What years did you participate in UROP?

2012-2013

What UROP Program(s) were you a part of?

Traditional UROP as a Sophomore

What made you choose UROP?

During my freshman year I quickly discovered how big of a role research had in the university's identity. UROP was highly encouraged by upperclassmen I met who were also pre-health students. Following their advice I thought UROP would be a great opportunity to learn about research first-hand in the context of healthcare.     

What do you think you have learned from your UROP experience?

My UROP experience certainly introduced me to research in the context of healthcare and taught me the process of how observational research studies are conducted. While learning how to recruit for the project I was working on, I learned about health literacy, informed consent, and how to present information to patients and their families. I was able to carry these skills into future experiences in grad school and to my current job.

What is the extent to which you have kept in contact with your Research Mentor?

I keep in touch with my research mentors via email and social media which allows us to interact frequently. I also try to visit them when I come to Ann Arbor.

How did your UROP experience shape or inform the next steps you took in your academic and professional journey?

My UROP mentors were incredibly supportive of their students and their career paths. There were opportunities to continue working with other principal investigators in the department beyond my time in UROP and I worked on multiple projects addressing different research questions. My mentors helped me get into grad school, were references for job interviews, and even invited me to co-author a publication for a study that I assisted with. Again, my skills were very transferable and helped land my current position at Johns Hopkins University. I would not be where I am today without my UROP experience.

Where are you in your professional journey?

I currently work as a Research Program Coordinator at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. My role is to oversee research studies, clinical trials, and QI projects in the division of pediatric hematology. Our studies focus on addressing treatment options and improving healthcare for children with sickle cell disease, hemophilia, and other bleeding disorders. Some of my duties include data management and analysis, study recruitment and enrollment, maintenance of regulatory files, communicating with trial sponsors, processing and shipment of clinical samples, extracting data from patient medical charts, and creating reports. Most of the skills I use to perform these duties I learned from my UROP mentors.

What advice would you give to a current UROP student?

I offer the same advice that my mentors gave me: Ask more questions. Your mentors are there to teach you what they're passionate about. They are the experts so try to learn as much as you can throughout the experience. Additionally, if you find that you really enjoyed the research experience and would like to extend it ask your mentors about opportunities to continue working with them or an adjacent investigator in their network.

What are some recent publications or accomplishments that you are proud of?

Tait AR, Geisser ME, Ray L, Hutchinson RJ, Voepel-Lewis T. Disclosing Study Information to Children and Adolescents: Is What They Want, What Their Parents Think They Want?. Acad Pediatr. 2018;18(4):370-375. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2017.06.005