Inspiring the Next Generation
Read Time: 4 minutes
Huntsman Cancer Institute is committed to opening more doors to careers in science and medicine for trainees from communities in the Mountain West and beyond. A key way to do this is by partnering with educators. Enter the , an initiative connecting cutting-edge cancer research to middle and high school teachers.
鈥淭hrough the PathMaker Bridge program, we are expanding the boundaries of scientific knowledge and empowering educators to be catalysts for change,鈥 says Gita Suneja, MD, MSHP, one of the principal investigators of PathMaker Bridge at Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor of radiation oncology at the . 鈥淏y connecting research with teaching, we are nurturing a new generation of inspired scientists who will be leaders in cancer innovation.鈥
A Transformative Journey
The PathMaker Bridge program offers a six-week summer research experience in a Huntsman Cancer Institute laboratory. Teachers collaborate with scientists, deepen their understanding of cancer biology, and create lesson plans tailored to their students. Participants receive financial compensation, 20 graduate credits over two years, and ongoing professional development.
鈥淔or me, the most valuable insight was being reminded that I can do hard things,鈥 says Deb Smith, a middle school science teacher in Salt Lake City. 鈥淚 tell my students that being a lifelong learner is how we become successful humans. This program reaffirmed that belief in myself and helped me model it for my students.鈥
Smith adds, 鈥淗aving scientists from Huntsman Cancer Institute visit my classroom has made a huge difference. When students see real-life examples, they begin to believe in their own potential.鈥
鈥淩epresentation in science matters,鈥 says Elena Mylroie, a teacher at Chinle High School in Arizona and a member of the Navajo Nation. 鈥淰ery few, if any, of my students have parents who went to college. When they see someone with a similar background succeeding, it inspires them to aim higher.鈥
鈥淏eing a lifelong learner is how we become successful humans."
Deb Smith
Bringing Science to Life
For many teachers, the program has revitalized their approach to science education. They incorporate hands-on techniques like pipetting and data analysis into lessons, transforming abstract concepts into engaging, real-world activities.
鈥淥ne of the most rewarding parts has been the excitement in my students,鈥 says Mylroie. 鈥淚 teach 126 kids across 6 classes. Showing them how to read data and do projects has made them more interested in science. They see I鈥檝e done it, and now they believe they can, too.鈥
The program also challenges participants, pushing them outside their comfort zones. 鈥淚 had times where I felt like the most ignorant person in the room,鈥 Smith adds. 鈥淏ut that only made me appreciate the process of learning鈥攁nd reminded me how my students feel when facing new challenges. Perseverance is key.鈥
Breaking Down Barriers
For one teacher, the impact of connecting her students to real-world science went far beyond the classroom.
鈥淚 took my class to Huntsman Cancer Institute, and they haven鈥檛 stopped talking about it,鈥 says April Thompson, a teacher at Westlake High School in Utah County. 鈥淲e visited lab鈥攈ad a 45-minute Q and A鈥攁nd the kids were so prepared to talk about cancer. Engagement soared in the classroom.鈥
But it wasn鈥檛 just the students who grew. 鈥淚t was humbling to realize I still had some biases I needed to confront,鈥 Thompson adds. 鈥淒r. Welm opened my eyes to the importance of collaboration and communication. That kind of safe space helps everyone bring ideas to the table.鈥
Hope Through Discovery
The PathMaker Bridge program isn鈥檛 just about education鈥攊t鈥檚 about hope. For one participant who has her own personal connection with the disease, the program reignited optimism about cancer treatment.
Mi Pohahau, a sixth-grade teacher in Ogden, Utah, reflected on her dual drivers as an educator and patient. 鈥淚 am motivated to understand cancer at its core. As a teacher, I aim to foster education that inspires the next generation to make meaningful contributions to cancer research. Programs like this show how science can change lives.鈥
鈥淧rograms like this show how science can change lives.鈥
Mi Pohahau
鈥淪ince COVID, kids are more timid, resistant, and fearful. We鈥檙e working to reestablish a growth mindset.鈥
Through this initiative, Huntsman Cancer Institute is not only shaping the future of science education but also planting seeds of curiosity, perseverance, and hope in classrooms across the Mountain West.
鈥淭his program has given me hope that cancer can one day be eradicated鈥攑ossibly within my lifetime,鈥 Mylroie adds. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important for my students to see the human side of science and be motivated by the possibility of making a difference.鈥
Looking Ahead
Teachers are eager to see the PathMaker Bridge program expand and inspire even more students. 鈥淚 really hope, with this new location being built in Vineyard, that Huntsman Cancer Institute creates a larger outreach program. Even a few hours a day for an internship or field trip could make a difference,鈥 Thompson says. 鈥淛ust meeting a scientist via Zoom helps students see there鈥檚 more they can become.鈥