Since graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I began a full-time CRC position with the University of Michigan’s Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Department. I serve as the lead CRC for our MiOncoSeq project, a study that analyzes genetic alterations in patient’s tumor specimens to identify actionable mutations. My role as a CRC consists of coordinating therapeutic trials, collecting patient information, determining subject eligibility, consenting/enrolling study participants, and ensuring subjects follow research protocols. This role has provided me with experience in managing multiple research projects simultaneously, treating patients in therapeutic trials alongside their primary oncology team, analyzing genomic DNA samples, and delivering compassionate care to those undergoing cancer treatment.

Throughout my senior year at UW-Madison, I took on a part time job of a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) with their Emergency Department. I worked 30 hours a week at a level 1 trauma center while being a full-time student and leader in multiple student organizations. My role as a CRC consisted of coordinating clinical research studies, collecting patient information, determining subject eligibility, consenting/enrolling study participants, and ensuring subjects follow research protocols. Working in the emergency department was an incredibly rewarding experience, as I would often approach upwards of 20 patients a day who would present to the ED with major medical complications and enroll them on our research studies. This role taught me how to excel under immense pressure, make quick, well-informed decisions, and deliver empathetic and sensitive care to those who have suffered medical emergencies.

I served as an Intern Researcher throughout my sophomore and junior year of college with UW-Health Hospital's Department of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. This incredible experience culminated in co-authoring a research publication on family stress during the Covid-19 pandemic. This publication can be found here: doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061396. My role in this publication included conducting virtual interviews with study participants, acquisition of data, analysis, interpretation of data, writing, and final approval. This experience, my first in the medical field, taught me the importance of being considerate and professional with patients.

In addition to my research internship, I worked an extra 10 hours/week during my sophomore year of college as a Pharmacy Technician through CVS Pharmacy. Collaborating with pharmacists, I traveled throughout Wisconsin helping administer Covid-19 vaccines to those living in long-term care and assisted living facilities. This experience was extremely gratifying, as I was able to contribute to the health of vulnerable populations during a global pandemic. I gained valuable experience in patient care, understanding the logistics of vaccine distribution, and the importance of teamwork in a healthcare setting.