Juniors selected for Texas Medical Center summer research internship
Twelve Augustana College juniors have been selected for the prestigious Texas Medical Center Summer Research Internship Program.
“With placements in medical illustration, health care economics, public health, integrated ethics as well as in more traditional areas of biology, biochemistry, oncology and infectious disease, interns will have the opportunity to explore their chosen areas of interest and build lasting relationships."
Philosophy Professor Dr. Heidi Storl said participation in this internship celebrates the achievements of selected students and launches their class-based skills into the world of topnotch labs, clinics, hospitals and related departments.
“With placements in medical illustration, health care economics, public health, integrated ethics as well as in more traditional areas of biology, biochemistry, oncology and infectious disease, interns will have the opportunity to explore their chosen areas of interest and build lasting relationships,” Dr. Storl said.
The following students will take part in the paid, full-time, 10-week experience at the Texas Medical Center in Houston this summer.
- Erik Bergren, an economics and public health double major from Geneseo, Ill.
- Morgan Buchek, a pre-medicine and biochemistry double major from Arlington Heights, Ill.
- Caitlyn Collier, a biology major from Fairview, Ill.
- Clay DeBaillie, a pre-medicine and chemistry double major from Geneso, Ill.
- Yanet Gezu, a public health, business administration-business intelligence, and business analytics triple major from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Christina Harvey, a communication sciences and disorders and psychology double major from Wheaton, Ill.
- Rachel Jocson, a psychology and Spanish double major from Rockford, Ill.
- Abigail Jones, a communication sciences and disorders major from Rolling Meadows, Ill.
- Heather Michalski, an art and biology double major from Batavia, Ill.
- Kira Nelson, a biology and neuroscience double major from Milan, Ill.
- Charlotte Newport, a history major from Baytown, Texas
- Sam Vasich, a psychology and sociology and anthropology double major from Lisle, Ill.
The Texas Medical Center serves 10 million patients per year and performs more than 180,000 surgeries annually. It is home to the world's largest children's hospital and largest cancer hospital, and it is the eighth largest business district in the United States.
Internships are available to Augustana students in all majors. Those selected for the opportunity can establish one-on-one mentoring relationships in a variety of areas, including clinical or research medicine, any area of allied health, psychology, neuroscience or veterinary research. Additional areas of focus include human resources, pastoral care, law, finance, health care policy and clinical ethics.
Previous Augustana students have been placed at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the world's leading treatment and research centers; Texas Children's Hospital, an international leader in pediatric medicine; as well as Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, and the University of Texas Health Science Center's prestigious Center for Laboratory Animal Medicine and Care.
Interns are selected for their curiosity, critical thinking, problem-solving and authentic self-reflection. These traits are fine-tuned in a series of spring, summer and fall seminars on campus, with an emphasis on community building, vocational reflection and ethics.