"Early Onset Program Specialist"

Overview

The Early Onset Cancer Program is a newly developing program at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital focusing on broad goals related to younger patients' (ages 18-49) diagnosed with cancer: addressing psychosocial needs, developing novel clinical care models, enhancing clinical trials, expanding research, and raising community awareness about early onset cancers.

Reporting to the Early Onset Cancer Program Manager, the Early Onset Cancer Specialist works within the Early Onset Cancer Team to provide personalized support for identified patients and families with higher-level needs. They will provide enhanced support working in conjunction with the Early Onset Coordinator to identify and address complex patient needs.

The Early Onset Specialist will work in program planning, clinical implementation, and research assistance as directed. The Specialist will serve as a patient advocate and facilitator, ensuring that early onset cancer patients receive comprehensive, timely, and quality healthcare services and research opportunities. The Early Onset Specialist will partner with all clinical care and research teams, starting at diagnosis and continuing through the continuum of care. The incumbent will address patient needs by providing referrals to appropriate teams, reducing barriers, and facilitating research and/or clinical trial participation. The Early Onset Specialist will use available EHR data, patient and family interviews, and conduct additional screenings for symptom burden, illness perception, financial/resource distress, and self-efficacy. Based on patient assessments, the Early Onset Specialist will facilitate high-level support throughout the cancer journey, maintaining regular follow-up to address any new or continuing needs. They will also serve as clinical trial liaison addressing similar barriers as seen in clinical care.

The Early Onset Cancer Specialist will be responsible for independent decision making within a fast-paced environment and must remain flexible to rapidly shifting priorities. They are also expected to work well with many key leaders across several departments such as but not limited to breast, gastrointestinal, gynecologic, radiation, surgical, and research teams. The Specialist will develop strong relationships across the care network, cultivate a portfolio of resources, and work with program leadership to further develop programmatic initiatives that enhance patient and family quality of life. The Early Onset Cancer Specialist will be expected to travel to Smilow Cancer Care sites across Connecticut and community outreach events as assigned. They will be expected to complete relevant training programs upon hire.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Ability to identify patients’ preferred methods of communication and learning, and to translate technical, medical, and health system information to improve patient understanding and self-efficacy. Strong ability to assess complex barriers, using empathetic skills to identify and address unique patient needs within family & cultural structures.
2. Ability to effectively engage with a broad range of multidisciplinary stakeholders across the care network and to liaison with various research teams. Proven ability to provide clear communication and critical information to internal team and external stakeholders and elicit feedback.
3. Ability to consistently manage a patient caseload by developing and implementing strong organizational and time management skills that are flexible to rapidly changing priorities. Proven ability to schedule and coordinate program activities, develop action items, and use other strategies to keep work moving according to timeline.
4. Ability to independently assess and initiate action in real time using sound judgment and patient-centered advocacy at both program and patient levels. Ability to consistently develop and utilize a resource portfolio, program-related documents, and other innovative solutions to reduce patient barriers.
5. Strong analytical skills. Proven ability to independently evaluate and assess patients’ suitability for inclusion into program, determine patient eligibility, coordinate enrollment, and follows through with patient engagement. Demonstrated ability to develop, submit, and present reports based on patient and program level data to program leadership.

Principal Responsibilities

1. In support of the overall mission, plans, directs, and oversees programmatic activities. Assumes primary accountability for disseminating and publishing all program information to create public awareness and support of the program.
2. Works closely with leadership, internal and external colleagues, and community residents to further develop and implement strategic plans.
3. Oversees the development of detailed plans and successful implementation of projects in concert with stakeholders.
4. Works closely with business analysts, technical professionals, end users, and project stakeholders during the requirements, solutions design, and implementation phases to develop detailed project plans for implementation.
5. Oversees and trains all student employees and summer program staff.
6. Develops the administrative infrastructure of the program that supports the strategic direction of the program from leadership. Oversees human resource and administrative functions of the program.
7. Investigates, identifies, implements, and oversees the maintenance of systems to gather, track and report information to support the initiatives of the program. Tracks all program activities and regularly informs leadership of progress on each initiative. Recommends structural or programmatic adjustments, changes or additions based on full knowledge of missions, goals and objectives.
8. Works on risk assessment, communication planning, and program entry criteria.
9. Create detailed project plans, including timelines, budgets, and resource allocation, to ensure the successful completion of the project.
10. Manages client expectations and provides issue/risk identification and escalation pathways.
11. Analyzes user needs and proposes new training programs or systems.
12. Designs, develops, and executes communication systems to ensure effective exchange of information between project stakeholders, senior management, and staff.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor's Degree in a related field and four years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.