麻豆视频

For four years, the Wilmot Cancer Institute has run a summer internship program to expose local Deaf high school students to cancer-related healthcare and research careers they might not otherwise consider. With support from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Wilmot will expand that program to provide science education internship opportunities to Deaf high school students at four partner sites across the U.S.

Wilmot researcher Sara Blick-Nitko, PhD, (far right) holds up a tube of cells in front of (right to left) Valodymir “Val” Busch, Quinesha Wade, Future Deaf Scientists Co-Director Wyatte Hall, PhD, and Hailey Rogers. Photo credit Erich Camping.

Wilmot’s Future Deaf Scientists program started as a partnership with the Rochester School for the Deaf (RSD). Each summer, a group of RSD high school students intern at the cancer center to learn about various aspects of oncology and cancer research. Through shadowing and classroom instruction, they experience a day in the life of oncologists, surgeons, nursing staff, and cancer researchers. Students also get the chance to meet prominent Deaf medical professionals and researchers both locally and from around the country in virtual fireside chats.

“We designed the program to create opportunities that do not naturally exist for Deaf students,” said Wyatte Hall, PhD, Future Deaf Scientists co-director and assistant professor of Public Health Sciences at the 麻豆视频 (URMC). “The program exposes students to many different aspects of medicine and science and very intentionally engages them with Deaf role models who have PhDs and MDs so they can see the possibilities for themselves when considering their life directions. In many ways, I simply tried to create the opportunities I wished I had in high school as a Deaf person.”

“The Wilmot internships allow our students to step into the world of medicine with incredible Deaf mentors. They have the opportunity to see firsthand the many possibilities in medical research, care, and outreach,” said RSD Superintendent Antony McLetchie, who was a key partner in developing the Future Deaf Scientists program. “As a result, they are inspired to dream big and consider careers in health sciences and STEM fields while also learning about professional expectations and skills, setting them up for career success.”

RSD Principal Susan Ogden and Dean of Students Sarah Gordon were also involved in developing the program.

Former intern Emma Kane still holds the Future Deaf Scientists program close to her heart. Now entering her third year at the Rochester Institute of Technology, she is a research assistant at the Deaf Health Care and Biomedical Science Hub, which aims to increase the representation of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in healthcare and biomedical sciences.

Kane says she’s grateful to have participated in the program and is glad students beyond Rochester will be able to experience it.

“Thousands of deaf kids do not receive this kind of opportunity where they can have deaf/hard of hearing role models and shadowing opportunities,” said Kane. “An opportunity like this program will open up a series of doors for many deaf/hard of hearing students wanting to pursue a career in healthcare fields.”

Reaching Students Across the Country

Pathologist Andrew Johnson, MD, (far left) points out abnormalities on a diseased heart to (left to right) Valodymir “Val” Busch, Byron Behm, Future Deaf Scientists Co-Director Wyatte Hall, PhD, and Braulio Clark. Photo credit Erich Camping.

Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, the Future Deaf Scientists summer internship program will be offered at four other schools for the Deaf situated near our new partner cancer centers:

• California School for the Deaf – Fremont (Superintendent Amy Novotony) partnering with the Stanford Cancer Institute (James Ford, MD)
• Indiana School for the Deaf (Superintendent David Geeslin) partnering with the Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center (Harikrishna Nakshatri, MD)
• American School for the Deaf (Superintendent Jeff Bravin) partnering with the Yale Cancer Center (Michael Hurwitz, MD)
• Kentucky School for the Deaf (Principal Lynn Petrey) partnering with the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center (Nathan Vanderford, MD)

“Thanks to the funding from the NCI, this program will balloon from impacting about ten students each year to 100 or more,” said Future Deaf Scientists Co-Director Ruth O’Regan, MD, who is also the chair and Charles Ayrault Dewey Professor in the Department of Medicine at URMC. “We are excited to partner with this group of highly reputable cancer centers who will extend the reach and impact of this program.”

Cultivating Cultural Competence

Rochester, NY has one of the largest per capita Deaf communities in the country and 麻豆视频has one of the largest populations of Deaf professionals with biomedical expertise in the world, which uniquely positions Wilmot to work with and serve this special population. Deaf experts, including Hall, Rochester Postdoctoral Partnership scholar Sara Blick-Nitko, PhD, and National Cancer Institute fellow Megan Majocha, PhD, helped design and refine the Future Deaf Scientists program alongside Wilmot Assistant Director of Cancer Research Training and Education Carla Casulo, MD, and 麻豆视频Senior Associate Dean of Basic Research, Paula Vertino, PhD. The team worked extensively to ensure the curriculum was scientifically rich and culturally appropriate and that necessary resources, like American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters trained in science and medical terminology, were abundant.  

Before the program launches at partner sites next fall, this Deaf-led team will support the new partner cancer centers with a mentor training program to ensure hearing teachers understand the students’ culture, experiences, and diversity of communication methods and needs. ASL interpreter Byron Behm, MA, NIC, from the University of Rochester Office of Disability Resources, will also work with the team to develop science and medical terminology training for ASL interpreters at those centers.

Year-Round Training for Local Students

Future Deaf Scientists program leaders pose with the 2024 class of interns at the end-of-internship celebration. Photo credit Erich Camping.

In addition to expanding geographically, the Future Deaf Scientists program will also begin to provide year-round training for local RSD students in the fall of 2025. Wilmot researchers and medical professionals will deliver classroom lessons and fireside chats at RSD throughout the school year. Students will then be immersed in an expanded summer internship at Wilmot built on the base curriculum developed over the past four years.

Students also will participate in the expanded program for two years, serving as peer leaders during their second year. While repeat participation has not been required, several students have opted to join the summer internship two years in a row. Samuel Pacheco Hernandez, a rising 11^th grader at RSD, said he did the internship for a second time this summer for more in-depth learning.

"Developing our cultural competence at Wilmot and maintaining regular contact with students throughout the academic year will help us build a stronger connection," said Nicole O'Dell, PhD, program manager of the Future Deaf Scientists program and research assistant professor at Wilmot. "Currently, we see that the pathway to science and medical careers can be very challenging for Deaf individuals. We hope that by providing early exposure, we can inspire students to consider these career paths when they start planning their futures in college."