By Eliza Dysart
After spending four years conducting basic science research as an undergraduate at the University of Florida, Michael Lunin wanted to understand how that work could translate into better care for patients with cancer.
Through the UF Health Cancer Institute’s Clinical Research Internship, Lunin joined the Experimental Therapeutics Group expecting to develop clinical skills and apply the scientific knowledge he gained during his undergraduate studies. Through the internship, he has gained much more, including experience with patient care, research operations and emerging cancer treatments.
“I hoped to see how wet lab work would translate to a clinical level and help our patients,” Lunin said. “Now, I have been lucky enough to work with cutting-edge oncology drugs such as bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates and more.”
The innovative Clinical Research Internship was developed specifically for recent college graduates with an interest in exploring and establishing a career in clinical research, healthcare or public health. Since it began in 2019, 24 interns have completed the program. The internship, founded by Alison Ivey, DHA, MS, MBA, RN, OCN, CCRP, has set a model for forward-thinking workforce development initiatives among other national cancer centers, with the team recently presenting the program’s success at the Association of American Cancer Institutes Clinical Research Innovation Meeting in Chicago.
Erin Monari, Ph.D., administrative director of the Clinical Research Office, said one of the most rewarding aspects is “seeing the interns grow into confident, valued members of our teams.”
“By the end, they’re contributing to projects, asking thoughtful questions and building meaningful relationships with their mentors and research teams,” she said.
The institute’s People and Culture team plays a key role in the internship, with Julie Thomas, M.Ed., CCRP, SHRM-SCP, serving as the instructional designer and Loren Dixon, SHRM-CP helping to oversee and coordinate the program. The curriculum introduces students to the many stages of clinical research through training, observation, mentorship and a capstone project. Interns study research ethics, regulatory principles, clinical operations, patient safety, data integrity and billing compliance. They also observe meetings, shadow clinical research professionals and participate in supervised patient visits.
Lunin’s work has included collecting electrocardiograms and vital signs, which are types of data that study sponsors use to evaluate cancer treatments. The experience has also introduced him to departments such as regulatory affairs and compliance, which help ensure research data are accurate and reliable.
“These people are integral to our operations, and this really opened my eyes to the complexities of clinical research,” Lunin said.
A supportive structure
Each intern is paired with a mentor who helps shape the experience around the student’s interests, previous experience and career goals. Lunin was paired with Anna Kukulka, R.N., M.Ed., CCRC, assistant director of experimental therapeutics.
Mentoring begins with learning about each student as an individual, Kukulka said. She discusses interns’ backgrounds, interests, expectations and long-term goals before helping them identify projects, professional connections and experiences that can support their development.
“Every intern is different, and the process reflects those differences,” Kukulka said. “The most important piece of this process is taking the time to get to know the individual up front.”
“The most important piece of this process is taking the time to get to know the individual up front.” — Anna Kukulka, R.N., M.Ed., CCRC
Regular meetings with Kukulka gave structure to Lunin’s technical and personal development. She also connected him with professionals throughout the Clinical Research Office, including members of the Project Management Office. They taught him about the work required to launch and maintain investigator-initiated trials.
“Anna has been the wind in my sails throughout the entirety of the internship,” Lunin said. “Our monthly meetings provided the structure for what I should be learning in technical and emotional skills.”
That support became especially important when Lunin began developing his internship project. His initial proposal was too ambitious to complete within the internship period. The two worked together to revise his idea and develop a more achievable microbiome biospecimen collection project.
Kukulka uses the grow approach when helping interns navigate challenges. The method asks mentees to identify their goal, assess the reality of the situation, explore their options and find a way forward.
“Challenges and frustrations are inevitable in life and in work, but this framework helps to keep us solution based and reframes what often initially feel like insurmountable issues as road bumps on a much longer road,” Kukulka said.
Kukulka measures an intern’s progress by observing growth in confidence, communication and problem-solving. She also considers how well interns integrate into the clinical environment, apply what they learn and respond to unfamiliar responsibilities.
Building skills for the future
Lunin said the internship’s flexibility allowed him to build on his interest in laboratory science while learning from co-workers with different areas of expertise. Those interactions taught him that clinical research extends beyond the work performed directly with patients.
“There is always an opportunity to help and learn from a new person,” Lunin said.
Kukulka’s goal is for interns to leave the program confident in clinical settings and aware of how high-quality research can affect individuals and communities. Success, she said, occurs when interns can use their experiences to make informed decisions about careers in research, health care or other fields.
That impact is reflected in Lunin’s own experience. After completing his first year in the internship program, he was recently hired into a full-time job as a clinical research assistant with the Clinical Research Office. The role will allow him to continue building on the skills and relationships he developed through the program.
While he is still exploring his long-term career goals, Lunin said the internship provided exposure to a field he otherwise may never have encountered and gave him a broader understanding of the many career paths available within clinical research.
“I hope to continue learning from others around me and grow within the UF Health Cancer Institute as a clinical researcher,” Lunin said.
“I hope to continue learning from others around me and grow within the UF Health Cancer Institute as a clinical researcher.” —Michael Lunin
