There are ongoing efforts to see more Appalachian college students pursue a medical profession in eastern Kentucky. The University of Kentucky is focusing some of that interest in the area of cancer research and care. Appalachian Kentucky Career Training in Oncology, or ACTION, got going in 2016. UK Sophomore Caylee Caudill of Prestonsburg has seen the effects of cancer in her family, including the deaths of both grandparents. Caudill said she was sad, but the cancer part seemed normal. Stu Johnson UK Sophomore in the ACTION Program-Caylee Caudill “So, it wasn’t like weird that they died cause there were so many people that passed from that. So, it was just run of the mill situation and when I joined the high school program, I was like Ok, this is not like shouldn’t be the norm for me,” said Caudill. ACTION Director Nathan Vanderford said 34 of the students are in medical school and ten in residency. Markey Cancer Center Director Marc Evers said students get hands on experience in cancer research and clinical care. Well over a hundred students from 40 of the 45 Appalachian counties have participated in what’s now a high school and undergrad program. Vanderford noted the participants have a vested interest in their home communities. “We hope that these students will practice here and since they have connections to eastern Kentucky they can connect with patients better we think than healthcare providers trained from any other place in the country. And so we hope ultimately they can help us reduce the cancer burden in this state,” said Vanderford. The cancer burden includes Kentucky ranking first nationally in lung cancer incidence and mortality and fourth nationally in colorectal cancer. In addition to cancer care and work in the lab, Vanderford said cancer education, outreach, and community engagement remain a key emphasis. Here’s more with Nathan Vanderford: 4NATHANVANDERFORD.mp3 Listen • 3:25 Here’s more with Caylee Caudill: 4CAYLEE.mp3 Listen • 2:13 ** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation. The post Program seeks to send more cancer researchers and oncologist back home to eastern Kentucky appeared first on The Lexington Times.