With the emergence of the new interdisciplinary field of the oncofertility, how can we expose, inspire, and support the future generations of oncofertility scholars? Consider the Oncofertility Saturday Academy (OSA) of Chicago science education program model. OSA Chicago is a collaborative effort between Northwestern University and Young Women’s Leadership Charter School initiated in 2007. OSA has created a dynamic access point to oncofertility for a diverse population of junior and senior high school girls. It is a two-year program that focuses on the basic science and clinical application of oncofertility. The program provides engaging and challenging Saturday learning modules, led by faculty, staff, and students of Northwestern University, facilitated in state-of-the-art laboratories and clinics (please visit, osa.northwestern.edu to view the entire OSA Chicago curriculum and video). OSA has already shown to have a positive impact on the lives of the participants by encouraging and preparing them to pursue undergraduate degrees in science and medicine. In fact, there are a total of 15 past participants who are now in college. All 15 of these young women are pursuing science, medical, or engineering degrees. Will this science education program model inspire and support high school girls to become oncofertility scholars?
