CIRP Training Testimonials

CIRP Training Testimonial - Amani Abdallah, MPH

Clinical Research Assistant (Spring 2016)

"During my time as a Research Assistant at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at CHOP, I had the opportunity of joining the TeenDrivingPlan (TDP) program team. I was mentored by Jessica Mirman, Suzanne Hill, and Christine Norris, all of whom are exceptionally talented in what they do. Throughout my internship, I supported the program development and evaluation of TDP. I assisted with development and production of the TDP marketing video, also known as the eLearning curriculum video for parents to use. I developed many versions of logic models for various TDP implementation, supported the update of the teendriversource.org website and helped coordinate contracts and agreements. I participated in stakeholder development with the state of Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. While working on TDP program evaluation, I assisted with the program's data repository, developed procedures for TDP implementers, and translated existing survey measures into user-friendly formats using RedCap.

My experience at CIRP assisted me with the skills and tools necessary for program development. In this position, I learned the value of relationship building and the iterative process of logic models. Working closely with Suzanne and Christine will always be invaluable to me because they genuinely cared about my development and learning and shared their wisdom with me.

Since my time at CIRP, I have developed my own program, the Penn MPH Community Service Fellows program, which includes relationship building and dedicating public health service to the community. Throughout this process I learned the importance of interdisciplinary partnerships and the importance of being flexible! I hope to continue being a leader in public health and hope to work with CIRP in the future. Very grateful for the time I spent there and for the lasting mentorship!"

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Alicia Abraczinskas

Injury Research Intern (Spring 2015)

"While studying Biomedical Engineering at Drexel University in Spring of 2015, I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Aditya Belwadi at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP). Under his mentorship I developed a quantitative visual analysis to assess the effectiveness of supplemental restraint systems (SRS) in mitigating injury in lateral crashes using data from anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) and finite element models (FEMs). Such research allows us to comprehend the source of common injuries sustained by children involved in side impacts accompanied by deploying airbags allowing for improved standards of safety. Guidance from refined standards passed on to the community may provide parents with better information regarding their child’s safety so that more informed decisions can be made regarding SRS purchases. I also initiated a complete literature review for future projects of injury prevention during my time at CIRP.

After working with Dr. Belwadi and the wonderful staff of CIRP, I was inspired to continue my career with a focus on injury prevention research. This led me to my current position with the Injury Biomechanics Division (IBD) at the United States Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) through the contracting company Laulima Government Solutions. The IBD excels at research dedicated to injury prevention and protection of soldiers, as well as blunt and accelerative impact research. My current involvement in the many projects of IBD focuses on analyzing unique accelerative impact data that would be used to both validate computational models and further develop insight into head and neck impact response and injury thresholds. With the encouragement of Dr. Belwadi and the CIRP staff, I gained extensive knowledge regarding impact analysis and an enthusiasm for injury prevention research that has led me on an extraordinary career path."

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Cristal Lopez

Injury Research Intern (Summer 2015)

"During the summer of 2015, I worked with the Post-injury Care and Recovery team at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) under the mentorship of Dr. Meghan Marsac, Dr. Nancy Kassam-Adams, and Kristen Kohser. My time at CIRP allowed me to gain research skills while assisting with projects, such as a web-based intervention for children post injury.

With the research skills I gained and the wonderful mentorship Dr. Marsac provided, I was able to test my own hypothesis and create an abstract examining the interrelationships between socioeconomic status, parental encouragement of social support, and post traumatic stress symptoms in children post injury. I presented this work in the Spring of 2016 at the Society of Behavioral Medicine's Annual Meeting. The skills and mentorship I gained while at CHOP has been invaluable, as it has motivated me to want to continue a career in research. I am currently a senior at California State University San Marcos, and I will be graduating with a B.A. in Psychology this Spring. I will be continuing my research and will be applying to graduate schools in the fall. Thank you so much, CIRP!"

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Theresa Soya

Digital Communications Intern (Summer 2015)

"In the summer of 2015, I had the incredible opportunity to work at CIRP as part of the Outreach team for 10 weeks. Under the guidance of Lindsey Mitros, Christine Norris, and Suzanne Hill, I served as a Digital Communications intern and learned about how to advance the impact of health and medical science via web-based outreach and intervention. I gained practical knowledge and skills by learning the ins and outs of platforms like Google Analytics and Google Adwords, but more importantly, I discovered my passion for the field of health and medicine. I learned, thanks to the amazing people, culture, and opportunities at CIRP@CHOP, that this is exactly the type of work I want to be doing for the rest of my life.

I will graduate from The College of New Jersey in May with a BA in Communication Studies, and in the fall, I will begin pursuing a Masters in Public Health from the University of Pennsylvania. Before I came to CIRP, I was unsure of the career path I was most interested in. Now, I credit entirely my time at CIRP and the wonderful mentorship of Lindsey, Christine, and Suzanne as the reason I am so excitedly chasing a new dream in the field of public health. Thank you to all of the truly great people at CIRP for such an invaluable experience!"

CIRP Training Testimonial - Gretchen Baker

Summer CIRP Student Intern (June-August 2014)

“I had the amazing opportunity to work for the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) from June through August 2014. At CIRP, I worked under the guidance of Tom Seacrist, Dr. Kristy Arbogast, and Dr. Helen Loeb. During the summer, I worked on a variety of projects relating to biomechanics and automotive safety, including an evaluation of the biofidelity of a new anthropomorphic test device (ATD or “test dummy”) in a low-speed car crash test. In addition, I worked in data processing for a naturalistic driving study, as well collaborated with Dr. Saba Pasha in the Department of Orthopedics on an automated x-ray validation process.

CIRP Training Testimonial - Miki Takada

Summer Injury Research Intern (2014)

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Cory Czuczman

CIRP Co-Op (2013) 

"I began working at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) for my spring/summer co-op at Drexel University and continued my work at CIRP in my senior year. Since joining the team, I’ve been able to assist in recruitment and enrollment of participants, as well as data collection and entry, for two studies examining and encouraging positive coping strategies of children and their families after acute medical events. While at CIRP, I’ve felt extremely welcomed from the entire team; I’ve swapped everything from cookie recipes and tea, to academic wisdom and guidance.

Under the fantastic guidance of Dr. Meghan Marsac, Dr. Nancy Kassam-Adams, and Kristen Kohser, I’ve been able to submit my own research abstract on Socioeconomic Status and Coping Strategies to CHOP’s Research Poster Day, Drexel’s College of Arts and Science Research Day, and the 2014 American Psychological Association's annual convention. In the future, I want to take my research experiences at CIRP, combine it with my passion for social justice, and apply it to minority individuals and groups living in poverty, with the goal of influencing and promoting better-informed public policy. I owe much of my research and academic guidance to my time with my mentors, colleagues, and friends at CIRP, and I am very grateful for all the knowledge I continue to gain and put to use while looking towards a PhD program in Community Psychology!" 

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Jason Tenenbaum

Clinical Research Coordinator (2010 -- 2012)

"I worked at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention as a Clinical Research Coordinator from June 2010-August 2012, coordinating the development and evaluation of the center's simulated driving assessment (SDA). After starting my doctoral studies in clinical psychology, I continued to work on the project as a research assistant and helped support data management, coding, and analysis. Under the supervision and mentorship of Dr. Flaura Winston and Dr. Catherine McDonald, I learned a great deal of insight into the methodology of conducting empirically-based behavioral research. Dr. Winston and the rest of the team stressed the importance of approaching behavioral science in a systematic manner and the experience was more than I could have ever asked for.

I am grateful for the supervision and mentorship I have received while working at the center. I am currently a second-year doctoral student in clinical psychology (Psy.D.) at Widener University and plan to specialize in pediatric and adolescent clinical neuropsychology. The skills I have learned through CIRP will be instrumental to my career as a clinician and researcher."

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Olivia Klingbeil

CIRP Co-Op (2012 - 2013)

"I completed two 6-month co-ops with the Behavioral Sciences Division of CIRP working with Dr. Meghan Marsac. During my time with CIRP, I gained a great working knowledge of qualitative research methodologies, as well as learned how to present findings in both posters and publications. After completing my two co-ops, I have remained at CIRP, and I plan to continue until, and possibly past, my graduation from Drexel University in the spring of 2014. Eventually, I plan to pursue a PhD program in Clinical Psychology with a focus on Pediatric Psychology."

CIRP Training Testimonial – Christina Stuart

Injury Summer Intern Student (2014)

"During the summer of 2014 I had the great pleasure of interning at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention under the mentorship of Dr. Mark Zonfrillo. My research, focused on pediatric traumatic brain injury and its related sequela, exposed me to the fundamentals of injury research, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Emergency Medicine. I gained invaluable experience conducting literature reviews, performing database queries, and shadowing in both the Emergency Department and Sports Medicine Clinic. In particular, I was fortunate to assist in the early creation stages of the Comprehensive Concussion Registry with Genomic Analysis, a collaboration between several clinical divisions and research centers found within the CHOP network. Working on this project allowed me to put all these newly learned skills to work.

As a Biology major with a minor in Mathematics at Villanova University, my time at CIRP allowed me to diversify my training into areas beyond the conventional academic spectrum of my courses. I am grateful for the opportunity, the guidance, and the friends I made during my time at the Center and have never been more confident or excited to pursue a career in Pediatric Emergency Medicine and research."

CIRP Training Testimonial - Todd Hullfish

Injury Research Intern/Research Assistant (2013-2016)

"Between the fall of 2013 and the spring of 2016, I worked primarily with Dr. Aditya Belwadi as part of my Drexel co-op experience, working first as a full-time Research Assistant and then continuing on part-time while still in classes. As a Mechanical Engineering student with interests and some experience in Biomechanics, I had been looking for a way to bridge the gap between the Mechanical Engineering curriculum and a more human-centric line of work. In the beginning of my time with CIRP I focused primarily on learning the techniques of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and developing computational models of both Rollover and Side Impact vehicle crashes. In both crash modes we were looking to understand how pediatric Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATDs) interacted with the vehicle interiors through impact, as well as the effectiveness of Child Restraint Systems (CRS) and air bags in mitigating injury. The Side Air bag work was presented at the 10th and 12th Injury Biomechanics Symposium at The Ohio State University.

While a majority of my time was spent developing computational models, I also assisted in physical sled testing of ATDs and in analyzing electromyography (EMG) data collected during human subject testing. In addition to physical and computational testing, many of the projects I worked on involved the analysis of real world crash information collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A portion of this line of work led to the development of contact maps for pediatric occupants involved in rollover crashes which were published in Traffic Injury Prevention in 2014.

I was given the opportunity to develop and propose a project for funding to the Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies (CChIPS) as a Student Principal Investigator during my second full-time co-op rotation at CIRP. I was fortunateto win funding for the project, which looked into the ways young adult drivers recruit their muscles and position their bodies during braking events on a driving simulator. This project was one of the first studies conducted that looked to combine the worlds of Biomechanics and Simulated Driving and will hopefully lead to further studies at CIRP.

My experience at CIRP working with Dr. Belwadi has helped push me to set my sights on higher degrees andto ultimately pursue a career in Injury Biomechanics research. Being able to work on such a diverse array of projects and having the opportunity to be involved in every aspect of a fully-funded, multi-year project has been invaluable and has aided me in continuing my next steps on my career path. After completing my undergraduate degree in June of 2016, I was hired as a Research Specialist in the Human Motion Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. There I am applying my knowledge of Biomechanics to human subjects and cadaveric specimens, aiming to increase clinicians’ ability to identify and treat musculoskeletal injury, as well as gain insight into the physical mechanisms that lead to injury. While I was sad to leave the wonderful people at CIRP who have helped me so much these past three years, I know that all of the lessons I’ve learned through working there have prepared me for what lies ahead."

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Alexa Stern

Research Assistant (January-May 2013) 

"While interning at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention during my senior year at the University of Pennsylvania, I assisted with studies examining how children and their families cope with acute medical trauma and interventions to promote psychosocial adjustment in children who have experienced acute medical events. I also aided in the distribution of the Cellie Cancer Coping Kit to CHOP patients. My time spent with the team was invaluable because it was through my work with them that I realized my passion for pediatric psychology. I owe my mentor, Dr. Meghan Marsac, many thanks for her guidance and encouragement. Now that I have graduated, I will be putting both my bachelor's degree in Psychology and the skills I learned at CIRP to good use as a research assistant for the Behavioral Diabetes Research Program at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC. I hope to pursue my PhD in Clinical Psychology and continue working in pediatrics. Thank you, Meghan Marsac, Kristen Kohser, and the rest of the CIRP team for such a positive experience!"

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Alyssa Jones

CHOP Research Institute Summer Scholars Program (CRISSP) Student (2012)                                                                              

"As a member of the 2012 CHOP Research Institute Summer Scholars Program (CRISSP), I spent the summer working with Dr. Meghan Marsac on various projects designed to help children adjust to pediatric injury and illness. I specifically helped assess feasibility and usability of 'Cellie: The Sickle Cell Coping Kit.' As a senior at Harding University, I am now interning at the James L. Dennis Development Center of the Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock assisting a psychologist who specializes in hyperactivity, inattention, impulsivity, and learning problems in children. Dr. Marsac and other CIRP researchers have helped guide my career path and inspired me to pursue a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. My time at CIRP provided me with invaluable clinical and analytical skills important for a future as a clinician and researcher."

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Kristina Puzino

CIRP Clinical Research Assistant
April 2012 – July 2013

"During my time at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Flaura Winston, Dr. Jessica H Mirman, and Dr. Yi-Ching Lee on studies relating to child passenger safety, teen driving, and driving simulators. I was able to gain invaluable experience in study recruitment, data collection, qualitative data analysis, poster presentations, and manuscript preparation. Being exposed to various areas of pediatric translational research has fueled my desire to continue working in pediatric health psychology, both as a researcher and a clinician. Since working at CIRP, I have graduated from the Masters of Science program in Experimental Psychology at Saint Joseph’s University. In the fall of 2013 I will begin the School Psychology PhD program at Lehigh University, with an emphasis on pediatric health, where I am confident that the research skills I have acquired at CIRP will demonstrate to be essential to my success within my program and my career." 

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Dan Nessenson

Research Assistant (2011-2012)                                                                                    

"My stint at CIRP as a Research Assistant under Dr. Meghan Marsac afforded me the opportunity to work on a wide variety of tasks and research projects. Through implementation and study of the ‘Coping Coach’ coping tool, piloting a behavioral study, and helping to shape the ‘Sickle Cellie’ coping kit, I got experience in all aspects of research, from conception to completion of a research idea. And I did that all as a part-time assistant during the 2011-2012 academic year! Though I ultimately decided that a career in injury science was not for me, the skills and experiences I gained from CIRP are applicable to almost any career. In fact, I recently interned for HGTV/DIY networks conducting media research, and my CIRP experience definitely was applicable. Currently, I am finishing up my BSE in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and expect to graduate in May 2013."

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Marley Gilb

CIRP Co-Op (2011)                                            

"I recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's Digital Media Design program. During the summer of 2011, I had the wonderful opportunity to work on a 2D computer game aimed at helping children learn how to express their emotions after a traumatic event and how to help and understand others going through stressful experiences. My co-worker Eliot Kaplan and I worked to integrate the knowledge and existing research our mentors had accumulated into a simple yet visually appealing game that could be expanded as new ideas develop. This experience opened my eyes to the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children. I hope that more interactive media is designed to help children and others cope with stressful situations so that they may be happy and healthy."

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Lauren Corregano

Summer work-study (June 2010-August 2010)
Research assistant (August 2010-September 2011)
Research coordinator (September 2011-June 2013)

“I first started working at CIRP as a work-study student during the summer of 2010 on the NCOSS project. From there, I moved on to a Research Assistant position and then to my final role as a Research Coordinator for a year and a half. I was given the opportunity to work on multiple projects in the teen driving and child passenger safety areas. Most notably, I was part of a team that turned research into action by evaluating new technology for car seats. Through our findings we were able to impact design, with the seat brought to market in the spring of 2013. I was also given the privilege to have co-authored a manuscript and present posters at national conferences. My experience at CIRP has been beyond valuable and has helped shape me into the professional I am today. Above all, the mentorship I received at CIRP was unlike any I have received before. I will forever be grateful for my experience and will be taking many of these skills to my new position at Rockefeller University.”

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Alyssa Mathew

CIRP Trainee Research Assistant (2009-2010)                                                                           

"I was part of CIRP for a year, working with Dr. Meghan Marsac, Kristen Kohser, and Dr. Nancy Kassam-Adams on projects that sought to understand responses that both children and parents had to acute injury. I also contributed to the development of a website for children coping with the stress of their injury in a gaming form. I am currently a student at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and will soon move out of the classroom and begin rotating through hospitals. The year I spent at CIRP gave me the confidence I needed to continue pursuing medicine. The pediatric trauma knowledge I gained at CIRP has been critical to my contributions to group discussion in my classes and will prove to be integral to my success on hospital rotations."

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Besa Orana

CIRP Co-Op (2009-2010)                                                                                   

"During my one year experience with the Outreach and Advocacy team at CIRP, I helped to develop the award-winning teen driver website teendriversource.org. The projects and people from CIRP not only helped me improve as a young professional, but also contributed to my experiences at my next two co-ops as a Business Development Coordinator at a successful digital advertising agency and as a Marketing Specialist at ARAMARK Education. I am grateful for the broad range of experience I have been able to attain through my co-op opportunities, and I began working at ARAMARK Education after graduating from Drexel University in December 2012.”

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Lindsey Swigart

Penn Work Study Program (2009-2012) 

"During my undergraduate years at the University of Pennsylvania, I was part of the Penn work study program at CIRP under Rachel Myers and Chrissie Forke. We worked on several studies surrounding relationship violence in adolescents and young adults, most recently on a study that would help college faculty and staff understand how students view and use campus resources available to them for dealing with violent relationships. My work at CIRP fueled my desire to complete my senior nursing thesis on the role that student health nurses play in caring for college students dealing with relationship violence, and how they can promote awareness and education for healthy relationships. I graduated from Penn in May 2012 and now work at NYU Langone Medical Center in an oncology unit. I am looking forward to using my experience at CIRP as a foundation for providing evidence-based care throughout my nursing career, and hope to continue working in violence prevention in the future."

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Mary Lauren Magargee

CIRP Research Assistant (2009) 

"I spent several months working at CIRP under the mentorship of Dr. Meghan Marsac, evaluating the effectiveness of a website to help parents better understand their child's reaction to an injury from a potentially traumatic event. Since then I have graduated with a degree in Sociology from Boston College and am currently working as a research coordinator in the surgery department at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA. My experience at CIRP taught me patience, understanding, and the importance of communication between a research subject and the research team. What I learned at CIRP has been an invaluable part of my life and I continue to use many of the skills I gained during my time there."

CIRP Training Testimonial -- Ewa Kalicka

CIRP Co-op (2007-2009)

"I recently graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine with an MS in Counseling and Clinical Psychology. I am currently working at an inpatient drug and alcohol facility as a counselor. If it was not for my internship at CIRP, I would not have the appreciation for research that I do today. The CIRP staff I had the pleasure to work with helped me better understand the importance of research as a vehicle to inform policy and practice."