I am an assistant researcher for Dental Care Research Study which is a randomized controlled trial that aims to assess whether offering no-fee basic dental care improves the overall health and quality of life of older adults.

During my time in the COPE Health Scholars program, I developed a broad range of skills that significantly enhanced my ability to contribute to healthcare. I was trained in the majority of CNA skillsets, gaining hands-on experience in patient care and assisting nurses and physicians with daily tasks. Working closely with healthcare professionals, I became proficient in specific technological skills and medical slang, particularly in the orthopedic and cardiovascular departments. Additionally, I navigated the complexities of healthcare operations and became well-versed in the administrative side of the field. This program helped me build relationships with healthcare staff and leaders, deepened my understanding of healthcare delivery, and strengthened essential soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. I was awarded the Exemplary Service award for my dedication to the orthopedic floor at MultiCare Valley Hospital in Spokane Valley, Washington. In total, I accumulated over 280 hours of clinical experience/volunteering and am looking to join the leadership team.

As a lab intern with Providence St. Joseph Health Molecular Genomics Laboratory, I completed 174 hours of remote cancer research and digital pathology. My primary focus has been developing an RShiny app that streamlines the analysis of multiplex fluorescence immunohistochemistry (mfIHC) data, empowering bench scientists to work more efficiently without relying on intermediaries. I also created two RMarkdown reports for Providence that examined correlations between cancer stage (metastatic versus localized), PDL1 expression, TMB values, cell densities, and network metrics using advanced R coding and data visualization techniques. Through this work, I have gained a strong molecular understanding of mfIHC and related cellular components, which deepens my contribution to ongoing cancer research projects. Additionally, my contributions may contribute to Providence research grant proposals and future publications.

Working at the busiest McDonald's in Spokane, Washington allowed me to gain valuable experience working in a high-stress, fast-paced environment. Navigating the complexities of an environment increasingly affected by socio-economic challenges, including a rise in individuals facing homelessness and those engaging in criminal activity, helped me grow by fostering resilience, adaptability, and a deeper understanding of community needs. I was named Employee of the Month for June 2024.

As a member of the Institute of Science and Technology (IST), I worked in partnerships with both the Spokane Tribe of Indians and Providence Health and Services. I collaborated in a group effort to monitor the re-integration of the culturally-significant Chinook salmon into the Little Spokane River using eDNA and Oxford nanopore sequencing. Prior, I worked to identify drought-resistant rhizobacterium as potential inocolums in maize to limit the effect of widespread drought in semi-arid Eastern Washington on farmers. In the culmination of my time, I worked for two years in collaboration with local hospital, Sacred Heart, to sequence nurse fecal samples using next-generation sequencing to determine changes as a result of work stress. I also worked to determine stress biomarker, lysozyme, concentrations from nurse salivary samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in an effort to correlate significant gut microbial changes with the decrement of lysozyme. I attended and presented my research at the Providence Central Division Nurse Research and Clinical Scholarship Symposium.

Tutoring pre-calculus has significantly enhanced my professional skills and development. This experience taught me to communicate complex concepts clearly and adapt my teaching strategies to meet diverse learning needs. It also improved my problem-solving abilities and patience. Additionally, this role honed my organizational skills and ability to manage time effectively, as I balanced multiple students’ needs and tailored lessons to their individual progress whilst simultaneously learning new mathematical material, myself.