Research In Action

Growing up in an inner city plagued by violence and crime, I developed a keen interest in community upliftment and health. Initially drawn to the traditional medical school track as a means to contribute, a pivotal shift occurred within me during the COVID-19 pandemic. The widespread disparities revealed by the pandemic underscored the urgent need for a broader impact on underserved populations. I not only redirected my focus from medicine to public health, but also developed a specific interest in reproductive, perinatal, and pediatric epidemiology. The desire to address systemic health disparities and make a meaningful impact on vulnerable communities has become a driving force in my academic and career pursuits.

Toward this goal, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to participate in the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at the Center for Injury Research & Prevention (CIRP) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in 2022. As part of a collaborative team with CIRP and a small business partner, Minnesota Health Solutions (MHS), we conducted a human subject study involving parents that aimed to assess the effectiveness of a car seat and driver safety app designed to actively educate, instruct, and alert caregivers about automatically-sensed safety seat misuses. Additionally, the study sought to implement an approach rooted in active learning principles, emphasizing that individuals learn best through hands-on engagement rather than passive reception of information. 

Gaining Research Experience 

During my internship, my primary roles were recruitment, enrollment, and conducting study visits. Specifically, I contacted over 100 prospective participants, scheduled screening and consent calls, and utilized an online database called REDCap to organize participant information. During study visits, I was responsible for running surveys and data positions for three potential car seat misuse scenarios in which participants installed a car seat into a vehicle and harnessed a doll into the car seat. 

This study showed that participants utilizing the application had a significantly lower incidence of loose harness strap errors compared to the control participants. Additionally, participants utilizing the application were more likely to identify a loose harness strap compared to the control participants. While these findings preliminarily support the significance of the application in improving child car seat safety, MHS utilized this information to bring this innovative car seat technology to consumers. 

Following the conclusion of this project, I continued my roles in subject recruitment and enrollment on a longitudinal cohort study focused on driver safety among teens with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. This experience not only deepened my understanding of practical impacts on improving safety and public health outcomes, especially for children and parents, but also underscored the critical importance of effective collaboration and communication in advancing large-scale human subject studies. 

This research experience fueled my passion for the field, inspiring me to expand my skills in statistical computing and coding. I enhanced my expertise with an acceptance into the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)'s Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program where I conducted an independent research project in maternal and child health epidemiology. My cumulative experiences and commitment to reproductive, perinatal, and pediatric epidemiology have prepared me for my academic journey at UPenn where I will be pursuing my PhD in Epidemiology in the fall.