SHE’S DETERMINED TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION New National Designation at Markey Cancer Center Elevates Student Researcher’s Mission By Elizabeth Chapin
Photo by Arden Barnes, UK Photo
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Susanna Goggans became interested in pursuing a career in oncology when her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Now she’s a third-year medical student.
26 K EN TU CKY A LUM NI MAGAZ I NE Winter 2023
he summer after Susanna Goggans’ freshman year at UK, her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer through UK Markey Cancer Center’s Ovarian Cancer Screening Program, a long-running research program that offers free annual screening to women across Kentucky. Because cancer was detected early, she was able to make a full recovery and is now cancer free. But as her mother went through treatment, Susanna became interested in pursuing a career in oncology. Coming from Johnson County in Eastern Kentucky, a region with some of the nation’s highest cancer rates, a cancer diagnosis was all too common for family, friends and neighbors she grew up with. Susanna was determined to be part of the solution. “Why did my mom, who does everything she can to stay healthy, end up getting cancer?” she said. “And why do so many people in Eastern Kentucky get cancer? These questions are what really threw me into my journey with oncology.” At UK, Susanna was introduced to Markey’s Appalachian Career Training in Oncology program, an education and research opportunity for UK undergraduates from Appalachia. Through ACTION, she was able to gain hands-on experience in clinical shadowing, cancer outreach and research. The program helped her develop a passion for cancer research and discover her potential as a physician and scientist. “Coming from a little town with a little high school, the concept of research seemed terrifying and unachievable for me, as I had never even known someone to work in a scientific lab,” Susanna said. “The ACTION program pushed me to get involved in the labs of researchers at UK, where I discovered the thrill of being at the edge of science and the sense of fulfillment of contributing to the knowledge that can one day potentially influence cancer care.” Today, Susanna is a third-year medical student in UK’s College of Medicine, where she continues to be involved in cancer research on her way to becoming oncologist.
UK EARNS NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE’S COMPREHENSIVE CANCER DESIGNATION When UK Markey Cancer Center Director B. Mark Evers, M.D., began his role in 2009, he set out a vision that Markey would attain National Cancer Institute designation. That goal
