The National Cancer Plan Wants to Share Your Organization’s Success in Optimizing the Oncology Workforce

Each quarter, the National Cancer Plan focuses its efforts, outreach, and awareness around a different theme. For September–November 2024, its strategies center around its overarching goal to create (https://nationalcancerplan.cancer.gov/goals/optimize-the-workforce) a “cancer care and research workforce [that] is diverse, reflects the communities served, and meets the needs of all people with cancer and those at risk for cancer, ensuring they live longer and healthier lives.”

Identified ways to achieve that include (https://nationalcancerplan.cancer.gov/goals/optimize-the-workforce):

• Engage and support a diverse pool of talented trainees and early-career scientists.
• Eliminate barriers and facilitate entry for individuals historically excluded from or underrepresented in the cancer workforce.
• Develop initiatives to address gaps and increase the number of and training for cancer researchers from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds.
• Study and address the unique needs and concerns of cancer researchers at all career stages in all disciplines.
• Generate new strategies to support career paths in life sciences and non-research science fields, such as in education, health policy, and health journalism.

Throughout September–November 2024, the National Cancer Plan is asking individuals and organizations (https://nationalcancerplan.cancer.gov/get-involved/engagement-calendar?cid=eb_govdel#:~:text=Plan%20Engagement%20Themes-,September%E2%80%93November%202024,Goal%3A%20Optimize%20the%20Workforce,-Share%20how%20you) to share the work they are doing to achieve an optimized workforce. For example:

• Share profiles or interviews of people in your organization who are early in their cancer career or who are mentoring others.
• Write blog posts describing how your organization supports professional growth, training, and career development.
• Create a social media post describing how your organization provides training and support that prepares professionals to effectively bring advancements in cancer prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and care to underserved communities in your area.

Tag @oncologynursing when you promote the great work the oncology nurses are doing in your organization and community. If you have a personal or team story to share, consider submitting an article (https://voice.ons.org/publish) to ONS Voice for possible publication in a future issue.