Bountiful/Layton, UT: OMS of Utah -Allyson Andersen. "My Summer In'Tooth'ship"

Many find the sound of a drill digging into bone unsettling but I find it fascinating! One of the most common procedures of the oral surgeon I worked for are implants. Now to start an implant, an incision is made in the gums with what is called a 15-blade. Next, the doctor uses a peritoneal to pull apart the gums from the bone of our ramus if we are dealing with the lower jaw. Once the flap of gums are reflected back, the doctor takes a drill with about an inch drill bit on the end to start the hole for the implant to be placed in. While the surgical assistant suctions the blood seeping from the gums, the oral surgeon continues to dive into the bone until the drill bits are up the size and depth sufficient for the implant. Bone from the patient is put back around the implant to increase bone growth along with other bone fragments from human and cow origins. Now that the implant is screwed into place, we can close the flap of gums with a suture. After we have finished driving the curved suture needle through the gums to re-attach them to heal, we finish by injecting "PRP," also known as platelet rich plasma to make the tissue heal faster. My plan for this summer was to intern for a dentist, Dr. Healy, as well as an oral surgeon, Dr. Liston, in order to widen my view into the medical field. I learned more about myself from this internship and had an amazing time doing it.

Heading into my summer internship, my plan was to become a dental hygienist. Some of the factors that made my view change are the role of a dental hygienist, variety, and human anatomy involved in oral surgery. The first day I went in to my job, I was with Dr. Healy and his staff. I shadowed the dental hygienist first because of my interest in this field. After watching the hygienist clean tooth after tooth, I realized this was not something I would love to do. They have the same routine every day. I do not think it would take long for me to become bored of this schedule. My first day at the oral surgeon's office was far more exciting! I love the variety involved in oral surgery. What I mean by this is there are some surgeries like wisdom teeth removal and implants that are most common; although I have learned from working in oral surgery that you never know what case is going to come through the door next. The variety in the office consisted of: removing third molars, extracting teeth, taking tissue and object biopsies, implants, sinus clearing, nose reshaping, suture removal, and different people. Lastly, my favorite class on BYU campus has been human anatomy, which I have been able to apply to oral surgery on a daily basis. I now want to be a surgical assistant because I simply love being there and doing the tasks that come with the job description.

I had a fabulous time at my internship and if you're on the fence about doing one, hop on over and try it! Not only did I learn what I wanted to do, but I learned what I do not want to do. If I had not taken this opportunity I would have made a big mistake in becoming a dental hygienist. There is no better way to see if the occupation you have chosen is the right one for you, then to go out and participate in the work.

For more information of OMS of Utah visit http://www.omsofutah.com/index.asp

Ghana, Africa. BYU Fieldstudies -Natalie. "Life Changing"

The only words I can sum my internship in Wiamoase, Ghana, West Africa are exactly those: life changing. Located in the South of the Western sub-Saharan region, Ghana has a population of 23.4 million. When I stepped off the plane I never could have guessed what the next three months had in store for me. I lived in a very small village where electricity came and went just like the waves of extreme heat. I didn’t have high expectations for my living situation so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw where I was living (mainly because we had a working toilet!). Wiamoase is about two miles long on the main road with not much to look at. With a future in the medical setting I knew I wanted to start off my internship in the clinic. Working with BYU Field Studies and their faculty I finally had my research narrowed down. I chose to research why parents bring their children to a clinic. About 1-½ miles away from where I stayed was the Salvation Army Health Center. Open 24 hours a day the clinic is mainly there for outpatient procedures. I started my days off in the O.P.D.(Out Patient Department) helping the nurses take temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and weight. I interviewed staff members about the clinic and how it operated. I sat and observed the clinic for a few weeks before actually interviewing any parents about why they chose the clinic as their primary health care. I quickly learned that most of the town does in fact prefer the clinic. As the weeks went on I began interviewing parents by asking a series of questions in a semi-structure interview process. I learned more from these people than I thought. Since I was working with BYU field studies I took a course that helped prepare for the research. The professors helped with every step of the way providing support whenever necessary. I grew as a person emotionally, physically, and mentally as a result of going on my internship to Ghana. I will never forget the experience I had and the things I learned.  

Provo, UT: Central Utah Surgical Clinic -Cory Pettit

This summer I had an internship at the Central Utah Surgical Clinic working under Dr. Nelson, an orthopedic surgeon.  It was a great experience, as I got to see all parts of the surgical process.  I would begin by doing clinical visits with him, where we saw people before and after their surgeries.  For those coming in pre-surgery, Dr. Nelson would use subjective assessments of pain and mobility, as well as medical imaging to determine a course of treatment.  What most struck me about these meetings was how friendly and personable Dr. Nelson was with everyone.  He greeted each patient as if they were long time friends,  and after the consultation he would usually spend about 5 to 10 minutes talking about some common interest they shared, whether it was sports, fishing, or even a mutual acquaintance.  It always seemed they had something in common.

After the consultations, the next step was the surgeries themselves.  I was fortunate enough to be able to actually be in the operating room during the procedures, and got a close-up view of what was going on.  Dr. Nelson would explain to me what was the steps in the operation, and would help me understand and see the anatomy in the area he was operating on.  What most surprised me about the surgeries was how intensive they were.  Many called for power tools such as a power drill and a bone saw.  It reminded me of a carpenter's shop, where instead of working with wood, they were shaping bone.

The last step in the process was to visit the patients a few weeks after their operation.  He would check up on them to make sure there had been no complications, and that everything was healing correctly. Although they were sometimes still in pain, almost all of the patients saw improvement and were very grateful for Dr. Nelson.  Being an intern with him was a great experience, and helped solidify my desire to go into orthopedics.

For more information visit  http://www.centralutahclinic.com/departments/surgery-center.

Charlottesville, Virginia: University of Virgina -Spencer

This summer, I spent seven weeks in Charlottesville, Virginia working in a biochemistry and molecular genetics lab focusing on cancer research.  It was a fantastic learning experience.  I consider myself very fortunate to have had this opportunity.  I lived with family in the area and it was because of their connections that I had this opportunity to work in a very successful lab at the University of Virginia.

What I enjoyed most about the internship was learning how to actually do things that I had learned about in school.  It's one thing to learn about Northern Blotting, it's another to harvest your own cells, prepare the samples, run a gel, and develop your very own blots.  That is what I liked most.  The experience further cemented processes I have learned about but it also made it much more interesting to me.  I am way more interested in Molecular Biology now than I was when I took the class, for example.

In the lab, I worked with a post doc who helped me considerably.  He was working on studying TIP60, and indirect cancer suppressant.  I worked side by side with him and conducted my own experiments regarding a similar protein--a cousin to TIP60--called hMOF.  I found it very beneficial to run my own hypothesis and my own experiments.  I was able to watch a mentor conduct similar experiments, and then I was able to apply it to my own work.

Another benefit for me was simply being able to observe people work.  I am currently trying to really discover what I want to do in life, and I think that can be a very hard decision.  It was invaluable to me to watch first-hand what researchers actually do--what their daily routine is like.  I was able to talk to PhD students and medical school students.  I talked a lot with my supervisor and the lab manager regarding careers.  This interaction was probably the most valuable of the whole experience.

In short, my experience was fantastic and helped me in multiple ways.

For more information visit  http://www.medicine.virginia.edu/education/phd/gpo/srip/home-page.

San Diego, California: Research in Surgical Neurophisiology at UC San Diego Medical Center - Collin

Data collection for one of our projects

My summer was spent at the multiple UCSD hospitals doing research in the field of Surgical Neurophysiology.  Much of my time was spent in the operating room viewing neurosurgery and taking data for a research paper.  I got to see the upside of research and see the amazing topics being looked into and papers being written up with success.  I also saw the downside of research when data came back informing us that one of our projects was wrong and that our giant data collection trip to the Sierras and the entire project was scrapped.  My plan is to be a doctor and I want to continue doing research.  It was an incredible experience where I was able to see the role of research in the medical field

Data that comes in from all the head electrodes

For more information visit http://health.ucsd.edu/locations/pages/thornton.aspx.

Idaho Falls, ID -Chase LfSci 199R Summer Experience

I spent the last six weeks participating in the lifescience 199 class by interning for one of my local physical therapists. The experience was very rewarding, despite all of the new learning techniques there are these days, there is still nothing better than hands on experience. Especially for people like me who are still mulling over career decisions, the opportunity to get in an actual clinic and watch therapists do day to day work is extremely helpful in making decisions about the future. A lot can be learned in a classroom setting but there comes a time where the real life experience is extremely vital. this class provides an opportunity to do some real experiencing and receive credit for it. it is and excellent program and definitely worth the time.

For more information visit  http://www.ellisphysicaltherapy.com/.

Provo, UT; Now I Can -Elizabeth

This summer I had the opportunity to be an intern at Now I Can, an intensive physical therapy center for children with neuromuscular disorders. This experience was incredibly valuable to me in preparing myself for my future as a physical therapist specializing in pediatrics. I got the chance to work one-on-one with our patients and in the process I developed greater patience, skills working with children, and appreciation for the miracle of our bodies, as well as knowledge of physical therapy philosophy and implementation. There have been struggles along the way but the overall experience has been life-changing.

Being an intern at Now I Can challenged me to develop greater patience and creativity in working with children. Most of the patients I worked with were about four years old and they had therapy four hours a day, five days a week. Understandably, it was a challenging thing for them physically as well as emotionally. My job as an intern was to help motivate them, keep them on-task and make the experience fun for them. With practice and by watching the physical therapists and the physical therapy assistants interact with the patients, I developed new skills at keeping children of all ages engaged in the task at hand and working their hardest. I learned empathy in trying to understand how the patients were feeling and what I could do to make the incredibly challenging therapy experience more enjoyable for them.

The kids' positive attitudes in spite of all of their difficulties have been immensely inspiring for me. They set an example of courage, perseverance and hope that inspires me to be better, to keep a positive perspective and have more gratitude for the many blessings I have received, especially in regards to my own physical body. I have realized that many of the things I take for granted every day, like walking, or putting on my own shoes or being able to use my hands are constant struggles for these children. It makes me appreciate how blessed I have been. As I have worked with the children at Now I Can I have gained greater gratitude, patience, creativity, and perspective. 

This internship was also an awesome opportunity for me to learn more about the work of physical therapy. The therapists and physical therapy assistants were very helpful in answering my questions and explaining why they were doing what they were doing. I had to take an active role in my learning and ask a lot of questions, but for every question I asked, the staff at Now I Can was ready to answer. 

I am grateful for the opportunity that I had to be an intern at Now I Can.  I feel like I am more empathetic and creative and I have a greater understanding of how physical therapy works and how therapists can really make a difference in the lives of their patients. Because of the hard work of the therapists and myself, our patients made amazing strides towards independence and greater ability. Interning at Now I Can gave me greater hope and an increased desire to work hard and prepare myself to be a physical therapist and continue to help children reach their goals.

To learn more about Now I Can visit: http://www.nowican.org/.

Debre Zeit, Ethiopia: Engage Now Africa Internship -Logan

I completed an internship with a nongovernmental organization called Engage Now Africa. The internship was based in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. Debre Zeit is located about an hour south of the capital of Ethiopia. My duties in the internship included gathering data concerning the humanitarian projects completed in the villages, volunteering and shadowing at the local hospital, and teaching English at a local school. It was a very engaging and interesting internship that helped me develop understanding of foreign health care and aid.

            My wife and I arrived in Ethiopia and were trained by Diana Bingham who is the country director of Engage Now Africa (ENA) in Ethiopia. We were introduced to the local staff and situated into our housing. After a day of training, Diana left to go back to America and we went to work. It was difficult to get started at first due to the Ethiopian staff. We immediately learned that the Ethiopian culture is very laid back in meeting deadlines. We would often plan our day full of activities and only accomplish a handful due to Ethiopian culture. ENA has built schools, sanitary wells, and health posts throughout the villages surrounding Debre Zeit. It was our job to travel to these projects and collect data, testimonials, and pictures that could be utilized to produce results for the donors of ENA. We were able to travel to a lot of projects and collect a lot of data and pictures. It was great to see all the good that has been done due to ENA’s efforts. There were many villages that had gone without a school until ENA came and built the school. After the school was built it was handed over to the government, which would then higher teachers to run the school. Thousands of children are now able to attend school thanks to ENA. Wells were also dug by ENA, which has helped decrease the amount of disease due to unclean water. ENA drills for water and then sets up a pump and caps the well to prevent contamination. ENA also has set up health posts throughout the villages, which brings medical help to the people. Villagers can travel to these health posts and receive basic healthcare that would normally cause death without care.

            My wife and I were also able to teach English at a local school in Debre Zeit. The national language in Ethiopia is Amharic. The villagers rarely speak English but they need to know English in order to be employed in Ethiopia. We were able to teach English at a school. The children were more than willing to learn the language to get ahead in life. We did a lot of exercises and played a lot of English learning games. By the end of the internship the children were able to carry out a basic conversation with someone on the street. Hopefully this spark of learning will motivate them to continue to learn the language and get ahead in life.

            I am a premedical student, so I wanted to get some insight on the health care system in Ethiopia. I was able to arrange with the Debre Zeit hospital a shadowing and volunteering opportunity. Every day I would spend a few hours in the hospital shadowing different doctors. I saw a lot of typhoid, HIV, and malaria. There were also a lot of car accidents, fighting injuries, and abuse. I saw a lot of cases that I would not be able to see in America. I was also able to clean parts of the hospital and make lots of gauze. The doctors are educated and employed by the government. The government pays the doctors very little to work at the hospitals. To make more money the doctors usually work at a private practice and spend little time at the hospital. Due to this issue, the nurses see most of the patients at the hospital. I feel the health care system can be improved in Ethiopia by training the doctors, donating new equipment, and helping reform government health care services.

            This internship helped me get a better perspective of the world. I enjoyed meeting different types of people along the way and learning from their strengths. I learned that there is much good that can be done throughout the world. There are basic needs that every human should have met and I feel like there are many people not getting the necessities. 

If you are interested in Engage Now Africa, here is the link: http://www.engagenowafrica.org/

Austin, Texas: Summer Undergraduate Research Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center -Steven

This summer I had the privilege of spending 10 weeks working in Austin, Texas in a birth defects research laboratory.

The internship is funded by a grant jointly awarded to the MD Anderson Cancer Center and the University of Texas at Austin to encourage research in the biomedical sciences. I worked in the Finnell Birth Defects Research Laboratory located in the Dell Pediatric Research Institute on the University of Texas at Austin campus.

I worked with two post-doctoral fellows and the principal investigator, Dr. Richard H. Finnell on the characterization of the LMO6 Knockout Mouse Model. We found that C57BL/6 LMO6 knockout mice on folate deficient diets presents with some cases of microphthalmia.

As part of the internship we attend a weekly lunch lecture series developed by campus postdoctoral fellows to introduce basic scientific topics such as Molecular Carcinogenesis, animal models, molecular biology, flow cytometry and emerging analytic techniques.

About every other week there was a field trip of some sort. These included touring the Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine on the Bastrop campus, visiting the main MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, an ice cream social, and several other get togethers.

During the last week of the internship I presented the results of my summer research in one of the weekly lab meetings in the Finnell Lab. On the last day of the internship each intern presented a talk describing his or her research results as part of the SURP Scientific Symposium.

It was a wonderful opportunity to learn and be able to complete a research project through an internship hosted by a prestigious research university and a prestigious hospital. MD Anderson Cancer Center has been ranked the #1 cancer hospital in the country for the past six years¹ and University of Texas at Austin was ranked No. 30 on a list of the best 100 universities in the world².

I would recommend this internship to anyone interested in biomedical sciences research.

Analyzing embryo cells using the Operetta

Mouse dissection and embryo collection

Finnell Birth Defects Research Laboratory
Summer 2012

For more information on this internship:
Visit: http://sciencepark.mdanderson.org/outreach/students/undergrad/
View this year's SURP Brochure.