My Internship
Discrimination in Hospital Medicine
I am a part of a research team conducting groundbreaking research surrounding discriminatory interactions healthcare workers face in their daily work environments. Our research team consists of six women; Dr. Ann Cottingham, Dr. Areeba Kara, Dr. Janine Zee-Cheng, Monica Huffman, and myself. Currently, we all meet collectively once a week virtually to discuss progress and needs for the project. Outside of this meeting, we collaborate as our schedules align to code the data collected through interviews. Our goal is to develop a scale to measure these experiences and illuminate the issue of healthcare discrimination from an overlooked perspective. The study is being conducted at IU Health Methodist, University, West, and North hospitals. We are gathering information by conducting interviews focusing on populations that are typically overlooked. These populations include hospitalists who attended medical/graduate school at a non-US, non-Caribbean institution and/or who identify as an underrepresented minority (Black, Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, American Indian). White hospitalists have also been presented with the opportunity to participate in the study however the study is geared toward those actively facing discrimination in their place of work. The team is currently in the process of analyzing qualitative data. Once the team has gathered this information from the interviews, we have the goal of creating a scale to quantify the burden of discrimination faced by clinicians.
IUPUI 16x9 Poster Template.pptxLearning & Skills
This internship will provide me with the opportunity to begin working toward my long-term career goals. Dr. Cottingham and the team are actively working with healthcare providers in Indianapolis in order to identify acts of discrimination in the healthcare field. Through this internship, I will be cultivating research skills in addition to the interpersonal communication and presentation skills needed to advocate for minority groups on a global scale. This internship will also allow me to use my knowledge of diverse religions and philosophies to establish better connections with interviewees. These skills in conjunction will allow me to conduct groundbreaking research on populations that have been overlooked or inaccurately studied in the past.
Self Evaluation
Skills I am already applying in my professional life include communication, independence, and teamwork/collaboration. These skills have been cultivated through my experiences as a high-level athlete and it is easy for me to apply them to my studies. My background has also prepared me for constructive criticism and correction which is a valuable aspect of collaboration. My previous coursework, specifically my Africana Studies research classes with Dr. Patricia Turely have prepared me for this internship in aspects relating to communication, analysis, problem-solving, and deadlines. These courses also have a focus on qualitative research which is a large component of my work with Dr. Cottingham. In addition, these courses taught me how to analyze information and draw meaningful conclusions, which will be prudent to my internship
Skills that I need to further develop during the course of this internship are consistent time management skills. I struggle to maintain a set schedule, but with my current workload that cannot continue. A major goal I have for myself is to establish a set schedule and STICK TO IT! My tasks will always be completed, but I often lose assignments in the shuffle of my chaos and find myself stressing and rushing. This is not sustainable for long-term work in a professional setting and I am looking forward to outgrowing this habit.
The Workplace
This is my first experience working with professionals outside of the classroom, and I have loved learning the environment. I am excited to work in an environment of collaborative success. As a team, we are all extremely passionate about the research and that energy is palpable upon each meeting. With this in mind, it has been refreshing to see professionals with busy schedules creating time to meet and pursue a passion. This experience has been different than I expected because of COVID limitations. I was hoping to meet in person since I have my own office space in the same building as my research team, but online meetings have been our only form of connection. This experience has provided me to work with an empowering group of women. I have been able to see perspectives of a range of diverse people groups as this is the nature of our research.
As I have continued through this internship, I have become confident in expressing myself in the workplace. A large part of our work at this moment is focused on analyzing interviews and discovering similar themes and patterns among them. We do this as a group, one person reads the interview out loud and we stop to discuss when we find important information related to the study. In the beginning, I struggled to express myself during these conversations but I have developed a confidence as my imposter syndrome has lessened each day I work on the project. It is empowering to have well-educated individuals actively listen and use your ideas in a research study! Establishing this confidence was my biggest struggle during my time in LHSI because I had a fear of being wrong. I have learned to let this go, because even if I am wrong that's OKAY! It isn't embarrassing to be wrong, it is just an opportunity to learn and revaluate.
