As a scholar in the Get Experience in Aging Research Undergraduate Program (GEAR UP) at Penn, I will be interning with Dr. Onyeali to address the continuity of healthcare among incarcerated individuals. I work on a project focused on follow-up care for new medical diagnoses and imaging findings in older and formerly incarcerated individuals. Under Dr. Onyeali's guidance, I develop research design and data collection skills through Penn's electronic medical record software and statistical analysis. I will also measure these patients' cognition, applying my interest in neurology to understand the neurological impacts of incarceration.

In the Academic Associates Program (AAP), I work directly in the Emergency Departments at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). In this fast-paced environment, I engage with patients and their families to screen for eligibility in clinical studies, obtain informed consent, administer study surveys, and collect critical data and biomarker samples. Being in the ER allows me to witness the complexities of emergency care while collaborating closely with physicians, nurses, and research teams.