wish all those future participants to get as much as they can from it, to enjoy and finish the program as motivated and inspired as I did.

What was the NCI Summer Curriculum for me? I will start with thank you for a great opportunity! Such an amazing course, with professional field experts. A month of learning everything about new modalities of cancer prevention from where cancer prevention ideas are born in the United States. It was a highly organized course, with amazing tutors and lecturers, a superb friendly environment, and great people all around. So proud to be a part of this big family. For the next participants? Take a deep breath and start a new journey in the world of cancer prevention.

The 2019 CPFP Summer Curriculum Principles and Practice of Cancer Prevention and Control Course expanded my mental horizon by introducing me to the sheer breadth of biological and social science research being conducted in the field of cancer prevention. It was also a great introduction to a global perspective on cancer prevention and the challenges being faced. It was a privilege to have had the opportunity to learn from some of the best scholars and thinkers in the field. The feedback on the project concept paper and the session with the program director of the K series grants at NCI was particularly helpful.

The NCI Summer Curriculum is a fantastic program and I would recommend anyone working in cancer prevention to attend this course. It is a very well organized program including a wide variety of lectures given by experts in their field. Not all topics may seem relevant at first but working in cancer prevention, you will learn something valuable from each of them that will benefit your research or practice. I very much enjoyed meeting with and learning from participants from so many different countries, and building lasting connections. I went away with great inspiration, motivation and many ideas on how to improve and build on my current research.

The NCI Summer Curriculum has been an incredible opportunity to learn about the multidisciplinary effort required to prevent and control cancer globally and to work towards further identifying my professional niche. It has been a humbling experience to learn about the real-time cancer burden and intervention strategies of a host of different countries, an experience enriched by fellow course participants who represent over 35 countries! Each day, our discussions and lectures are led by compassionate, engaging and expert faculty at the NCI, all of whom are passionate about sharing their experience and lessons learned. One particularly unique component of the course is the concept paper proposal. Proposals are submitted prior to the course and then reviewed by NCI faculty and senior fellows. I received such thoughtful feedback and guidance on my proposal! The process of having to properly define a unique and clear question and then delineate an appropriate methodology was an incredible experience. Thank you to the organizers for leading such an outstanding program. The course has provided me with invaluable insight which will inform and shape the direction of my career and projects for years to come.

It was a great learning experience. You can find out everything about cancer prevention with comprehensive lectures, discussion groups for cancer prevention policies, evaluations from the authors for proposal concept projects, poster sessions, international presentations, and more. There were also tea hours, exercise activities, and so many fun times. Participants from different countries contributed to our collaboration skills. Thanks everyone, for these great four weeks. It was the best summer I have ever had.

The NCI Summer Curriculum was very instructive to me in various ways. First is about the comprehensiveness of the program. The 4-week training covered every single factor of cancer prevention in accordance with the cancer control continuum, quite intensively. The training was governed by two parts: lectures and small groups. Because each lecture was held by experts from each field, it maintained the highest professionalism when dealing with comprehensive topics. Small groups focused on applying the cutting-edge knowledge to practice. Second is the introduction of a project concept paper, and this was specifically helpful for me, as a student and researcher. All participants should be prepared to bring their own project, which would be specifically discussed, developed and modified with at least two NCI faculty members for further progress. NCI faculty are so open-minded about conveying their knowledge and promoting future collaboration. It was a great networking opportunity. The last thing is about the life. Even before the beginning of the class, and to the end of it, the program directors were super kind and helpful to provide useful information about housing, food, life, and the course in general.

What an intense and information packed five weeks! I was fortunate enough to participate in both Summer Curriculum courses, Principles and Practice of Cancer Prevention and Control and Molecular Cancer Prevention. With a bachelor’s in Public Health Science working in a molecular epidemiology group and soon to start a master’s program in Cancer Biology, Prevention, and Control, I wanted to take both of these courses to supplement the hands-on basic science training I was receiving in the lab. It was my hope to learn more of the science behind various cancers, become familiar with prevention and control efforts, and connect with others in the field. These courses not only met my expectations but surpassed them exponentially. I walked away having a much better understanding of the challenges and obstacles we all face—clinicians, researchers, policy analysts, community organizers, advocates, patients and their families, etc.— when combating cancer. Likewise, I learned of the many successes that has led to better screenings, diagnostics, and treatments. With all that I learned, nothing compares to the connections I’ve made, both international and local. Learning how different countries address cancer has given me an appreciation for the resources developed countries often take for granted and the resourcefulness of developing countries in being able to overcome so many challenges. I look forward to continuing the relationships that were formed, and the possibility of collaborating with some of the world’s finest researchers.

The NCI cancer prevention training was a lifetime opportunity for a young researcher to be exposed to the state-of-the-art in research techniques available for cancer prevention and control. The training met my expectations and my capacity was strengthened towards reversing the scourge of cancers in low- and middle-income countries. I will put all that I have learned into practice to effect changes in our cancer prevention efforts in my home country.

I highly recommend the NCI Summer Curriculum Principles and Practice of Cancer Prevention and Control course. Researchers, public health practitioners, and clinical professionals will benefit from this comprehensive four-week course that challenges participants to expand their knowledge and understanding of cancer prevention and control. Daily lectures are presented by leading subject matter experts, many of whom include collaborative activities to enhance learning. As a new Cancer Prevention Fellow, I am confident about starting my post-doctoral fellowship with a strong foundation and understanding of cancer prevention and control. Furthermore, the ability to network and create new friendships with scholars from all over the world was an incredible experience.

The CPFP Summer Curriculum Principles and Practice of Cancer Prevention and Control and the Molecular Cancer Prevention Courses are very commendable. I personally liked how it was designed to meet everyone needs and considering their backgrounds. It is true that diversity is rich, thus spending weeks with folks from different countries and fields of work enriched my experience and expanded my interests in research, especially the oncology pharmacy. The learning environment was really conducive and flexible, and the NCI staff and speakers were open for networking and further support. The program provided me with tools and rich lectures which upgraded my skills and knowledge regarding cancer prevention and control.

I was lucky to be part of the 2019 NCI Summer Curriculum’s Principles and Practice of Cancer Prevention and Control course. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet and interact with amazing classmates from over 35 countries and to learn from a world-class faculty. I appreciate the team of organizers for an extraordinarily well-organized program. One of my personal highlights was being mentored on the project concept proposals, a rare experience that will influence my day-to-day work.

The cancer prevention and control course at the National Cancer Institute is the greatest course I have ever attended. It provides a wide range of prevention context in different types of cancer. It is a great chance to revise knowledge in cancer epidemiology, and to receive updated information from great speakers. Besides lectures, I really appreciated the working group sessions, which are challenging but helped me to learn how to construct a cancer prevention campaign in a detailed plan. I also learned from other participants about presentation, questioning skills, and giving compliments in a clever way. Participants are people with brilliant brains and lightning fast thinking, whom I admire a lot. We had many fun times together through dancing sessions at noon, visiting the spy museum, and taking photos during international day. The most essential elements of the program, I have to say, are the organizers; they are super hosts. Memories about people with great characteristics that I met and interacted with will be very hard to fade in my mind.

The NCI Principles and Practice of Cancer Prevention and Control Course has been an experience of a lifetime. This course was designed meticulously, incorporating all the necessary tools and activities to inspire and motivate. I realized the true essence of a comprehensive cancer control and prevention plan and now have surpassed my understanding. This course enabled me to ascertain the deficiencies and limitations in the cancer control plans in my country and facilitated my ambitions and plans towards my community. The amalgamation of the best facilitators with decades of experience motivated me to contribute to cancer patient care. Moreover, it was so exhilarating and inspiring to meet and share real-life experiences with other fellows from different parts of the world.

The Summer Curriculum provided me with a broad overview of cancer prevention and made me appreciate all the science and methodology that goes into the planning of prevention programs. As a Ph.D. candidate in head and neck cancer epidemiology, I was able to be exposed to different aspects of cancer that I do not usually see. I was extremely satisfied by the level of organization throughout the four weeks and the quality of the lectures. The project concept paper and the group case studies were activities that taught me a lot, helped me to develop on a personal level and gave me confidence to continue some scientific projects back home. As a clinician, it provided me with a global overview of cutting-edge evidence to translate into practice. As a new investigator, it is a launching platform for collaboration and the future success of my research, which will reach my underserved population. Blending concepts learned from the program with ideas from the international and national participants will improve my ability to create and improve cancer prevention programs in my community. I am truly honored to be a part of such an impeccable course and highly recommend all my colleagues in cancer research attend this program. The staff always was willing to collaborate, with a smile, with kindness and patience, and absolute commitment to work.

The NCI has given me a new understanding of cancer care. As a biomedical laboratory scientist, I thought cancer prevention and control was the work of the clinician until I attended the 2019 Summer Curriculum on cancer prevention and control practices. My meeting with scientists from different parts of the world with different specializations exposed me to the world of cancer research. This has motivated me to move from laboratory-based work to cancer research, a journey I started embarking on as soon as I got home, in order to help the world fight cancer so it becomes a cancer-free place to live. The group discussions really enlightened me about a lot of things I didn't know about cancer. The presentations also increased my confidence in addressing public issues. I want to thank the organizers for such an exposure. This is the best among all the cancer programs I have attended.

I can describe my whole summer spent at the NCI Principles and Practice of Cancer Prevention and Control Course as a watershed moment in my life. Before attending this program, I was content and pigeon-holed in my position as a health economist and outcomes researcher in cancer, working on improving quality of life and survivorship outcomes in Black prostate cancer survivors. I have now seen the light on how to expand my horizons and do greater things. I was able to acquire more skills on how to effectively translate and disseminate my research. I also learned about new concepts in omics studies and implementation sciences. And because I attended the Molecular Prevention Course as well, I learned the importance of understanding the genetics of cancer, one of the strongest risk factors. The feedback I got on my submitted concept paper helped transform my idea into actual research engagement. The lectures were very informative. The group activities, both inside and outside the classroom, allowed for fostering collaborations and camaraderie with colleagues from all over the world. Being in the class every day felt like partaking in a UN buffet! The classroom itself was dynamic and the questions contributed by attendees made for richer discussions. Perhaps the fondest memories I will have of this program will be those of the connections and lifelong friendships made with the wonderful organizers and my fellow cohorts. I cannot wait to implement all I have learned to become an independent, renowned cancer researcher, employ research to address disparity gaps, disseminate knowledge at the community level, and build community capacity along the way.

As a consultant in preventive and community oncology in a cancer center in India, the NCI Summer Curriculum proved to be an ideal opportunity for me to enhance my knowledge and understanding in cancer prevention and control. A thoroughly planned, flawlessly executed curriculum with expert and eminent faculty encompassed almost all aspects of cancer prevention and control. The biggest highlight for me was the great opportunity to interact with vibrant and enthusiastic participants from different parts of the globe and form an everlasting bond of friendship. The course is blessed with the best organizers it could possibly have. Memories of a month of extensive learning, meaningful interactions, brainstorming, fun, frolic and lifelong friendships will be cherished forever.

This program has brought out the hidden passion in me! It gave me the opportunity to meet with diverse professionals. The courses were carefully selected and well thought out by the faculty members. The staff were truly amazing. The group activities were an eye opener. I learned public speaking indirectly through this course, I learned to be a good team player, and above all I gathered the enthusiasm to join the "cancer fighters" all over the world to find a lasting solution to cancer. I highly recommend the Summer Curriculum.

These exceptionally interactive and multidisciplinary courses, Principles and Practice of Cancer Prevention and Control and Molecular Cancer Prevention, expanded my understanding of effective strategies for cancer prevention and control and broadened my research collaboration network. The poster session and project concept paper presentations gave me the opportunity to learn about cancer prevention strategies from around the globe and the chance to get valuable feedback on my research proposal.

The NCI Cancer Prevention and Control Principles and Practice Course was an incredible experience and a privilege. I enjoyed every moment inside and outside the classroom. The course was perfectly structured from health promotion and prevention to palliative care, which gives a global vision of the problem. The conferences were held by experts, who were always available for future contacts. The design of the course facilitates the interaction between the participants, which promotes the development of a very rich global network and, of course, new friendships around the world. This course is highly recommended. More than just a course, it is an experience that impacts your life. Thanks to all the organizers!

I was extremely fortunate to have been able to attend the NCI Summer Curriculum, which was definitely one of the best courses I ever attended. The content of the course is excellent, very well structured and designed. It was a pleasure and privilege to listen to so many renowned lecturers from different research areas giving world-class talks. Exceptional and inspiring teaching, enthusiastic attitude, engaging and with brilliant interactions. The question time at the end of each talk offered us valuable opportunities to communicate with the lecturers. Their broad knowledge, insightful thoughts, encouragement, and patience to answer every single question have made learning the most enjoyable and memorable experience. Group activities during the program united participants to work together as a team, and to build up research networks. Dancing/physical activities during the break time organized by our peer volunteers was a lot of fun and a great fit with the theme of cancer prevention. The Cancer Preventorium tour at the end of the course was indeed another fabulous and unforgettable learning experience. I would highly recommend this course to all my colleagues and the researchers nationally and internationally who are interested in cancer prevention.

I was delighted to be able to attend the National Cancer Institute Summer Curriculum Principles and Practice of Cancer Prevention and Control course as part of the long-standing Ireland/Northern Ireland/NCI Consortium Initiative. As a medical statistician with limited research experience in the field of cancer, I was keen to attend the program in order to enhance my clinical and epidemiological knowledge of cancer prevention. The course covers a wide variety of pertinent topics and I found the sessions relating to chemoprevention particularly relevant to my own research. An intensive four-week training schedule might sound initially daunting, but the time passes very quickly and there are ample opportunities to explore Washington and its surrounds. The course exceeded my expectations and you will receive a warm welcome at NCI, both from the staff facilitating the course and from the other participants. No question you may have is irrelevant or unimportant. Hopefully you will have the opportunity to develop some new collaborations and make some new friends too!

I had a fabulous five weeks’ experience in learning the concepts, techniques and challenges faced in cancer prevention, care and control. I would call this course as three "I"s: an informative and interactive course which provided an international platform for the upgrade of our current knowledge in cancer prevention and control among the participants of diverse populations. During the course, I got an opportunity to interact with the eminent scientists and outstanding professors who helped me to understand and strengthen my knowledge of translational research and cancer health awareness. Thanks to the whole NCI team for organizing such a wonderful course and giving me the opportunity to be a part of it.

I highly recommend the NCI Summer Curriculum Principles and Practice of Cancer Prevention and Control and Molecular Cancer Prevention Course. The Summer Curriculum provided an in-depth overview of foundational principles and cutting-edge discoveries in the field of cancer prevention and control, which simply cannot be found elsewhere. It is structured so that daily lectures intersect and build upon each other, allowing attendees to review familiar content and incorporate new information in an intuitive manner. Lectures are delivered by an incredible line-up of expert guest speakers, from within the NCI and other leading cancer research institutions. A particularly unique feature is the opportunity to network with cancer researchers and practitioners from all around the globe. As a new Cancer Prevention Fellow coming from a behavioral health research background, the curriculum allowed me to develop a solid knowledge base to support my transition into the field of cancer prevention research.

The Summer Curriculum is an amazing and recommendable experience for everyone who cares about patients. As a medical oncologist, the course gave me a general overview about cancer prevention strategies for cancer control. It also provides the excellent scenario to create an international network and plan projects that could globally impact cancer outcomes. The most interesting activities from the course were the interactive ones: the international day presentations were extraordinary. Learning about problems in the different countries and also being able to share our project proposals and get feedback from people with different perspectives and backgrounds was very useful. Not only the academic program but also the social activities were great. The organization was impeccable. I came with my family; it was a great experience for all of us, and this month will last in our memories forever. Please consider attending this course, you will be a different person, is all I can say.

I am honored to have been selected to participate in the Summer Curriculum in Cancer Prevention. This fellowship gave me the opportunity to study how to create a cancer prevention program, from the methodology to the practice; how to write a policy brief; and how to write and apply for a grant. There were networking opportunities, leadership trainings, and other skill-building activities. These things not only prepared me for the next step in my career, but gave me a higher platform that I might not have from other training programs. The lecturers were superb. The information was useful and comprehensible. The preparation and logistics were perfect. I met excellent doctors, scientists, and researchers from all around the world. Regardless of borders, languages, and cultures, we had the same target: "fighting cancer as early as possible." We were all in this together. We shared our lives and our professional experience. We laughed a lot and had fun every day.

The NCI Summer Curriculum provided me with an invaluable platform to learn new knowledge in the area of cancer prevention and control. It was a robust course and the concepts of cancer prevention and control were extensively and thoroughly covered. As a cancer control advocate with little epidemiology background, this course has equipped me with the knowledge and tools to collect, evaluate and interpret cancer data at the population level. This was one of the major highlights of the program for me. With participants from 26 countries including the U.S., the program also helped me to make new international connections and forge friendships. It was a great learning experience and I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is keen about global cancer prevention and control.