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Project Summary (Injustice and Resilience in Youth with Sickle Cell Disease Study)
My internship takes place in the Psychology Department at Riley Children’s Hospital, where the research team explores how cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) can support children in managing medical conditions. Under the supervision of Dr. Amy Williams, a pediatric clinical psychologist, I assist in a study that examines psychological factors related to the experience and treatment of pain in children.
Dr. Williams’s research focuses on pain coping strategies and identifying children at risk for developing chronic pain. A central aspect of my internship involves examining how racial disparities impact the treatment of chronic pain, particularly through the lens of sickle cell disease (SCD), a condition that affects approximately 100,000 people in the United States, the vast majority of whom are Black and from low-income communities.
The study I support is titled “Injustice and Resilience in Youth with Sickle Cell Disease.” This research investigates how patients’ perceptions of race- and disease-related injustice influence health outcomes. It aims to understand the role of these appraisals in contributing to the development and management of chronic pain in pediatric SCD populations.
As an intern, I participate in multiple aspects of the research process:
Recruiting participants at the sickle cell clinic
Administering and collecting surveys from teens and parents
Conducting chart reviews
Reviewing research protocols
Assisting with data management and poster preparation
This experience has deepened my understanding of the intersection between psychological research, health disparities, and clinical care. It has also reinforced my passion for working in healthcare settings where I can contribute to reducing inequities and improving patient outcomes.
Learning and Skills
Learning and Skills
Throughout my internship, I’ve built on foundational skills I already had such as flexibility, active listening, organization, and a willingness to learn. My time at Riley Children’s Hospital has helped me further develop new skills, including database design, professional maturity, confidence, and the ability to work independently. Many of the tasks I’ve been assigned have challenged me to think critically and strengthen my problem-solving abilities.
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that failure can be a stepping stone to success. What matters most is learning from mistakes and continuing to grow. This mindset has helped me approach each new task with curiosity and resilience.
My college coursework has prepared me well for the work I’ve done in my internship. In particular:
Data Analysis Using Spreadsheets gave me the technical skills needed to create and manage research databases.
Statistics taught me how to organize, interpret, and present data. Skills I applied when working with REDCap, a secure web-based application for managing research data.
Ethics and Diversity introduced me to key principles around confidentiality and professionalism, which I practiced during database management and patient interactions.
Professional Writing Skills equipped me with literature search techniques and academic writing strategies, which I’ve used while drafting a medical literature review with a graduate student.
Together, these experiences have not only enhanced my technical and academic skills, but also confirmed my interest in pursuing a future career at the intersection of research, healthcare, and psychology.
The Workplace
The Workplace
As part of my internship at Riley Children’s Hospital, my primary role was to assist in recruiting participants for a sickle cell research study. Every two weeks, I visited the sickle cell clinic to speak with children and their families, providing a brief overview of the study and answering any questions they had about participation.
The team of researchers and graduate students I’ve worked with has been incredibly welcoming and supportive. We hold weekly meetings to discuss tasks, progress, and goals, and I’ve observed how effective communication and mutual respect drive the success of our projects. This collaborative and transparent environment reflects the kind of workplace culture I hope to be part of in the future.
Through this experience, I’ve discovered how much I enjoy working in a healthcare setting. It has affirmed my career goal of helping individuals overcome health-related challenges, whether through research, clinical work, or both. I’ve also gained a deeper understanding of the ethical standards, responsibilities, and confidentiality required in clinical research—insights that I will carry forward into my future academic and professional pursuits.
Successes and Challenges
Successes and Challenges
During my internship, I’ve experienced several meaningful successes, including learning to use the REDCap database, writing a medical literature review, and applying concepts from my psychology coursework to real-world clinical research. Before starting, I had never used REDCap, a secure web-based platform, used for building and managing research surveys and databases. I embraced the learning curve and quickly became comfortable navigating it. This new technical skill has enhanced my confidence in research settings.
One of my proudest accomplishments has been writing a literature review. This task has challenged me to grow academically and professionally, especially in applying skills I gained from my professional writing course to the field of medical and psychological research. I’ve also had the opportunity to collaborate with a graduate student on the review, which has helped me improve my research communication and editing skills.
Some challenges I’ve encountered include reciting a study recruitment script for the sickle cell clinic. Memorizing and presenting the information accurately to patients has been a learning experience, and I’m actively working on improving my confidence and delivery. Time management has also been a challenge, as balancing internship responsibilities with college coursework requires careful planning. However, I’m learning and implementing strategies to stay organized and manage my time more effectively.
Internship Showcase
Internship Showcase
Me and Morgan at the internship showcase.
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