UHP Discover Research

Transcending: Discovering Diversified Interests

This summer, I had the privilege of working on a Social Justice project with two goals: to focus on understanding girls' experiences in detention centers by interviewing girls at a juvenile detention center in Cincinnati and, to investigate the trauma-informed practices at detention centers across the United States by surveying administrators at detention centers. Ultimately, our work will inform institutions on how well they are doing to heal trauma and prepare youth for success in the outside world. My role as a research assistant primarily revolved around transcribing the incoming interviews. I also helped build the contact database for detention facilities across the United States and converted our paper-based survey into an online version using Qualtrics technology. Participation in the project has deeply impacted me in three ways. First, it has encouraged me to embrace ventures outside the traditional stem bubble as a pre-health student. Although I was unfamiliar with the concept of trauma-informed care a couple of months ago, I now believe that this concept could also be practiced at the root of medicine to improve the patient experience. Second, hearing the girls speak about their future ambitions truly helped me recognize that the way you react to things matters and not what happens. Third, I have an overall better understanding of research etiquette. I have learned and practiced data stewardship methods, upstanding mentorship practices, and virtual presentation techniques through the learning community. I plan to pursue my rejuvenated interest in social justice by continuing to attend our research team's meetings and join the student group named Social Justice in Medicine. In my academic future, I hope to get involved in more research in science and humanities labs.