University of Utah Medical Center, CARMA

The last year of volunteering with CARMA has been an exceptional opportunity. I have met many amazing people, learned a couple great new skills, and expanded my knowledge of the medical research world immensely. The first six months were hard trying to accustom myself to CorView and to my team, complete my training, and try to figure out a good schedule to get up to Salt Lake but I enjoyed every moment and all the stress was worth it in the end. The last six months have been awesome, especially these last couple summer months that I’ve just been able to dedicate myself entirely to working with my team.

 I always knew that there is need for repetition in science to confirm a study, but I never realized how hard it is to work through all that repetition wondering if it is going to produce a result. Part of it is fun and exhilarating, but it’s mostly just stressful! The significance of this experience for me has been a big one. I feel like I have boosted my self-esteem when it comes to making a difference, being knowledgeable about something, and working on a team. Seeing something that I’m doing have a direct impact on the health of others is very rewarding and something I hope to do all my life. I also came to know some things about myself. I realized that, although I like many aspects research, I miss the face to face interactions that come with working in other areas of the medical field. I spent many hours alone in the office working on whatever project was at hand and I always felt a relief to get out and about afterwards.

 I think the biggest benefit that this internship has had for me is that it has helped me realize that I can do great things. I can be a part of an idea that makes a difference for others. I can think of new ways to improve healthcare. I can work in an important team. I wouldn’t trade this experience, if feel like it has really shaped my life in a very wonderful way.
-Tyson 

University of Washington Medical Center: Seattle, Washington - Dan

Over the past 7 months I have had the incredible opportunity to work with the abdominal transplant team at the University of Washington Medical Center.  My mentor for this internship was Dr. James Perkins, professor of surgery and vice chair of the Department of Surgery.  I worked closely with current Medical Student Ryan Hall in an experiment to risk stratify liver transplant patients with common post-transplant complications.  The study focused on how predictive analytics may be influential in the medical field, being thought of as the sixth element to medical decision making especially with patient handoffs.  The study included a retrospective analysis of 386 orthotopic liver transplant records noting variables such as height, gender, race, anatomical abnormalities, and post-transplant lab work.  Using decision tree analysis, we created a predictive model that risk stratifies records into two of the most common complications after liver transplant.  We proved that predictive analytics can be used in medical decision making as a sixth element, assisting the medical team through patient handoffs.

This internship provided me with the incredible opportunity to work with the abdominal transplant team.  Among my cherished memories from this internship was the opportunity to stand in on a full liver transplant.  I am grateful to those people who helped to provide me with such an unique opportunity.  

I also enjoyed striving for personal goals during my internship, which included understanding and implementing the scientific method.  For a type A personality, it is difficult to experiment knowing failure is a possible outcome.  I had many opportunities to experiment and work with the scientific method.  This didn't always result in statistically significant results, but rather helped me to fine tune my research and come closer to my goal. I learned that my value to the project was based on much more than the outcome of my studies.  

I am again grateful to those at BYU and UW that helped me have such an incredible internship opportunity!