Educating and Retaining the Cancer-Focused Biomedical Workforce from Rural Appalachian Kentucky: The Impact of Experiential Learning and Scholarship Funding.

Kentucky postsecondary education levels are significantly below the national level, with lower levels in the Appalachian region of the state. Health disparities, including high cancer incidence and mortality, make educating and retaining students from the region a priority. The Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) program offers cancer-related experiential opportunities and scholarships to Appalachian students.

Impact of a Cancer Education Curriculum on Appalachian Kentucky Middle and High School Students.

Appalachian Kentucky is disproportionately affected by elevated cancer incidence and mortality rates. This disparity is driven by inequities in health behaviors and social determinants of health including decreased education attainment levels that cause lower health literacy. To increase cancer literacy in the region, a three-part cancer education curriculum was designed for Appalachian Kentucky middle and high school students.