Minority Clinical Trials Navigator, Duke Cancer Institute

School of Medicine Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools.
Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe.
Composed of more than 2,500 faculty physicians and researchers, more than 1,300 students, and more than 6,000 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, Duke University Health System and the Private Diagnostic Clinic (PDC) comprise Duke Health.
a world-class academic medical center.
The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.
Minority Clinical Trials Navigator Community outreach, engagement, and equity [Duke Cancer Institute] Position Description, Occupational Summary This position at the Duke Cancer Institute will coordinate between Community Outreach, Engagement, and Equity (COEE) team and the Protocol Review & Monitoring Committee (PRMC) to develop and implement programs to enhance awareness, accrual, navigation, and retention of under-represented groups in clinical trials.
Following the Professional Oncology Navigation Task Force (PONT) standards, the Navigator will follow best practices across the cancer continuum and champion inclusion of cancer patients from minority communities into active clinical trials at DCI.
To achieve this goal, the Navigator will manage and evaluate complex projects, including: evaluating plans to enhance diversity and inclusion for new and ongoing clinical trials; routinely reviewing clinical trial diversity metrics across DCI programs; proactively supporting under-performing clinical trial teams with revised strategies to improve diversity; partnering with the Patient Advocacy Council for Inclusive Research (PACIR) to integrate diverse patient perspectives into clinical trials; promoting training of clinical research staff on the importance of, and approaches to assess diversity and inclusion in clinical trials, including the use of the JUST ASK training program.
Work Performed Program, Project and Study Management – 50% Effort Develop and implement complex programs aimed at increasing representation of URM groups in clinical trials at DCI by partnering with COEE, Clinical Research Units, PRMC, Clinical Trial PI and teams, patients and community members Collaborate with PIs and teams to troubleshoot and revise recruitment strategies.
Routinely evaluate planned vs actual accrual and provide metrics to clinical research teams to guide study progress in meeting target URM accrual rates.
Partner PACIR advocates with PIs as needed to provide patient perspective on protocol and accrual strategy for URM patients Investigate patient, clinical, health system, and community-level barriers to URM representation, identify strategies to address and/or mitigate these barriers, including partnering with the DCI Clinical and Community-Facing navigation teams for support and referral of patients Assess patient needs system-wide and program specific, to make appropriate referrals to support cancer patients from diagnosis to survivorship.
Navigate all criteria-based referrals through the healthcare system and as warranted, screening and enrolling patients into interventional clinical trials.
Utilize and identify available resources to assist patients with overcoming barriers to receiving appropriate access to care and clinical trials.
Enhance access system wide through liaison with clinical research staff to therapeutic clinical trials and optimize communication with patients, families and investigators regarding therapeutic clinical trials.
Support robust community engagement with clinical research conducted at DCI Science – 30% Effort Review and optimize clinical research protocols and study materials to ensure that there is adequate and feasible plan to enroll URM groups, including examining disease group representation by race/ethnicity in DCI catchment areas in the CREST dashboard and making recommendations on strategies to attract, recruit and retain URMs Regularly monitor the overall Cancer Center’s enrollment of URM patients to trials and present report to COE, Clinical Research, Program and DCI leadership to support annual progress reports, CCSG, ESAC and other reporting needs Leadership – 10% Effort Serve as an expert resource for DCI stakeholders and members on subject matter.
Assist colleagues in identifying efficiencies and improving process.
Provide leadership within the team.
Mentor staff.
Prepare for, lead and participate in team meetings, committees, task forces and ad hoc groups.
Ethics – 10% Effort Recognize and employ the professional guidelines and code of ethics related to the conduct of clinical research.
Know and follow policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), regulations and protocol requirements that govern clinical research.
Maintain Duke and project specific training and certification requirements.
And other work as assigned.
The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.
Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
The intent of this job description is to be representative of the level and the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of this position and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities.
Preferences The ideal candidate will have the following expectations: Education/Training Bachelors degree in a health-related field required.
Advanced Nursing and/or Master’s degree in a health-related field preferred Experience Five years of experience in nursing, patient advocacy/navigation, case management, community engagement, or similar experience.
Demonstrated experience managing projects and staff Excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to explain and discuss scientific and technical content in clear and concise terms to lay audiences Ability to think quickly, critically and strategically Excellent and instinctive service and customer relationship skills; and excellent organizational and project management skills.
Skills Excellent written, oral and conversational communication skills to effectively work with diverse groups – Bilingual in Spanish preferred.
Ability to analyze, evaluate multiple solutions and solve complex problems using well developed critical & analytical thinking skills.
Unwavering and demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion Excellent time and program management skills Attention to detail needed to operate accurately and effectively.
Mastery of Microsoft Office, especially Word and Excel, multiple electronic databases and computer-based information systems including eIRB, RedCap, and EPIC.
Establishes and maintains highly effective working relationships with key stakeholders and departments, including physicians, clinical and administrative leaders, front-line staff, and external regulatory and accrediting bodies.
Must be highly organized with a demonstrated ability to inspire staff to achieve departmental goals.
Ability to influence and engage a wide range of stakeholders including advisory groups, coalitions, forums, foundations, corporate sponsors and practitioner groups within the market of responsibility.
Ability to respect confidential information.
Special Conditions Required: Flexible working required, may need to extend work hours into evenings and weekends on occasion.
Qualifications Required At This Level Link to view the education, experience and skills required for the JOB CODE & TITLE classification: https://forms.
hr.
duke.
edu/descriptions/university/select.
php?ID=JOB CODE Minimum Qualifications Education Completion of a Bachelor's degree Experience Work requires a minimum of four years of research experience (e.
g.
, experience.
research, clinical, interaction with study population, program coordination).
A Master's degree may substitute for two years of related Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging.
Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes.
To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard.
All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities.
Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.