The Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) that is at the University of Utah (U of U) features a unique program that is geared toward high school seniors and college undergraduates that have an interest in cancer research.
This program is called the PathMaker program and it is open to students across the country that have underrepresented backgrounds in the biomedical workforce. These backgrounds include ethnic and racial minorities as well as those that are economically disadvantaged and students from rural and frontier areas.
Helper City’s very own Mason Rogers recently completed his freshman year at Southern Utah University and is planning on a medical education. He was highlighted by the HCI for taking part in the PathMaker program. The institute shared information on Rogers’ background, including the fact that he is the first member of his family that left Helper to pursue a college education.
Rogers’ interest in the field was bolstered after losing two grandmothers as well as two great-grandparents to cancer.
Rogers took the time to share that his favorite part of the program was failing, stating that it kept him curious and motivated him to keep trying new ways to help solve the problem.