Bridging Academia and Clinical Practice: MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Model for Allied Health Workforce Development

May 20, 2026 - Dr. William Undie, Deralyn Miller, Aziz Benamar, Habib Tannir, Dr. Diane C. Bodurka, Dr. Kimberly Hoggatt Krumwiede, Dr. Peter Hu

The United States is experiencing persistent shortages of allied health professionals, particularly in medical imaging, where demand continues to outpace the supply of qualified technologists. To address this challenge, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center established the Student Talent Advancing Retention Success (STARS) program, a collaborative initiative between the School of Health Professions and the Division of Diagnostic Imaging Services.

Designed as a workforce retention pathway, the program integrates students into UT MD Anderson’s culture and operations through part-time roles, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.

Launched in 2022, STARS has demonstrated significant operational and financial impact. The program achieved 100% graduate retention, reduced the hiring cycle from 120 to 6 days, and surpassed productivity and procedure benchmarks. The financial outcomes have shown that the revenue generated through clinical productivity and operational efficiency effectively offset the program’s associated expenses, confirming its fiscal sustainability.