The Sandusky Lab is run by George E. Sandusky, a Senior Research Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, and his interns. It is a high-powered pathology lab. It is also considered a dry lab because we do not work with specimens, just the samples from the wet lab. This lab conducts clinical research in breast, lung, esophageal, and colon cancers.
At the Sandusky Pathology lab, our goal is to help researchers analyze their cancer research. This work is very important because it helps further our knowledge involving cancer research. This can lead to groundbreaking discoveries that can help millions of people.
Did you know that clinical trials have improved childhood cancer survival?
This year, I've been a valuable part of the team, mainly working on handling samples, organizing data in Excel, and understanding pathology information. At first, I focused on doing tasks like scanning samples and managing data. But as I got better at it, I started helping others and suggesting ways to improve our work. My ability to adapt and learn quickly helped me become a more supportive team member.
My time in the lab has taught me a lot, not just about the lab work itself, but also about how to manage my time, communicate better, and solve problems. I've also learned more about what I'm good at and where I can improve in my career.
My work has made a big difference in our lab's success. By keeping things organized and understanding pathology data, I've helped us make better decisions and move our research forward. Learning about different parts of pathology has also made our team stronger. Also, working with different people in the lab has taught me a lot. Hearing their ideas and experiences has helped me think about things in new ways and come up with better solutions to our problems. It's made our team more creative and better at working together.
One highlight for me this year was realizing that I was grasping the material in the lab. At first, it was stressful trying to identify tissues and spot problems just by looking at them. But with practice, I've gotten a lot better. Being able to name tissues and spot issues confidently has been a big win for me. From this, I've learned that practicing regularly and sticking with something pays off. This lesson will help me in the future, reminding me to keep going even when things get tough.
One challenge I've faced at my internship site is dealing with a slow and often broken slide scanner. It slows down our work and can be frustrating. But I've been working on staying patient and not letting it get to me. Despite the setbacks, I've learned to stay positive and find solutions. This experience has taught me that staying flexible and staying calm under pressure are important skills to have in any job.