FCVC SURF - American Heart Association

Like the American Heart Association, investing in the careers of the next generation of scientists and physicians is one of the SURF program's number one goals. Since the programs’ inception in 2009, the Frankel CVC and Esperance Family Foundation have sponsored an undergraduate summer fellowship program aimed at providing undergraduate students with an immersive research laboratory experience and in many cases, their first. In 2017, the American Heart Association provided funding to support five additional fellowships within the FCVC SURF Program.

Fellows funded by the AHA receive the same fellowship experience as the other participating FCVC SURF fellows, but will be expected to give a brief summary of their learning experience and career goals once the program ends.

Thanks to the AHA, we have the privilege to expand FCVC SURF and together, we can accomplish the AHA mission of influencing young minds to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.

Adithi Voleti 2022

Learning Experience:

My project on nuclear and cytoplasmic distribution of hERG channel produced data which is promising for further investigation! Working over the summer as an AHA fellow at a prestigious research university was a memorable and impactful experience. My mentors in the Jones Lab - Dr. David Jones, Abhilasha Jain, and Dr. Eric Jiménez-Vázquez – provided such a welcoming environment from the start and taught me various cell culture techniques. During the summer, my mentors were always willing to explain concepts, provided guidance on how to modify my experimental design when necessary, and helped me execute an effective research talk at the summer symposium. Through the journey, I got first-hand exposure to lab research, and I learned valuable life-lessons (ie. resilience, time-management, curiosity, and adaptation) which I know will definitely help me in my future endeavors.

Career Goals:

My long-term career goals are to complete medical school and obtain an M.D. degree, and eventually completing residency and fellowship programs. My aim is to provide safe and comfortable healthcare to all my patients and continuously develop to become the best physician I am capable of. At the same time, I will continue being a lifelong learner while pursuing an opportunity to lecture at medical schools to spark a sense of love and purpose for the next generation of physicians. I want to maintain my interest in learning about research around the world by attending conferences in order to share information about science and stay inspired!

Visakuo Tsurho 2022

Learning Experience:

I learned what it means to rigorously apply the scientific process and how to think critically this summer. Weekly journal clubs where I presented a paper and had my analysis critiqued by a graduate student and post-doc helped me sharpen my critical thinking skills. Something I observed while performing my data analysis was the temptation to record what I wanted to see. After weeks of experimenting and many hours of background research, I wanted my hypotheses to be true. But that temptation could have resulted in biases. I learned to minimize those biases by making protocols and consulting my supervisor and mentor on my methods of analysis and results. Additionally, working with my supervisor, Hsin-Yu Chen(Swen), and watching his methodology, where he'd record all his protocols and means of analysis systematically, showed me how-to-do good science. I also improved my verbal and visual communication skills and adopted a mindset for learning by refining my abstract and final presentation several times after receiving feedback from my mentor and supervisor.

Career Goals:

My goal to harmonize research and medicine through a scientific-clinical career was reinforced through this internship. For now, I intend on conducting research at my university and at other research facilities. After undergrad, I want to continue doing research and pursue medicine, but I am unsure whether that will take the form of an MD/Ph.D. program or an MD with a research fellowship. Ultimately, I hope to become a competent and honest physician-scientist and to build a network consisting of highly intelligent, diverse, and sincere people. I believe once I approach that goal, I could teach at a university and carry out medical/research mission trips abroad where I promote biological research and train healthcare workers in places that need better healthcare.

Daniel Richard 2022

Learning Experience:

My project was to study the effect of the tPA genotype on murine primary neurons’ ability to take up alpha-synuclein, a protein that when toxic is associated with Parkinson’s Disease. The study was preliminary due to my limited knowledge of tissue culture and immunofluorescent protocol, but the data collected points to a link between tPA genotype and the uptake of alpha-synuclein, namely that tPA knockout neurons seem to take up more of the protein than their wildtype counterparts. I learned the laboratory procedures for neuron isolation, tissue culture management, and immunofluorescence from Kris Mann, lab manager of the Lawrence lab and my main mentor for the summer. She was always willing to explain why protocols were designed the way they were, and why attention to detail in a lab is crucial to success. Dr. Lawrence helped me expand my critical and creative thinking skills in research, especially in designing experimental protocols, drawing conclusions from the data, and presenting the data appropriately to an audience.

Career Goals:

Following the completion of my undergraduate degree, I hope to enroll in an MD-PhD program. Going into the lab every day this past summer never felt like a job to me, as it was something I was happy to do when I got up every morning. This trend has continued at my home university of NC State in the Kennedy lab, where I am currently studying how changes in immune expression due to diet may lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Developing therapies for currently untreatable ailments is something I found very inspiring and exciting. I have also enjoyed my time volunteering in hospitals near NC State and getting to interact with patients. Working with kids has especially fulfilled me, as I find them to be funny, sweet, and bring out the best in people. Thus, an MD-PhD would allow me to have both in the same career: to work to find therapies for debilitating and mysterious conditions in pediatric patients while still getting to work with kids to give them the best prognosis possible. I hope to find other people with similar ambitions as me, as my dream would be to work on pediatric disease research and treatment as a part of a larger team to deliver the best possible results for our patients.

Joshua Li 2022

Learning Experience:

While the fellowship itself was only for a brief two months, I have to say that each day for me was packed with productivity, learning, and fun. This was my first opportunity ever working with zebrafish, and really the first time working outside of bacteria in general, and I was exposed to new research techniques every day. My project also granted me considerable autonomy in doing research which I found incredibly valuable, as I had to think for myself in designing experiments, but also knowing when to ask for help. My mentors Jeff Daniel and Raghu Azhwar were fantastic—they made the lab environment a place where I felt supported and welcomed, were very knowledgeable, and we also had lots of fun doing things outside of lab. Dr. Shavit was also instrumental in making this experience so positive, as he had clear intentions in my role in lab and what my project consisted of, encouraged me to go above and beyond, and was always available for mentorship. The final presentation was also a wonderful experience, as I’ve always wanted to practice skills in science communication, and so being able to share my own research in a formal but comfortable setting was optimal.

Career Goals:

My long-term career goal is to pursue a combined MD/PhD, as I want research to be a central part of my future career, while my research interests fall in areas of high relevance to medicine and patient outcomes—namely in cancer immunology. Thanks to all the incredible research experiences I’ve had the privilege of having, I’ve fallen in love with the research process, with all its highs and lows, and to have the skills to translate bench discoveries to patient health is a priority of mine. Pursuing research in an academic setting or in an industrial setting both appeal to me, and I’ve been gaining experience in both areas to see which is right for me. Overall, in my future I want to work in basic science research while having a medical education to guide my focus and applications to improving global health.

JJ Ruff 2022

Learning Experience:

Career Goals:

Jacqueline Lee 2021

Learning Experience:

Over the summer, I had the incredible opportunity to work on a research project of my interest in the Shavit lab. I worked alongside top research scientists on the frontier of their field and gained tremendous learning from them. My mentor in the program, Dr. Jordan Shavit, regularly checked in on my research progress and provided invaluable guidance on how to formulate my research questions, better my experimental procedure and interpret the research results. On a daily basis, I worked with Dr. Murat Yaman, a post-doc under Dr. Shavit. Murat was excellent at explaining complex biology concepts and taught me many new research techniques, such as designing primers, RNA isolation, reverse transcription, and RT-qPCR. I especially appreciate the constructive feedback that Murat gave me to improve my lab skills, refine my experiment, and help me become a better researcher. I was also able to further develop my scientific communication skills by summarizing my research findings and presenting them at the FCVC SURF Symposium at the end of the program.

Career Goals:

My long-term career goals are to attend medical school, followed by residency, and continue to a fellowship program in a specialty to ultimately become a physician-scientist. As I am contemplating which specific area in medicine to specialize in, I am also debating whether I want to pursue a MD or MD/PhD. My summer in the FCVC SURF program, working with MDs, MD/PhDs and PhDs, has provided more insight to the different options and allowed me the opportunity to learn first-hand what they entail and might lead to. While I have truly enjoyed working in basic science research, I am leaning towards a career focused more on clinical research and patient care. In the future, I hope to work in a teaching hospital, where I will devote myself to caring for patients, conducting clinical research, and training the next generation of physicians.

Mia Smith 2021

Learning Experience:

Going into this summer with no research experience and only online lab training was daunting, but by the end of the summer, I felt comfortable and confident in my lab skills. The grad students, other interns, and PI were all willing to share their knowledge and taught me a variety of skills such as patch clamping, culturing stem cells, and data analysis. The specific project I was working on was still in the introductory stages, but the data collected and analyzed thus far was encouraging and demonstrated the project was moving in the right direction. I learned so much about hERG, electrophysiology, drug development, and am excited to see the result of the project. Overall, I am grateful for the amazing opportunity to work at a top-tier research institution alongside great researchers and people.

Career Goals:

My long-term career goals are to attend medical school and become a physician with the resources and connections to help address disparities in healthcare. My time in Dr. Jones' lab has inspired me to pursue more research opportunities to understand and experience both sides of health science. Additionally, I enjoyed listening to the guest speakers share their journey and found their advice insightful and hope to do that once I am an established physician.

Yuan Tian 2021

Learning Experience:

This research project focused on the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease, which is a topic I have long been interested in. During my time conducting in-vitro experiments in Dr. Daniel Lawrence’s lab, I gained familiarity with many useful techniques, such as ELISA and qPCR, which are commonly adopted in various types of biological studies. I also learned how to grow cell cultures in aseptic conditions and generated many data that were helpful for Parkinson’s disease research. My main mentor was a graduate student Daniel Torrente, and under his guidance I became familiar with performing these experiments to acquire knowledge on the functioning of microglia during Parkinson’s disease development. He explained the experimental procedures to me with patience and offered much support during experiments. During my summer time, I learned how to conduct literature searching, execute experiments, and present my works, and all of these skills are helpful for my future career in biomedicine.

Career Goals:

My long-term career goal is to pursue an M.D. degree and to be trained to become a physician in the future. I have a strong passion in human diseases and treatment, and I want to acquire more knowledge on disease pathology and how to apply the cutting-edge biomedical knowledge to improve patient outcomes. In the meantime, I also possess strong interest in biomedical research, and I am eager to conduct research on therapeutic development and use this knowledge to better serve my patients.

Emmanuella Akyeampong 2021

Learning Experience:

The project I undertook in Dr. Michele's lab truly opened my eyes to real world research and the scientific process. I had been very used to experiments working in my science labs in school that I thought real life data would follow the same trends and answer the questions I wanted them to answer but that was not the case. I dealt with calculation errors, note-keeping errors and so many other things. I learned the importance of being observant and having a critical eye for work and detail.

Career Goals:

My long term plan is to continue to serve the disabled population in the US and in Africa, but I would start with my home country, Ghana. I plan to obtain an MD in the US and continue to participate in research to build essential skills needed as a scientist as well as gain the necessary connections. Dr. Michele gave me so much advice and guidance that I would be taking with me on my journey and the American Heart Association as well as the FCVC SURF program made this possible and actually answered my prayer about the kind of physician I will be.

Sai Harsha Nagidi 2021

Learning Experience:

Dr. Westfall was my mentor for the whole time and I worked with her one on one. She helped me a lot in terms of getting the project started and the experiment design. It was a project that required some experience with native gels and looking at proteins. I learned a lot about experiments in vivo throughout my time at Michigan. I was able to improve my western blotting technique. I learned how to present and read scientific literature throughout my time there. My most important learning experience was starting a project where we knew nothing about the experiment design, but had to troubleshoot and come up with the best way to study mitochondria. The results were very promising and we know where the project is heading towards.

Career Goals:

My long term goals are to pursue an M.D/PhD so that I can be a physician scientist. After this program I am leaning towards specializing in cardiology and also doing research in cardiology. I had an awesome experience in Michigan and it really helped me find passion in cardiology research. I want to see patients and at the same time do research in the future.

Lena Juratli 2019

Learning Experience:

It has been an immense privilege to be individually trained and oriented in an established medical research laboratory as an undergraduate student. My lab is currently studying the role of voltage-gated sodium channels in the cardiac death of individuals with Dravet Syndrome, a severe developmental epileptic encephalopathy. My lack of familiarity in this encephalopathy taught me patience, humility, and the importance of asking questions. Through learning about empirically supported treatments, I found an interest in the clinical application to research. With a requirement of only 40 hours per week, I willingly chose to devote upwards of 60-70 hours per week due to my deep interest in the intersection of biochemistry and medical pathologies. I learned how to integrate science into the discovery process of biomedical research. Additionally, working collaboratively with others has challenged me to prioritize team achievements over individual accomplishments. I learned how to effectively collaborate by respecting every individual’s input and incorporating logic and reasoning to set a group goal. Furthermore, my involvement in research has expanded my scientific literacy, and I learned how to critically evaluate other research by assessing alternative solutions and evaluations. I honed my scientific inquiry by formulating hypotheses, synthesizing data, and interpreting information. By presenting at the final symposium held by my program, I developed oral and written communication styles to effectively convey information to people from both scientific and nonscientific backgrounds.

Career Goals:

My experience as a researcher has taught me a few of the complementary skills needed as a doctor; my long term career goal is to pursue a M.D. and integrate clinical research into my everyday practice. I am very fortunate that this summer research experience has allowed me to work closely with individuals who are pursuing their PhDs, already received their PhDs, in a master’s program, pursuing their MD, and more. Being presented with an array of career possibilities has helped me find clarity on what my professional goals are. I look forward to being a future physician who educates and mentors vulnerable and underserved communities through clinically researching the social determinants of health.

Don Hua 2019

Learning Experience:

My mentor really challenged me this summer by providing me with a project that I could pursue in any direction I needed to complete the end goal. Throughout the summer I encountered obstacle after obstacle, but I dug deep and tried to overcome these setbacks because my mentor kept pushing me forward. The support and mentorship I received was outstanding, as I was given many opportunities to showcase my laboratory skills independently. My primary mentor Dr. Todd Herron always made time to check up on me and consistently gave me suggestions without feeding me the answers. At the very end of the summer, I learned how to maintain stem cells, differentiate cardiomyocytes, utilize confocal microscopy, work with computer programming, analyze data sets, and present my work in a formal setting.

Career Goals:

My plan is to attend an MD/PhD program such as MSTP because I want to better the scope of science knowledge, as well as assist in the clinical setting. My hope is to take my own research findings within heart regeneration and apply it myself through being a heart surgeon. The lessons I was taught in the Herron lab confirmed my passion for research, and I am very glad to have really immersed myself in the SURF program. I want to continue to explore the unknown and keep searching for more discoveries, all in the hope to improving the influence of science and its impact on human health. My whole career focus would be narrowed to supporting and bettering the health of every person I come into contact with.

Michelle Reynoso 2019

Learning Experience:

My project was highly focused on characterizing mechanisms and this aspect made it very preliminary. It was exciting to feel that I was part of the very beginning of an entire project. I had the opportunity to learn a little bit about the past project and how it linked in an interesting way to our current project. My lab members were incredibly patient with me, as a lot of what I had done in the lab I had never had first-hand experience with before.

Career Goals:

My current direction seems to be pointing towards becoming a physician. If I did obtain my M.D. degree, I would like to be specialized on a certain topic. Recently, I’ve gained more interest in nutrition and holistic health and I can picture a future where I have incorporated that in my medical approach to a patient’s symptoms. My experience here has convinced me that maybe research is one way I could begin to include these interests in my career and use laboratory research to find out more about how people can have more agency over their health.

Michael Abreo 2019

Learning Experience:

This program allowed me to gain my first wet lab research experience. My project involved working with human patient samples using cell culture and protein analysis techniques. These pediatric samples were unique to this prestigious institution and they allowed me to work on a novel research project. My main mentor was lab manager Kristina Hunker while postdoc Nitin Kumar also worked closely with me and answered my questions. Both of them helped strengthen my research skills including critical thinking, experimental design, data analysis, and presenting my work.

Career Goals:

Having participated in various medical internships and experiences my long-term career goal is to attend medical school, residency, and fellowship programs and become a physician. My research experiences have included cardiovascular modeling with Dr. Christopher Quick at Texas A&M, bioinformatics at Houston Methodist, and vascular genetics in Dr. Santhi Ganesh’s lab through this program. These experiences have significantly influenced my decision to include research in my future medical career. I believe that through research, I can contribute to the next generation of medicine.

Elizabeth Peterson 2018

Learning Experience:

This summer I investigated the expression of the protein neuroserpin in the brain. While the data from this project are certainly preliminary, I was able to learn about brain structure and function as well as how researchers study these topics in the laboratory. My daily lab supervisor was graduate student Daniel Torrente, and he trained me in the techniques necessary for this project and encouraged me to think critically when analyzing data and reading scientific literature. As a result, I became more aware of how my research in turn could influence future studies and the wider scientific community. I gained experience in working with living systems, interpreting data, and presenting the results to my peers.

Career Goals:

My long-term career goals are to obtain a medical degree and to complete residency and fellowship programs that will enable me to best serve the needs of my community as a physician. I am interested in remaining involved in research, specifically in the translation of innovative treatment from a laboratory to a clinical setting. In this way, I could use my knowledge to treat patients while contributing to the refinement of improved medical practices for the future. In my day-to-day actions, I hope to use my career to promote health awareness and foster trust and understanding between the scientific community and wider public.

Najah Soudan 2018

Learning Experience:

The most significant learning experiences I had were when I learned the how to perform Western blots and learn that procedure. Another thing I learned was how to present and that switching powerpoint slides using animation is not professional. I also learned about how much lab equipment actually cost. It is more expensive than I thought. One thing I gained from the program is how to create a powerpoint presentation. My mentor was strict on posture, layout of the slides, and what to say for each slide. I learned how to do a good presentation based on that.

Career Goals:

My long-term careers goals is to become an interventional cardiologist. I want to specialize in procedures including thrombosis, plaque in the blood vessels, and treating hypertension.

Sarah Resnick 2018

Learning Experience:

This summer I got the chance to work in the Michele lab where I learned everything from basic laboratory techniques, to how to analyze scientific literature and the importance of working on a team. The most significant thing I learned was how to design my own experiment and develop and test accompanying hypotheses. Along with this I learned to manage my time in the lab in order to complete my experiments and collect data. I now have a better appreciation for the scientific process and can relate to the feeling of excitement when receiving satisfying results.

Career Goals:

My long term career goals are obtaining an MD while also being able to contribute to advancement of medicine through research. The science aspect of being a doctor fascinates me and from my experience working in a research laboratory, I am excited to be able to combine my scientific knowledge with work in research to eventually help contribute to finding cures. Researching in the Michele and Wong Laboratories throughout my college career have been the highlights of my college career, and I want to continue to contribute to biomedical research through my career. The field of genetics fascinates me and I believe that the future of medicine is personalized medicine based on genetic data. Through research, mine and others’, I hope one day be able to offer to my patients new and better cures.

William Anderson 2018

Learning Experience:

This project was very eye-opening for me. I was able to fully experience the scientific process of testing a hypothesis at the lab bench, making predictions on the outcomes, interpreting the results and drawing conclusions on the meaning of the data. This project was also very meaningful to me because we were trying to determine a cause of cases of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy that Dravet Syndrome patients frequently experience. I was able to learn various lab techniques as well as the physiology behind the mutations that are studied in Dr. Lori Isom's laboratory. I am very grateful for this research experience because it allowed me to realize that medical research is on the forefront of current human understanding and breakthroughs in research can lead to life-saving medical developments.

Career Goals:

My career goals have definitely changed after this CVC Fellowship Experience. I am now motivated to pursue a PhD in biomedical engineering to develop new understandings of how implantable biomaterials and biomedical devices can improve the quality of life of those experiencing adverse health conditions. I plan to pursue another research fellowship in the Summer of 2019 in the biomedical engineering field. If I attain a PhD I plan to write health care policy that improves the state of the health care system in the United States. I also have a desire to become a Principal Investigator at a university, performing research in biomaterials and how they can be applied to the neural systems of the body. I would like to thank Dr. Lori Isom, Nnamdi Edokobi and the entirety of the Isom Laboratory for hosting me this summer.

Sara Sustich 2018

Learning Experience:

The research I experienced at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center is unlike anything I had experienced before. It opened my eyes to the immense possibilities research has. I was able to work with novel Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (HiPSCs), when I had no idea they existed before I began this program. Throughout this amazing opportunity, I was exposed to top research techniques and learned many skills. I learned critical thinking and analysis, and to always ask questions. My mentors, Dr. Jalife and Dr. Todd Herron and the entire Cardio-Toxicity Research team was so helpful in guiding and teaching me. This incredible experience has helped me grow tremendously as a professional, student, scientist, presenter and researcher; and I am so thankful to have been given this opportunity.

Career Goals:

My long-term career goal is to obtain an M.D. degree and to complete residency and fellowship in some pediatric specialty. I have fallen in love with cardiology and would love to become a pediatric cardiologist. This experience has opened my eyes to the numerous ways in which we can help those through research as well as the complexity behind our heart. I hope to become a physician at a teaching hospital because I believe that sharing knowledge is the most valuable aspect of science. I hope to be a leader in my career, and inspire those around me just as this experience has inspired me.

Anjola Onadipe 2017

Learning Experience:

I learned quite a bit about the process of scientific discovery in biomedical research. This was a result of my involvement in the lab, as well as hearing from scientists in seminars and conferences. Before the program, the research process was fairly ambiguous to me, but I now I have a solid understanding of why and how biomedical research is conducted. Additionally, I gained some valuable technical skills. For example, I gained confidence in analyzing scientific literature and became proficient at western blotting. Lastly, I learned to appreciate the complexities of physiology. As I learned details about different cascades and mechanisms that occur in our bodies, I often found myself amazed. The knowledge I gained over the summer sparked greater interest to study science and medicine.

Career Goals:

I want to be a medical doctor. I am interested in a wide variety of areas, including primary care, cardiovascular medicine, and emergency medicine. I enjoy mentoring and teaching, so I can envision myself practicing at an academic health center. I would also like to conduct research at some level, and perhaps be involved in global health projects.

Click here for an update from Anjola

Jessica Anqi Zhou 2017

Learning Experience:

I learned how to organize a complex series of experiments, solve problems through critical thinking and analyzing multiple parameters, and ask for help and guidance from various individuals in the lab based on their expertise. I also became better at associating experiments with theories and abstract knowledge. It was a truly rewarding research experience overall.

Career Goals:

I want to be a physician scientist. I want to help patients through direct interactions, focusing on listening to them and knowing how they feel and what they think. I aspire to help improve their health, including both physical and mental well-being. In the meantime, I want to contribute new ideas to the development of the medical field, through basic science and /or translational research projects that are pertinent to what the patients need.

Kate Harris 2017

Learning Experience:

This project was very preliminary, but the data produced certainly raised many questions and looked promising for further investigation. Working alongside intelligent people at a top institution on a novel research project was a tremendous privilege. My main mentor was graduate student Martijn van der Ent. He was always willing to explain concepts, and he was very good at making me think and draw next steps and conclusions throughout the project. I learned many techniques and further sharpened my abilities to analyze literature, execute an experiment, interpret data, and present a research talk.

Career Goals:

My long-term career goals are to obtain an M.D. degree and to complete residency and fellowship programs that help me develop into the best physician I am capable of being. Further, thanks to the wonderful experiences I have had in Dr. Jessica Ellis’ lab at Purdue and in Dr. Santhi Ganesh’s lab through this splendid program, I plan to pursue a research fellowship so that I may continue to conduct research throughout my medical career. I hope to be a lifelong learner in all aspects of my profession, and to best serve as many patients as I can. I would also like to lecture at medical schools and conferences, and conduct research because I believe these are the best ways to share information in the world of science, and to hopefully spark ideas in the great minds of the next generation of physicians.

Johan Lee 2017

Learning Experience:

The most meaningful learning experience in this program was the relationship that I was able to forge with my lab mentor and my PI. The accessibility and openness of everyone in the lab created a safe, comfortable learning environment where I could ask questions without feeling foolish. Because of this, I was able to make the most of my experience in the AHA Summer Fellowship.

Career Goals:

I am an aspiring physician, interested in a surgery specialty, as well as some advanced degree in Biomedical Ethics. I hope to serve in a developing country for some portion of my career.

Thomas Enright 2017

Learning Experience:

My experience as a 2017 American Heart Association Fellow as part of the Frankel Cardiovascular Center Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship was beneficial and formative for me as a student pursuing a career in medicine. I gained an appreciation for how scientists form their research questions, design experiments, and then communicate their progress and findings to colleagues. Specifically, my experiences working with human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) challenged my laboratory technique and illuminated the technology’s capacity to inform scientists and physicians in a patient-specific manner in the future. I learned new information regarding the electrophysiology of the heart and then connected that information to a specific research question, recognizing all the while how individual experiments help inform specific components of our research question. I hope that this procedural thinking and systems-based means of inquiry will serve me well in my future scientific and medical endeavors. As a whole, my experience as an AHA Fellow provided the opportunity to witness and participate in the process of medical research, and I am confident that the specific skills and lessons I learned as a student and scientist along the way will continue to serve me well.

Career Goals:

I will begin my medical education in August 2018, most likely attending the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health as a student in their MD Program. I look forward to engaging in the learning process that will help me become a competent and compassionate physician who incorporates public health and basic science into the holistic care of patients.