Self-Designed Experience at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Summer 2019
In the summer after my freshman year, I was thrilled to join the clinical research team in the asthma division at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Specifically, I worked with the team for Mechanisms of Progression of Atopic Dermatitis to Asthma in Children, also known as MPAACH. Under the guidance of the lead clinical research coordinator, I acquired valuable insight into the various components of conducting clinical research. My team members trained me on sample processing in the lab, data entry in the computer, supply preparation for the research visits, and recruitment and reminder calls over the phone for study participants. Throughout the summer I developed my interpersonal skills, leadership, professional communication, lab techniques, and my overall understanding of the relationships among allergies, asthma, and eczema. This experience has helped shape the possibilities for my future career in medicine, and the MPAACH research will help transform the way the field of medicine understands allergies, asthma, and eczema.
Honors Seminar: From Neurons to Picasso Spring 2020
The brain is an enigma, a complex biological organ in our body that can produce a vast array of creative output. Neuroscience is a rising field that aims to unveil the mysteries of the human brain. The class “From Neurons to Picasso” focuses on the intersection of science and art; it addresses the question of why our brain makes art through various lenses: biological, evolutionary, cultural, psychological, and more. From our weekly readings and reflections, we had thought-provoking discussions on what qualifies something as art, if each person perceives color the same way, and how neuroplasticity influences creativity. We looked at why humans have creativity and why we make art. In addition to articles and discussions, we had labs for experiential learning through activities such as learning how to draw contours and gestures with charcoal or testing our declarative and procedural memory. Being a STEM major, I enjoyed this opportunity to learn more about the evolution and history of human art and creativity. This class called for critical thinking skills to address questions I may not have thought of by myself, such as whether drawing can be considered a type of reasoning. I would highly recommend the class to other students!
This is the final poster project for the honors seminar. The goal was to create a design that represents what we have learned from the class. The poster reflects the science and art of the design: it describes the physics of the structure, the biology of human sight, the concept of reality versus perception, and the relation of color and movement to the experience of human life.
Self-Designed Experience on Meditation and Mindfulness! Summer 2020
As a student pursuing the medical field, I am interested in the various ways we can improve on human health. Meditation and mindfulness are areas I had never been familiar with, so I decided to spend time learning about them! Over the summer, I incorporated mindfulness into my daily life while also doing research about it. I used meditation apps for short daily sessions, did weekly yoga or tai chi, and kept a reflection journal. I also made normal activities into mindful ones, such as walking outside, painting, and baking. Practicing mindfulness in various ways has provided me a tool to manage stress and take care of my mental health, which was especially important during quarantine in the summer. Mindfulness originated from Zen and Buddhist practices in Eastern Asia, but in the late 1900s Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn introduced and popularized mindfulness as a secular practice with scientific basis for stress reduction. Based on research articles I read, mindfulness has immense potential in complementary medicine to improve people’s health in a way that is non-pharmacological, lower cost, and more accessible. I am excited to continue using different mindfulness techniques as well as present others with the opportunity to use it!
These are some of the products from my practice of mindful baking this past summer!
Honors Seminar: Music and Memory Spring 2022
According to the World Health Organization, over 55 million people globally are currently living with some form of dementia. With dementia, a person’s memory and cognitive function may decline over time. Music is something that has been shown to have a strong connection to memory and can evoke emotion as well. In the class “Music and Memory,” we learned about topics such as neurodegenerative diseases, the role of music and storytelling, musical awe, and the practice of mindfulness. An integral part of the course was doing weekly quartet sessions, in which two students are paired with a person with neurodegenerative disorder (PwNDD) and their spouse or care partner. As a student, I planned quartet sessions with a variety of mindfulness exercises and musical or creative activities to stimulate and engage the PwNDD cognitively. Students from different quartets shared their experiences and ideas for different activities. This experience provided me a lot to learn and grow from, whether in leadership and navigating situations spontaneously or about the power of music to connect with people I had never met before. It was amazing to see how these quartet sessions brought the four of us together, as well as strengthening the relationship between the PwNDD and their care partner.
The image on the left is a screenshot from Zoom of me playing violin for a quartet session. The attached file is one of the meditations used in my quartet sessions. The image on the right is an EEG reading for a musical awe experiment conducted during class.