Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Student (2013)
"During my time at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention, I had the tremendous opportunity to work under Dr. Mark R. Zonfrillo on research projects dealing with pediatric traumatic brain injuries and pediatric trauma-related disabilities. I gained valuable exposure to the fundamentals of administrative database injury research, injury severity scoring systems, and scientific literature summary writing. In particular, I contributed to the creation of an extensive data dictionary for a collaborative project with the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania. I also acquired proficiency in database design, specifically with Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap). Prior to beginning my internship I was following a pre-med path; after such an immersion into the medical and research community, I have never been more excited and confident in my decision to pursue a career in medicine.
I must credit my mentor, Dr. Zonfrillo, for his guidance and continuous support and for truly inspiring my newfound interest in pediatric injury science research. Following graduation, I plan on applying to medical school to pursue a career in pediatrics and perhaps a joint PhD program. I am so grateful to my mentors and the staff at CIRP, as well as the connections I made with others in the CHOP community. Because of this incredible experience, I am confident the skills, knowledge and mentorship I have gained will be invaluable to me as I pursue a career in pediatric medicine and research."