Medical Student Summer Research Scholars (part 3)

KELSEY TSCHOPP

Hometown: Orlando, FL

Education: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Loyola University Chicago

Hobbies: Plant Care and Art

Research project title and role: Improving Hypertension Care with Checklist Use. PI: Dr. Victoria Kaprielian

Why did you chose to participate in the summer scholars program and what did you learn? I was looking to gain experience in clinical research since my previous research has all involved bench research. I was really excited to take part in a research project which involves the CUCCC because I am a Floor Supervisor for the clinic.

I spend most [Tuesday evenings] at the CUCCC, so it has been nice being able to contribute to research that involves the patients of the clinic. This research project is aiming to improve care for patients with hypertension by implementing a checklist at the clinic.

While we are still auditing charts and gathering data, it appears using a checklist certainly helps the student-doctors during their patient visits. I am looking forward to analyzing whether an improvement in patient care was observed.

I learned how to conduct a quality improvement study and how these studies are frequently used in medicine to improve patient care. It was great to perform a quality improvement study at the CUCCC and see the improvement in patient care by the student doctors.

Advice to MS-I’s and future medical students: All of your professors at CUSOM are extremely helpful and want to see you succeed! Don’t be afraid to reach out to them to ask questions or get clarification on something. I also found that studying with a small group of peers occasionally really helped me prepare for quizzes/ exams since we would often test each other and help each other through difficult topics.

MELANIE DOMANN

Hometown: Saint Charles, IL

Education: Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Wisconsin – Whitewater

Hobbies: Exercising, BIG AnimalLover, Football Season Fanatic

Research project title and role: “Can Trauma be an Opportunity to Identify and Treat Non-Injury Medical Conditions in Young Adults?” PI: Dr. Jaclyn PortelliTremont

My role in the project was to analyze trauma cases from within the last two years and to determine whether there were any previous diagnoses of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, substance/alcohol abuse, or obesity. We would then examine whether the patient had any indicators during their hospital stay that would fit the criteria of any of the above diagnoses.

Why did you chose to participate in the summer scholars program and what did you learn from the experience? I am extremely interested in Emergency Medicine, and I think that this research topic is very important in the early diagnosis of common health conditions. Many of these patients don’t see a primary care provider regularly to ensure that there are no serious underlying health conditions. By using trauma as a way of identifying these diseases early on, it can prevent serious complications from arising later in life.

Advice to MS-I’s and future medical students: Use your free time to do what makes you happy. Don’t study every second of every day and rely on your friends as your support system. You are all going through this together, so use this to motivate each other when you are feeling stressed.

ABIHA JAFRI

Hometown: Shenandoah County, Virginia

Education: Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a double minor in Biology and Electrical Engineering; The George Washington University

Hobbies: Traveling, reading, cooking and baking

Research project title and role: The Effect of Health Literacy on Healthcare Utilization in Trauma Patients; Research assistant with Dr. Jaclyn Tremont

Why did you choose to participate in the summer scholars program and what did you learn? Summer Scholars is a great way to learn more about research as well as get involved in community projects. I saw this as an opportunity to immerse myself in a field of medicine that I hadn’t considered before: surgery and trauma care. While my primary role in this project was extracting and transferring patient data, I was able to learn more about the inner workings of the hospital and the surgical/trauma field.

Advice to MS-I’s and future medical students: Enjoy your time in medical school. This is just the beginning of your journey to becoming a physician, so take the time to celebrate your accomplishments and have fun. Four years are going to fly by fast!

DILLON PHAM

Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA

Education: UCLA

Hobbies: watching sports, escape rooms, hiking, video games, and exploring food

Research project title and role: Transformation of Mitochondrial DNA; research assistant for Dr. Warren Lushia

Why did you choose to participate in the Summer Scholars Program and what did you learn? It seemed like a super interesting project with a lot of potential future application in the field of medicine. I’m learning specifics of mitochondria and the cell for yeast as well as the process of researching as a whole.

Advice for MS-Is and future medical students: Don’t sacrifice your outside interests when you start med school! Having interests and activities outside of studying helps keep you sane.

REBEKAH MILLER

Hometown: Belle, Missouri

Education: Associate of Arts, St. Louis Community College; Bachelor of Science in Biology, Truman State University

Hobbies: Walking trails with my new dog and reading fiction and Christian books

Research project title and role: “Core faculty attitudes and perspectives regarding the attainment of Osteopathic Recognition in Campbell University sponsored residencies”

My role included assisting with the IRB application process, helping develop interview questions that will be used in our research methodology, and completing a literature search to construct a strong background rationale for our study. Additionally, I received mentorship in research methodology, qualitative data assessment, and presentation development, while also gaining experience in NVIVO software analysis.

Why did you choose to participate in the summer scholars program and what did you learn? Summer Scholars was wonderful to understand what goes into research design and implementation and the teamwork/mentorship that was necessary for my professional growth and the advancement of the study. Also, it was a great way to get involved with a study that may impact the future of the medical profession. All that I have learned I will carry forth in my future endeavors.

Advice to MS-I’s/future medical students: There are many different ways to succeed in medical school through different study habits and resources. Find what works best for you, continue with it, and don’t compare yourself to others. “Comparison is the thief of joy.” – T. Roosevelt

ABBY DANIELS

Hometown: Mocksville, NC

Education: Bachelor of Science in Biology, Western Carolina; Master of Science in Biomedical Science, Campbell University

Hobbies: I enjoy being outside in nature whether it be camping, fishing, hiking, or archery. I love playing with my dogs, Jolene and Norton, and spending time with my family.

Research project title and role: “Analysis of pediatric safety restraint use in a rural emergency department.”

My role as a student researcher was to organize the distribution of surveys to the parents and/or guardians of pediatric patients in the Southeastern Regional Medical Center Emergency Department. I would collect the data received and input the information into our database to later analyze. When I was not actively collecting data, I had the opportunity to shadow the residents and physicians while in the Emergency Department.

Why did you chose to participate in the summer scholars program and what did you learn? I chose to participate in the Summer Scholars program to expand my experience regarding research and clinical practice. While being involved in the research, I have also been able to shadow the residents and attendings in the Emergency Department. I have been able to take the knowledge I have gained from my first year of medical school and apply it to patients I have seen come into the ED. The experience I have had has been invaluable to my medical education. I have watched many procedures, discussed patient cases thoroughly, and have learned the process of seeing a patient from start to finish. I will take these experiences with me throughout my career and use them to make myself a better physician.

Advice to MS-I’s and future medical students: My #1 piece of advice to MSI’s and future medical students is to make sure you are taking care of yourself! Medical school, and life in general, is always going to be challenging at times. It is so important to make sure your mental health is appropriately cared for in order to face those challenges. Take time to do the things you love outside of medical school, spend time with your friends and family, and just take a break sometimes!! Having a well rested mind can make a world of difference.