Ovarian cancer workshop program at the University of Pittsburgh: survivors and clinicians working together to educate future practitioners

Abstract: Existing programs within ovarian cancer nonprofit organizations where survivors of the disease teach health practitioner students exist, but their evidence base needs to be strengthened in order to better understand their effect and generalizability within current health practitioner education. Amid concerns that health practitioner education does not involve patients in empowering roles or encourage empathy for patients among the soon-to-be medical professionals, giving patients/survivors leadership roles and a forum to have their voices heard is likely to be beneficial to all parties involved. The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) Pittsburgh Chapter has an existing speaker’s bureau program that utilizes both clinician and survivor teaching to reach future health practitioners, with a one-hour presentation given on a volunteer basis. The objective of this thesis is to propose an enhanced implementation plan, as well as offer an evaluation plan that will be sustainable for the NOCC Pittsburgh Chapter. Current non-student participants will be polled to build a larger network, with an internal communications strategy laid out to continue to grow and strengthen the program. Students will complete empathy questionnaires before presentations, and again with a two-month follow up survey. Survivor participants will complete empowerment surveys via email. Data will be analyzed and presented to network members regularly via email, with a final in-person presentation at the end of the one-year program. The public health impact of an innovative, evidence-based health education program can be measured in greater survivor involvement and practitioner empathy, with an endpoint of better health outcomes among future patients