Persons with Lived Experience (PWLE) of childhood cancer—survivors, siblings, parents, and caregivers—often lack structured support networks to help them transition into roles as effective advocates or collaborators in research and healthcare. Similarly, many early-career clinicians and researchers in pediatric oncology report insufficient mentorship opportunities, leaving them without the guidance and support needed to develop their careers and engage meaningfully with patient-focused work. Without structured mentorship, both PWLEs and professionals may struggle to find their place in the childhood cancer ecosystem, limiting the system’s ability to foster inclusive, informed, and diverse leadership.

This project proposes the creation of a framework for a national ACCESS Mentorship Program designed to bridge these gaps by facilitating connections between PWLEs and healthcare professionals, as well as among PWLEs themselves. Drawing from best practices in mentorship and building on the experience of other organizations across the pediatric cancer ecosystem, the program will eventually consist of four interconnected components that will be flexible, inclusive, and culturally sensitive.

The four proposed components include:

• PWLE to Healthcare Professionals/Researchers – fostering mutual learning and co-mentorship between advocates and experts.
• PWLE to PWLE Advocacy Mentorship – guiding new PWLEs through onboarding and advocacy development.
• Experienced Professionals to early career researchers and clinicians – helping early-career professionals grow within a supportive, goal-aligned network.
• PWLE to PWLE Psychosocial Support – partnering with organizations to offer emotional and experiential support between peers with shared lived experience.

By investing in the development of a mentorship framework now, ACCESS will help nurture the next generation of patient advocates, clinicians, and researchers in the future. This initiative will strengthen individual capacity, build national networks, and foster long-term collaboration in pediatric oncology, ultimately enhancing experience and outcomes for children with cancer and their families.

For more information, please contact ACCESS Secretariat.