• Write fact sheets and press releases
• Answer inquiries from the press
• Attend and report on scientific meetings
• Participate in professional meetings and training seminars

A variety of opportunities exist in health communications. Interns may plan, develop, and promote cancer education programs and materials (including Web-based) for the public, cancer patients, or health professionals. Some interns gain experience in pre-testing and evaluating cancer prevention and treatment messages, publications and materials, and programs that reach the American public. Interns also participate in professional meetings and training seminars.

Work Hours: Interns work on a full-time, 40-hours per week basis, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, with a 30-minute lunch break. Changes in schedule must be approved by the intern's supervisor.

The number of interns accepted varies from term to term. Offices that have accepted interns for the current session are as follows:

• Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities
• Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
• Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics
• Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Office of Communications and Education
• Office of Liaison Activities
• Office of Media Relations
• Office of Science Planning and Assessment
• President's Cancer Panel

NCI is strongly committed to a wide-ranging research program that will address cancer health disparities across the cancer control continuum from disease prevention to end-of-life care. As a demonstration of that commitment, NCI created the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) on March 20, 2001. Harold P. Freeman, M.D., a leading cancer surgeon and foremost spokesman expressing concern about cancer health disparities, was appointed the Center's Director.

With this leadership, the CRCHD is emphasizing new agendas and developing priorities as outlined in NCI's Strategic Plan for Reducing Cancer-Related Health Disparities. By the end of the four-year strategic plan, NCI's goal is to nearly triple the amount spent on cancer health disparities to $270 million by investing in research to explain the social, cultural, environmental, biological and behavioral determinants of cancer disparities. The creation of the Center, and the influence, priority, and authority granted to it within the Institute, dramatically demonstrates NCI's commitment to promptly address cancer health disparities with bold initiatives to reduce and, ultimately, to end blatant injustices within the health care system.

CRCHD Web site: http://crchd.nci.nih.gov/

The Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS) aims to reduce risk, incidence, and deaths from cancer as well as enhance the quality of life for cancer survivors. The Behavioral Research Program (BRP) initiates, supports, and evaluates a comprehensive program of behavioral research ranging from basic behavioral research to research on the development and dissemination of interventions in areas such as tobacco use, dietary behavior, sun protection, decision making, and counseling about testing for cancer susceptibility and participation in cancer screening. The BRP comprises the Applied Cancer Screening Research Branch (ACSRB), Basic Biobehavioral Research Branch (BBRB), Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch (HCIRB), Health Promotion Research Branch (HPRB), and Tobacco Control Research Branch (TCRB).

DCCPS Web site: http://dccps.nci.nih.gov/

The Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) conducts high-quality, high-impact population and multidisciplinary research to discover the genetic and environment determinants of cancer as well as new approaches to cancer prevention. Areas of special interest include research into genetic predisposition, lifestyle factors, environmental contaminants, occupational exposures, medications, radiation, and infectious agents that contribute to cancer risk, as well as statistics and methods development.

The Office of Communications and Special Initiatives within DCEG’s Office of the Director is responsible for a variety of functions, including fielding Congressional inquiries and FOIA requests; producing the Division newsletter Linkage, and preparing narratives for the Congressional Justification, Bypass Budget, NIH Roadmap, as well as other reports for the NIH or NCI Budget and Planning Offices.

OCSI also coordinates DCEG communications activities with NCI’s Office of Media Relations and the Office of Communications and Education. Interns will have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in fielding press inquiries, preparing scientists for interacting with the media, and translating high-profile scientific findings into practical public health messages.

DCEG Web site: http://dceg.cancer.gov

The Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (OCCAM) is part of the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis and has the mission to improve the quality of care of cancer patients, as well as those at risk for cancer and those recovering from cancer treatment, by contributing to the advancement of evidence-based CAM practice and the sciences that support it as well as the availability of high-quality information for the health care community, researchers, and the general public.

OCCAM Web site: http://www.cancer.gov/cam/

The Office of Communications and Education is one of the most trusted and valued resources for cancer communications strategy within the NCI and for cancer information among the larger cancer community, providing the highest level of excellence, expertise, and services to the general public, the media, health professionals, and partner organizations.

OCE Web site: http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/office-of-communications

NCI believes that the viewpoint of people affected by cancer is an essential component in policy and program development. The Office of Liaison Activities (OLA) serves as a catalyst to link consumers and the public with NCI programs. OLA fosters strong communications and relationships through various program efforts including:

• Advocacy Outreach. OLA runs a comprehensive outreach program for cancer-related advocacy organizations. Activities include a monthly educational teleconference series, a biweekly e-newsletter with the latest Federal cancer news, and meetings between advocacy organizational leadership and NCI leadership.
• Summit for Advocates. OLA plans and coordinates a summit meeting for advocates at NCI. Representatives from all segments of the cancer community convene to give their constituents a strong voice and to help shape future interaction and collaboration between NCI and the community.
• Consumer Advocates in Research and Related Activities (CARRA). There are approximately 200 CARRA members, a diverse representation of consumer advocates, who are a highly qualified, pre-screened group of people available to participate on an as-needed basis in NCI activities such as peer review, website development, and committees and meetings.
• The NCI Director's Consumer Liaison Group (DCLG). The DCLG is NCI's all-consumer advisory committee which advises and makes recommendations to the NCI Director from the consumer advocate perspective.

OLA Web site: http://ola.cancer.gov

The Office of Media Relations (OMR), also known as the press office, writes, edits, and secures clearance for all press releases and associated Q&As sent out by NCI.OMR also takes all press calls that come to NCI and distributes materials to targeted media contacts. Additionally this office produces op-eds and letters to the editor on a variety of cancer-related subjects, as appropriate, as well as writing regular columns for specialized magazines such as Cure, Coping, and ASCO News. For the NCI Web site, OMR provides editorial management of materials posted in www.cancer.gov's NewsCenter portal (e.g., posting of press releases, updating Q&As, etc.) OMR also coordinates and drafts NCI Director's speeches and slides.

The Office of Science Planning and Assessment (OSPA), as part of the NCI's Office of the Director, is primarily responsible for the development and coordination of NCI's scientific planning and evaluation activities. OSPA carries out its mission through the activities of the following four interconnected groups:

• Science Planning Branch
• Program Assessment Branch
• Scientific Coordination Branch
• NCI's Office of Women's Health

Through consultation, guidance, and analysis across NCI and with broader cancer constituencies, OSPA efforts enable NCI to do the following:

• Identify needs and opportunities for cancer research
• Establish research goals and develop sound plans for achieving these goals
• Measure and report Institute-wide progress toward the reduction of suffering and death due to cancer

Most rotations vary depending on the specific interest of the intern and the timing of the rotation. Some projects that interns have been involved with in the paste include:

• Assisting with Bypass Budget development, editing, production and dissemination
• Updating Research Resources website
• Assistant with GPRA/PART reporting activities
• Assisting with the development of reports in response to Congressional Appropriation Committee Requests (CACRs)
• Soliciting, reviewing and edition NCI Science Advances
• Reviewing and updating OSPA website

OSPA web site: http://planning.cancer.gov

The President's Cancer Panel monitors the development and execution of the National Cancer Program and reports directly to the President on any barriers to progress.

Intern activities in the office of the President's Cancer Panel include but are not limited to the following:

Represent the President's Cancer Panel at a variety of conferences and meetings to help increase visibility of the Panel and raise awareness of the National Cancer Program. Participate in all planning meetings of Panel staff and attend Panel meetings.

Along with contract staff, develop briefing books including information on current research, speaker biographies, state-specific health and health care issues, and key cancer related political issues to enable the Panel to properly assess the current political environment surrounding cancer research. Also, conduct research on various community models and specific legislation relatedt6o the work of the Panel.

Develop/redesign a catalog of previous Panel recommendations, both short and long term and related outcomes at the State and Federal levels. Draft report responses of the President's Cancer Panel recent reports. These reports include:

• Cancer Care Issue in the US: Quality of Care, Quality of Life
• Voices of a Broken System: Real People, Real Problems
• Facing Cancer in Indian Country
• Living Beyond Cancer: Finding a New Balance
• Translating Research into Cancer Care: Delivering on the Promise
• Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Policy, Program and Personal Recommendations for Reducing Cancer Risk

Develop and evaluate public relations strategies with NCI scientific and communications staff in relation to Panel meetings. This includes work with the media and the advocate community. This will also include evaluating Panel report dissemination plans and ensuring that key communities are actively engaged in the work of the Panel.

Expand knowledge of health communication and the field of cancer through appropriate, approved trainings and courses. This will involve developing an appreciation for how ethical considerations shape who produces health information communication about cancer versus who are the consumers of information. Issues of racial, ethnic and socioeconomic health disparities will be explored and how they might be, in part, related to factors associate with health communication.

President's Cancer Panel Web site: http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/ADVISORY/pcp/pcp.htm