Through the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance’s innovative educational program, Survivors Teaching Students(R), future healthcare professionals — physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and physician assistants — increase their understanding of ovarian cancer symptoms and risk factors so that they can diagnose the disease when it is in its earlier, treatable stages.

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Survivors Teaching Students(R) brings ovarian cancer survivors into medical school classrooms to share their stories and key information about the disease. The program is now in more than 250 medical schools around the country as well as in a number of nurse practitioner, nursing and physician assistant training programs. In Wisconsin the program can be found at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Meriter, UW Madison, and UW Green Bay. 

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During each one-hour presentation:

●Several ovarian cancer survivors or caregivers, tell their stories to illustrate the importance of early diagnosis, treatment and survivorship, and the signs and symptoms of the disease.
●Students gain insights into listening to patient concerns and become sensitized to the psychosocial aspects of ovarian cancer as well as the need for early detection.
●Survivors and students directly interact to continue the student's’ learning.
Students are surveyed to assess their understanding of the disease and the presentation’s value.