Certified Clinical Medical assistant at Ocean Orthopedic Associates, P.A. I assist in updating medical records (patient history, family history, social history, environmental history, etc.) and prescription medication changes in the EMR, scheduling appointments, and contacting patients about any updates or verbal orders from the doctor. I also assist in minor orthopedic procedures such as removing staples or stitches, applying new dry sterile dressings, performing preoperative injections, and patient preparation for X-rays.

Four-month course to become a certified Clinical Medical Assistant. Within the program, I obtained certifications in the following: Nursing Assistant, Home Health Aide, Phlebotomy Technician, EKG Technician, and Clinical Medical Assistant. Clinical Medical Assistants work to administer medications, assist with minor procedures, obtain laboratory specimens, perform electrocardiograms, provide patient education, and much more.

The dopamine D4 receptor (D4R) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) found primarily in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Several studies have linked aberrant D4R signaling to neuropsychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, and psychostimulant drug abuse. In the search for novel D4R agonists and antagonists to potentially treat these conditions, we used radioligand binding to evaluate two libraries of novel chemical compounds. This analytic procedure allows the determination of binding affinity for a particular receptor, and is combined with other in vitro analyses to characterize new compounds. Membranes were collected from cultured HEK293 cells, expressing D2R, D3R, or D4R. Once protein concentrations were obtained using a Bradford assay, they were mixed with various concentrations of the experimental drugs, and set concentrations of either [3H]N-methylspiperone or [3H]7-OH-DPAT radioligand. The experimental drugs and radioligands compete with one another to bind to the D4R; this competition allows for the construction of a dose response curve, helping determine the affinity of the experimental drug and whether it might be a candidate preclinical lead molecule to test in animal models of drug addiction or cognition.

Volunteer in the Emergency Department at Ocean Medical Center in Brick, New Jersey. I volunteer once a week for a 4 hour shift. I make beds, clean, interact/comfort patients, run food/drinks, help Registered Nurses (if asked), bring patients to their assigned beds, disinfect room equipment, and restock equipment required for nurses and physicians. I also run urine/blood tests to the laboratory of the hospital when asked by Registered Nurses. I am in charge of calling other departments in the hospital when needed, and required to assist people in whatever way possible.

Ambassador in the Emergency Department at Inspira Medical Center in Woodbury, New Jersey. I volunteer once a week for a 3 hour shift, totaling 45 hours for a 15 week period. I make beds, clean, interact/comfort patients, run food/drinks, help Registered Nurses (if asked), bring patients to their assigned beds, disinfect room equipment, and restock equipment required for nurses and physicians. I also run urine/blood tests to the laboratory of the hospital when asked by Registered Nurses.

Intern with Dr. Michael J. Pecoraro, who is a triple-board certified surgeon (Reconstructive, plastic, and hand). Have a total of 73 hours shadowing. In these hours I have been in the operating room, and office, in which I see and experience how physicians interact with patients, how they assess and comfort them when they are feeling uncomfortable, and the step process in diagnosing a patient. I have also seen surgeries performed by the physician, which involved Carpal-Tunnel, Breast Augmentation, Basal Cell Carcinoma Removal (just to name the more major ones). Minor surgeries included removing small tumors with no complications.