Learning Goal #1: I will gain experience in qualitative data processing. 

What tasks, responsibilities, projects, or activities will you do to meet this goal? 

1. I will help recruit participants for participatory research models 

2. I will attend and take notes in participatory research interviews and focus groups 

3. I will transcribe 1-2 interviews per week 

4. I will communicate with my supervisor(s) on what I am currently working on for the research project and if I have questions or need support 

As of now, I have learned how to process qualitative data in a more efficient way. I have learned to extract transcriptions from the audio to better guide me in the transcription writing process. I also keep my supervisors up to date on where I am with my progress and keep up with my progress on the team's transcription tracking excel spreadsheet. 

Learning Goal #2: I will gain experience in qualitative data analyses 

What tasks, responsibilities, projects, or activities will you do to meet this goal? 

1. I will learn about the qualitative research process 

2. I will learn how to develop themes and codes  

3. I will code at least 15 interviews and 2 or more focus groups 

February: I have been able to accomplish this goal by pacing myself with different transcriptions and finding ways to make the transcription process easier. The longer transcriptions that I have to code are in Spanish, and I have found a way to better translate the transcription to English. I run it through a translating app, and then go over the entire interview again on my own, and fix any errors, or make the transcription more accurate using the Spanish that I know.

I have learned how the qualaitative research process works and have recently learned how to use NVivo, which is a qualatative coding software. I have been working with my team to code the different interviews and code them by different themes seen throughout the interviews. My team has coded a paragraph from each clinican interview as of now.

Learning Goal #3: I would like to expand my professional development and technical skills  

What tasks, responsibilities, projects, or activities will you do to meet this goal? 

1. Researching strategies on how to use Microsoft Office applications effectively 

2. Attend research meetings on project updates and professional development skills  

3. Dedicate time to practice organizational skills 

February: I have been able to attend weekly meetings to develop professional skills and also attended the IUURC and was able to present my research and work on my professional skills there as well. I was able to network and learn how to better present my research to an audience.

I have been able to attend more conferences since the IUURC, one being the Purdue Autism Research Conference (PARC). I was able to present my poster with more confidence than prior presentations and was able to respond to questions effectively. I have also familiarized myself with different Microsoft Office applications as well as different coding/analyzing software. 

My current career goal is to become an anesthesiologist in a pediatric hospital. I have always enjoyed working with children and have always enjoyed learning about the medical field, and would like to become one of the few Latina doctors in the field. My academic goal is to improve my science grades, I have always struggled with chemistry and want to continue pushing through and finishing the semester off strong. 

The career option I mentioned is more than set in stone, I could not see myself doing something else, and have shadowed and talked to doctors who work in the field of pediatric anesthesiology. I have also done extensive research over the years and am more than sure about my career option. Recently my ideas on what demographic I want to serve have changed, I have always loved serving my community and would enjoy being able to work in a low-income area or work for a facility that serves the Latinx/e population or those on Medicaid. I have seen the struggles that the Latinx/e population faces in healthcare, and I would be more than happy to assist them.

My plans throughout my internship did not change, I still am going to apply to medical school, and need to finish my last two prerequisites before applying. I am planning on taking a gap year, so I will not be applying till the following cycle. Before I apply I plan on applying for the application waiver, creating an AAMC account, and buying MCAT supplies. I also plan on shadowing different specialties and attending pre-medical student conferences to begin networking.

This summer I will be participating in an out of state internship. Over winter break I applied to a few pre-medical internships around the Midwest and am going to intern at Northwestern Medical throughout the summer months. I was also offered a position at my current site and plan on staying throughout the summer and in the fall. My internship has better equipped me for future internships and has improved my CV. Many of the interviews I have had are interested in what I have done with my current LHSI site, and I am hoping to continue using my culture and my native Spanish-speaking skills to better assist those in the Latinx/e community. I also want to continue working in diverse settings, which is something Northwestern Medical strives to maintain and appreciate. I am very confident that what I have done at this internship has better confirmed my love for diversifying the medical field and my desire to help minoritized communities.