United States
Recent graduate of the University of Arizona W.A. Franke Honors College with a B.S. in Medicine and a minor in Emergency Medical Services. Currently applying to medical school while working as an EMT. Former Captain of Public Information and Outreach for the University of Arizona Emergency Medical Services, where I led community health initiatives and coordinated CPR, Narcan, and Stop the Bleed trainings for students and community members.
Conducted research on the role of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in immune response and bacterial adhesion during viral-bacterial co-infections in rhinosinusitis. Utilized Air-Liquid Interface (ALI) cultures to grow and differentiate nasal epithelial cells, followed by infections with rhinovirus and Staphylococcus aureus. Analyzed ICAM-1 RNA expression using qPCR, with findings presented through scientific figures and a poster presentation.
Joined the Chang Lab as a freshman, contributing to research in respiratory and epithelial cell biology within the Department of Otolaryngology. Gained hands-on experience in a variety of laboratory techniques including cell culturing, Air-Liquid Interface (ALI) differentiation of nasal epithelial cells, quantitative PCR (qPCR), immunofluorescence staining, and RNA extraction. Supported ongoing projects investigating airway inflammation, host-pathogen interactions, and molecular mechanisms in rhinosinusitis. Collaborated with graduate students and faculty to present findings through figures, posters, and lab meetings.
Collaborated with clinical research coordinators to support ongoing studies in a high-acuity emergency department setting. Responsible for screening and identifying eligible patients for a variety of clinical research studies, including those involving trauma, sepsis, and infectious diseases. Engaged with patients and medical staff to ensure ethical enrollment, accurate data collection, and adherence to study protocols. Gained firsthand experience with patient interaction, electronic medical records, and the clinical research process in a fast-paced hospital environment.