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Goals

In this initial effort to inspire “Careers in Cancer,” the Cancer Workforce Team envisioned the Careers in Cancer Speaker’s Kit with the following goals in mind.

By the end of the presentation, students will:
• Appreciate the opportunity to make a difference in cancer, a major health problem
• Consider the breadth and depth of career opportunities
• Possess the tools to pursue more information about potential education and career paths

Conceptual Flow & Psychology

The presentation is divided into 2 versions, short and long. The first portion of the presentation, slides 1-25, is designed to open the door to possible career paths. The latter portion of the presentation is designed to provide a more detailed profile of selected careers. In some cases, it may be more appropriate to deliver the first portion of the presentation and provide the latter portion as a handout reference.

Short Version

1) Phase I: “What Do You Enjoy?” - Identification

The initial slides focus on identification through the use of:
• Visual images of 15-25 year olds in street clothing
• Probing questions that might elicit an emotional response
• Messages suggesting “this could be you!”

2) Phase II: “Consider the Problem” – Opportunity

This section of slides focuses on the significance of cancer through:
• Facts about the incidence of cancer and survival statistics
• Messages suggesting the scope of the problem
• An invitation to make a difference

3) Phase III: “Consider Your Options” - Choices

The last section of slides highlights practical considerations:
• Earning potential, job security, career growth
• Variety of roles, work settings, and career paths

Long Version

In addition to the critical introduction described above, the longer version includes personal quotes from cancer careerists as well as a profile of 7 different roles: Nurse, Physician, Social Worker, Public Health Scientist, Research Scientist, Pharmacist, and Cancer Registrar. Speakers may choose to review all of the career profiles or highlight a few careers based upon the interest of the audience.

Talking Points

Please consider the following:

• INSPIRE: Create emotional connections that will drive logical decisions and action
- Emphasize the meaningful contribution of all cancer-related careers
- Share your personal story – education, career path, challenges / rewards

• CONNECT: Interact with the audience throughout the presentation
- Who has considered a career in the health workforce? In cancer?
- Who has a friend or family member with cancer?

• DEMYSTIFY: Try to overcome their preconceived notions about cancer and careers
- Emphasize the opportunity, not the shortage
- Focus on job security, not vacancy rates
- Highlight the hope of survivorship
- Illustrate the varying lengths of educational preparation and amount of patient contact

• ASSESS: Recognize their developmental and generational characteristics
- Need for independence and choices
- Affinity for variety and flexibility
- Tolerance for challenge of career planning

• TEACH: Increase the chances of comprehension and retention
- Avoid technical, scientific terminology, or jargon
- Repeat key points
- Limited amount of information and presentation length

Suggested Venues

Suggested venues for delivering Careers in Cancer presentation or making the speaker’s kit materials available:

Speaker’s Kit Inventory

The Careers in Cancer Speaker’s Kit contains the following materials for use in tailoring your presentation to the audience, venue, and presentation length. All of these Microsoft Word and PowerPoint files are contained on the CD-Rom and are available on our website.

Reference / Information
• Overview - Talking points, suggested venues
• Data collection postcards

Presentation Materials
• Careers in Cancer slide presentation - short version Approx. 20 minutes for slides 1-25
• Careers in Cancer slide presentation - long version Approx. 45-60 minutes for slides 1-70

Handouts
• Slide hand out
• Resources List

Minimum Systems Requirements
• Computer with the capacity to handle a 15 MB file
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2001 or later versions
• CD drive or Internet connectivity to download the materials from the web site www.c-changetogether.org
• LCD Projector for slide projection
• Photocopier for additional handout production

Please contact Alison Smith with questions, problems, or suggestions with the material at asmith@c-changetogether.org or (847) 432-6301.

For additional or replacement materials, please go to www.c-changetogether.com or contact the C-Change office to request another speakers kit at 202.756.1600.

Future Editions

Future editions of these materials will be developed with video clips of health professionals and to target other audiences. We would appreciate your feedback on this initial version based upon your expertise and the feedback received from your audiences so that we may further enhance subsequent products.

Acknowledgements

C-Change would like to recognize the collaboration of many individuals for their contributions:
• Vision by the Cancer Workforce Team, chaired by Maureen Lichtveld
• Guidance by the Speaker’s Kit Subcommittee including Linda Filipczak, Pearl Moore, Gary Reedy, and Paula Rieger
• Research and development by Alison Smith and Emilie Tierney
• Advice from Johnson & Johnson via Gary Reedy and Andrea Highan
• Marketing and communications by John Turck; Graphic design by Patrick Powers