When his father was diagnosed with colon cancer last January, Pratik Yarlagadda set out to learn everything that he could about it.
“That causes me to gain an interest in the field of cancer. I’ve always been a science, technology and math person in school,” said Pratik, 17, of Marshall.
He found other like-minded students at North Allegheny Senior High School and, with them, formed the NA Project Community Cancer Club.
District officials believe that the club is the first of its kind in a K-12 district because it models what the Food and Drug Administration does on a national level.
The club, which currently has about 20 members, will explore careers in health care and “participate in activities across the Greater Pittsburgh area advocating for cancer screenings and clinical trials in underrepresented communities,” said Jill Spak, the club’s faculty sponsor.
Pratik tapped into some of his parents’ contacts and is working with community leaders in the Sheraden neighborhood of Pittsburgh to host an event that outlines the basics of cancer screenings, clinical trials and general information concerning cancer.
“There is a huge deficiency in certain races and communities in cancer research,” he said, adding that a goal is to get more people in underserved areas to participate in clinical trials and screenings.
He also hopes to educate other young people about cancer so they understand what is happening if a family member is diagnosed.
“One thing I wish I had whenever my dad was diagnosed is I wish I had a little more information and people around me who knew more,” he said.
His father is now cancer-free, he added.
Ms. Spak, an advanced placement biology teacher, said cancer is an important part of that course’s curriculum.
“With the guidance and help from the Food and Drug Administration Oncology Center Of Excellence (FDA OCE), our student club members hope to give presentations to students about the field of oncology — the study of various types of cancer and treatments for cancer. Our hope is to involve all interested students of differing levels of science backgrounds,” she said. “This club hopes to also provide countless opportunities to explore the field of health care.”
Last summer, Pratik participated in the FDA’s oncology summer scholars program.
“It gave me a lot of confidence in gaining more knowledge about cancer. It helped me a lot, personally,” he said.
He said he hopes to bring professionals from the FDA to give presentations to NA students through the club. “I had those opportunities at the summer scholars program and I wanted to give those opportunities to students at our school,” he said.
He was also the youngest speaker on a panel at the FDA entitled “Conversations on Cancer,” which was held Dec. 13. He was selected to represent his generation’s fight against cancer.
“Cancer,” he said, “is one of the defining problems of my generation.”
Sandy Trozzo is a freelance writer: goodness@post-gazette.com.
First Published: January 23, 2022, 11:15 a.m.
