Austin Peterson's internship was made possible by The Constance Claybaker Fund for Research Administration Mentoring
"Few people get to look at a cancer institute from every angle, and it was like watching an incredible movie, learning the story and caring for each person.”
Austin Peterson, an aspiring medical student, found the right internship at the right time. The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute opened a new opportunity thanks to a fund honoring a former administrator.
“When I studied psychology, I knew I wanted to take an active role at the forefront of community health and research. However, when my mother passed from cancer, I had to step back to figure out how my skills can assist those in need,” he shared.
The Research Administration Internship allowed Peterson to understand more than where he could assist. It also gave him a bird's eye view of how research development happens from beginning to end. Thanks to The Constance Claybaker Fund for Research Administration Mentoring, a fund honoring Connie Claybaker, a former research administration director at Karmanos, Peterson was able to understand the fundamentals of research administration within a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
For four months, Peterson rotated through several aspects of the research administration cycle, including the Karmanos Clinical Trials Office. To begin his internship, Peterson dove into the depths of research training skills through various dedicated modules that covered sectors such as administration of oncology clinical trials, community outreach and engagement, cancer research training and education coordination, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion, all of which are fundamental components of the NCI Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG). The modules helped Peterson transition into a smooth in-person and on-site experience where he witnessed the day-to-day operations of the cancer center, guided by various leading figures at Karmanos.
“Every day was a little bit different but introduced new concepts that tied into the ones from the day before,” explained Peterson. “I like to think of it as a cultural deep dive into the world of research administration, and it ended up not being as scary as it would seem because everything is structured. Few people get to look at a cancer institute from every angle, and it was like watching an incredible movie, learning the story and caring for each person.”
Evano Piasentin, associate center director for Research Administration at Karmanos; Benjamin Herring, director of Research Administration; Sarah Bigelow, director of the Clinical Trials Office at Karmanos; and Jayne Bissonette, research assistant at Karmanos and Wayne State University, were some of the mentors that guided Peterson through his internship.
"Connie would be so very pleased! Austin sounds as though he was the perfect person to begin what I hope will be a long legacy of learning in her name,” said Cathy Markes, Connie’s spouse. “The Constance Claybaker Fund for Research Administration Mentoring is a chance to honor Connie’s life and efforts with a promise to the future. She truly believed there was a place for everyone in the cancer research world, whether their skills were in the sciences, arts, or finance.”
The experience and connections he built with his mentors during the internship helped solidify the future Peterson hopes to establish in medicine.
“I was able to self-reflect and dedicate myself to cancer research. Without the hands-on experience, I may not have been able to see that cancer research can directly improve patient psychology, which, for me, ties together all goals,” he explained.
More about The Constance Claybaker Fund for Research Administration Mentoring
The Constance Claybaker Fund for Research Administration Mentoring honors Connie Claybaker, who worked at Karmanos for 13 years, most recently as the associate center director of Research Administration. She retired in December 2016, but her life rapidly changed in early 2018 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Her disease required her to make life-altering decisions about her care.
In her role at Karmanos, Connie managed the administrative aspects of clinical trials and realized the important contributions clinical trials make toward advancing new cancer therapies. She felt a professional and personal obligation to participate in a clinical trial. Claybaker believed that if someone before her had participated in a clinical trial that ultimately was helping her, it was her duty to pay it forward.
The Research Administration Internship is a unique opportunity to bring forward students, such as Austin Peterson, who haven’t necessarily considered bringing their talents to research administration but change their outlook as they make their way through the program.
“It is the hope of Connie’s family and friends that these students will come to see themselves as someone who could become a valuable member of this team,” expressed Markes. “The best possible tribute to Connie will be as interns complete this program, they take their new research perspective forward and put it all to work as a leader in this fight against cancer.”
To contribute to The Constance Claybaker Fund for Research Administration Mentoring, visit karmanos.org/giftofhope.