I am an incoming MS1 at Duke University School of Medicine. Since graduating, I have been conducting research in genetic engineering at the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine.

Bass Connections provided me foundational skills to excel in my work as a researcher associate. As a member of the Patients’ Journey to Medication Adherence team, I learned how to conduct a thorough literature review, write for publication and work within a team-setting. These skills enabled me to seamlessly fulfill the multifaceted responsibilities of a full-time researcher.

My Bass Connections experience also fostered my interest in better understanding the complex relationship between a physician and a patient. Interviewing several individuals with rheumatoid arthritis made me realize that medication adherence is a highly complex phenomenon that can be affected by a patient’s social, cultural and financial status.

Moreover, I learned that something as simple as a medication bottle can evoke powerful and influential emotions within many patients’ lives. As a future doctor, I hope to continue to investigate methods to improve patient care, while grounding my work in rigid compassion for a patient’s lived experience.

July 2021