What made you choose UROP?

This may sound cliche but I chose UROP for the research experience. I was oblivious to what research really entailed. I always thought of it as surfing through the internet in search of the meaning of a word or going to the laboratory in your lab coat to conduct chemical reactions. But through UROP, I have learned that research comprises of all these and more. Now, I know how to conduct research effectively to yield desired results results, as well as analyzing data and finding common trends in a specific research.

 

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

The First-Year Traditional UROP 2019-2020

Have you kept in contact with your research mentor?

Yes! I was able to reach out to my mentor beginning of this semester.

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

With the experience I have gained from UROP and especially working for my mentor, I plan to possibly minor in Women's and Gender studies. My research project reviewed reflections by the University of Michigan medical students who had completed rotations in hospitals in Ghana. Most of these students rotated in the Obstretrics and Gynecology Department, and expressed that they appreciate the exposure to different health populations, the hands-on surgical experience, and building cross-cultural relationships. They also shared that there is work that still needs to be done in improving the general health of women and I would love to be apart of that team, thus goal to attain this minor.

What drew you to the research project you worked on?

What drew me to the research project was its connection to my origins. I was born and raised in Ghana, West Africa, and was ecstatic to find that there was such a project led by a brilliant and wonderful individuals who are familiar with the country and spend most of their time there. It was not surprising that I immediately applied for the project upon realizing how honored I would be working for the betterment of my people.

What was the most exciting part of the project?

The project focused on the student exchange partnership that the University of Michigan has with major universities in Ghana, so students had the opportunity to go to Ghana and some students were able to come to this university as well. In November last year, 4 Ghanaian medical students came to the US and although I did not get to know them personally, I enjoyed meeting them. Not only did we have meaningful conversations about the rotations they were planning to do and how impactful it would be, they brought back stories from home that I missed dearly. Hopefully, when I go back home, I would be able to reconnect with them!

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

Embedding international medical student electives within a 30-year partnership: the Ghana-Michigan collaboration

https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-020-02093-6

What advice would you give to a current UROP student?

Be patient with the project search, you will definitely get into a project that you would hopefully love! I say this because it took me some time to get myself the project I worked on. I applied for about 10 projects and was called back for 2 interviews, all of which I got rejected. I began contemplating whether to quit the program and reapply my sophomore year because it was in the middle of October and I did not know if I would get a project or not. However, my peer facilitator recommended not to do so and I am glad I listened to her because the last project I applied to was the one I got accepted! The application process may be tedious but once you get your hands on that project, you would appreciate the time you waited patiently for it.