Fostering Student Engagement via a Community Outreach and Engagement Internship Program

Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) is a mandated component of National Cancer Institute (NCI)- designated comprehensive cancer centers. Community partnerships are necessary to address cancer disparities, yet few examples of training programs exist to guide career development focused on community-engaged cancer prevention. We designed and assessed a COE internship to enhance workforce development through experiential learning in cancer prevention and control. We implemented a six-week, part-time COE internship that paired didactic training with hands-on experience in patient navigation, community outreach and engagement, health education, and clinical research. Undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students engaged in staff-led learning and participated in outreach at the community-level. Intern experiences and self-perceived competency development were assessed using post-program surveys. 35 interns successfully completed the COE internship between inception and Spring 2026. Twenty-eight interns responded to the program evaluation survey. 92% of interns rated their overall experience as either excellent (64%) or very good (28%). The majority of interns reported significant competency development in communication, health education, and knowledge dissemination skills (46%). Awareness of community health disparities (36%), professional skills and interpersonal relations (29%), patient navigation and administration (29%), and research and analytical skills (25%) were also noted. Themes identified through qualitative responses included appreciation for interdisciplinary mentorship and hands-on experience. Our COE internship provided students an opportunity to gain experience in community-engaged cancer prevention. Integration of COE components will continue to develop the necessary workforce skills for those pursuing careers in public health and cancer research.