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Meet Our Trainees

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Left to right: Kali Dale, Caroline Himbert, Edward Grow, Katie Kerrigan, Justin Moser, Mollie Barnard, and Chris Cambron
Left to right: Kali Dale, Caroline Himbert, Edward Grow, Katie Kerrigan, Justin Moser, Mollie Barnard, and Chris Cambron

Faculty at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) cultivate the scientists who will carry our lifesaving work into the future. It's part of our mission. We offer trainee programs for researchers, public health professionals, and care providers such as physicians and advanced practice clinicians. These are some of the more than 425 students training at HCI.

Featured below are just a few of the many HCI trainees and their amazing accomplishments and research at HCI.

Mollie Barnard, ScD

Dr. Barnard, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Population Health Sciences, is focusing on ways to help reduce the number of deaths from ovarian cancer. Her research uses molecular epidemiology to understand genetic and lifestyle contributions to cancer. Ultimately, health practitioners may be able to apply Barnard's research findings to improve ovarian cancer treatment and prevention.

“The highlight of my training in Utah has been the opportunity to connect with so many motivated physicians and researchers. My interactions with my mentor, collaborators, and peers consistently demonstrate the value of team science in conducting high quality, innovative, and impactful research.”
Mollie Barnard, ScD

Christopher Cambron, PhD, MSW, MPP

Dr. Cambron is a postdoctoral research fellow and incoming assistant professor for the College of Social Work at the University of Utah. Dr. Cambron's research examines socioeconomic, social context, and public policy influences on substance use and abuse across the life course with the goal of reducing health inequities among historically disadvantaged populations.

In 2018, he was awarded the Ruth L. Kirschstein Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32) by the National Cancer Institute to examine the experiences and social context factors that create barriers to smoking cessation among low-socioeconomic populations.

Kali Dale, PhD Candidate

Kali Dale is a fourth-year student in the Department of Oncological Sciences and a PhD candidate, researching metastatic melanoma. She chose HCI for her training because of the great mentors she met and relationships she made during her Native American Research internship.

“The collaboration between the labs and the atmosphere that collaboration creates is amazing. Everyone is willing to help each other and I love that feeling of inclusivity.”
Kali Dale, PhD Candidate

Edward Grow, PhD

Dr. Grow is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Oncological Sciences. During his graduate training at Stanford University, he focused on genomics and genetics. After moving to Utah, he transitioned to researching embryos and early embryo development stages.

“Being able to apply really cutting-edge genomic technologies to understand the first several days of life, which were previously quite mysterious, is incredibly satisfying.”
Edward Grow, PhD

Caroline Himbert, PhD Candidate

Caroline Himbert is currently in the PhD program in the Department of Population Health Sciences with a focus on clinical and translational epidemiology. Her current research focuses on how components of energy balance, including body weight, dietary pattern, and physical activity, impact cancer development and the prognosis of cancer patients.

Katie Kerrigan, DO

Dr. Kerrigan is a second-year hematology/oncology fellow with the goal of focusing in thoracic oncology. She chose to train at HCI because of the ability to achieve a well-rounded clinical education with participation in clinical research.

“The highlight of training at Huntsman Cancer Institute is my time spent meeting the patients of the Mountain West and having the opportunity to care for them through their difficult cancer journey. I love spending time in the clinic taking care of my patients.”
Katie Kerrigan, DO

Justin Moser, MD

Dr. Moser is in his third and final year as a hematology/oncology fellow. During his training, he was one of twelve people selected to give an oral presentation of their research at the 2018 European Association of Dermato Oncology Congress.

Dr. Moser's research focuses on using real patient data to compare therapies that are otherwise unable to be compared by clinical trials in order to better understand how to treat patients with melanoma.

Cancer touches all of us.