In-depth Interviews of Alumni from a Structured Postdoctoral

Training Program

Jessica M. Faupel-Badger1, David E. Nelson1, Kimberley Raue2, Sophia Tsakraklides2

1Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program, National Cancer Institute

2Westat, Inc.

American Evaluation AssociationEvaluation 2013

Jessica M. Faupel-Badger1, David E. Nelson1, Kimberley Raue2, Sophia Tsakraklides2

1Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program, National Cancer Institute

2Westat, Inc.

American Evaluation AssociationEvaluation 2013

NCI Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program (CPFP)

• Post-doctoral NCI Fellowship with 25 year history

• Multidisciplinary

• Independent, mentored-research in cancer prevention

• 10-15 Fellows selected annually through competitive process

CPFP Program Components

• Master of Public Health degree (typically year 1)• Mentored research (years 2-4)• Summer Curriculum in Cancer Prevention• Fellows’ Research Meetings• Cancer Prevention and Control Colloquia• Grant writing• Professional development training (e.g.,

leadership, oral presentations)

Rationale for CPFP Evaluation

• Program started in 1985, now have over 200 alumni

• Inform programming within CPFP curriculum, recruitment and selection of fellows, and allocation of resources

• Applicable to broader postdoctoral research training community

Career Outcomes Evaluation of CPFP Alumni

• Determine if CPFP meeting goals of training cancer prevention researchers and leaders

• Provide insight into value of structured training programs; transdisciplinary environments

• Three part process – Qualitative interviews, survey, archival analysis

Conceptual Framework

Inputs

Fellow Characteristics:•Age•Gender•Race\Ethnicity•Doctoral Degree•Years Since Degree•Scientific Discipline

Activities

Program Characteristics:•Receipt of MPH degree•Number of years in CPFP•Participation in CPFP Training Activities

Outcomes

•Scientific Productivity•Career Choices•Career Advancement•Peer Recognition•Transdisciplinary Collaboration

Purpose for In-depth Interviews

• Assess benefits of program as perceived by CPFP alumni

• Recommendations for maintaining and improving aspects of CPFP

• Inform survey instrument development

Selection of Alumni for Interviews

• 18 alumni randomly selected across each of three career sectors (government, academia, other)

• 27 alumni interviewed (9 government, 9 academia, and 9 other)

• Selection based on first nine alumni in each category who agreed to participate

Comparison of Interviewees to All Alumni

Characteristic Number Percent Number Percent

Gender

Female 18 67% 152 72%

Male 9 33% 59 28%

Race

White 19 70% 144 68%

Asian 5 19% 32 15%

Other 3 11% 35 17%

Interviewed (n=27) All alumni (n=211)

• Among all alumni, more in government (50%)• Earliest (1985-89) and most recent classes (2005-2009)

less represented in interview group

Interview Structure and Analysis

• Open-ended questions, approximately 30 min recorded phone interview

• NVivo for qualitative data analysis – coding themes and other key issues

Interview Questions – Career Preparation

• Specific training elements within CPFP curriculum

• Career planning/view of career options during CPFP

• Current employment

Interview Questions – Professional Identity

• Participating in professional community

• Mentorship and autonomy

• Benefits to CPFP alumni

Major Findings

• Value of Master of Public Health degree

• Autonomy

• Recommendations for program improvement

Quotes – Value of MPH

• “Profound. Profound effect. I think that’s one of the most important things not only during the fellowship, but in my life…one of the nicest features of the fellowship program.”

• “…[the MPH] definitely gave me a different view of how research could be done…”

MPH – Alumni Perspectives

Provided:•Different view of research•Foundation in public health •Filled gaps in knowledge•Common language•Credibility•Opportunity for career transition

MPH as Central Locus

Quotes - Autonomy

• “Since I was a Cancer Prevention Fellow, I think I was given more flexibility to kind of craft my own research with my mentor versus ones he hired and was paying out of his own pocket…I think that really was helpful especially for moving up and kind of creating more people to be an independent thinker.”

• “…if I didn’t have that opportunity to develop my own independent research, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing…”

Quotes - Recommendations

• “…reach out to alumni…Help us get connected.”

• “…structured conversations about career opportunities…” and “…hear about negotiating job offers…”

• “…need more placements in the community. Fellows need to leave ivory tower of NCI and NIH.”

Next Steps

• Survey instrument developed – in OMB review

– CPFP alumni, CPFP applicants, F32 awardees

– Capturing career trajectory and outcomes

• Archival data (bibliometric analysis) of each survey group

• Preparing manuscript based on qualitative interviews

Thank you!

Questions?