Some simple suggestions:

• Focus on researchers-in-training
  • Doctoral students and postdocs often want to hear about the human side of cancer.
  • During their careers, they will interact with advocates on review panels and their relatives will ask for their advice on cancer-related issues.
  • Engaging with interested non-scientists should be part of their professional development.
• Recruit for patients/survivors on campus
  • Any large research university will have a number of cancer patients and survivors on staff who are interested in learning more about cancer and in nurturing the next generation of cancer researcher.
  • Welcome family members as well. Their perspective is just as important.
• Begin with a panel presentation by patients/survivors, targeted to graduate students and junior researchers
  • It’s better to have 5-8 individuals share their stories for a few minutes each as opposed to one speaker sharing a lengthier story. (Students should be exposed to a range of cancers and experiences). 
  • Be sure to include patients with metastatic disease.
  • Students quickly learn that everyone’s cancer experience is unique.

• Make it a big tent
  • Most universities have academic silos. Invite all trainees involved in cancer research, not just those in a particular school.
• Tie into existing programs
  
  • Offer lay language “primers” before presentations by guest lecturers
  • If there is a poster session, involve patients as judges for the “People’s Choice Award“