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Year in Review

When I was a young girl, many of my friends had career aspirations that were quiet exciting, and these aspirations changed quiet often. On Monday, it was MLB baseball player, princess, and firefighter, and by Thursday it was astronaut, zoologist, and science teacher. Needless to say, their career choices changed frequently, but I was a little bit different. When I was a little kid running through the mud and playing “hot lava monster” with my brother, I already knew what I wanted to be when I grew up: a doctor; and 10 years later that still hasn’t changed.

I grew up in a small town in San Diego County, CA, and have since moved to Columbus, OH to attend one of the largest public universities in the country. I enrolled in college as a psychology major on the Pre-Med track. In my first semester of college, I started my first college-level science course: General Chemistry I. I watched Pre-Med students drop like flies in that class, but I reached the other side with only minor bumps and bruises. As I continue into my college-career, I still watch the number of Pre-Med students dwindle down, and I think about all of the people just like me how have a dream of becoming a doctor, and had that dream ripped out from under them.

I chose to study psychology for many reasons, but mainly because I am fascinated with human thoughts and behavior, and reasons why people do what they do. I am interested in by the biochemistry and psychology behind the human brain, and thus have decided to study psychology. After I complete my undergraduate studies in psychology, I plan on attending graduate school and obtaining a Masters of Science in Cognitive Neuroscience. After completing my Masters, I plan on attending medical school and becoming a neurosurgeon. I have decided to complete a Masters degree before I attend Medical School because I feel that there is still so much for me to learn in the field of psychology and neuroscience. I really enjoy learning, and I think that receiving more schooling in psychology can only make me a beer doctor.

In order to achieve these goals that I have just listed, there is a lot of work that needs to be done. I have already begun the process of building my resume, and I have quite a bit of experience in healthcare and research. In the summer of 2015, I became a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B). I feel that in order to understand how to care for patients as a physician, it is important to understand the pre-hospital care they receive. After all, a lot happens before a patient even gets to the hospital. I currently work as an EMT-B at MedCare Ambulance in Columbus, OH. At MedCare, I perform pre-hospital care to sick and/or injured patients as well as transport them to the appropriate medical campus. We mostly transport patients between medical facilities (e.g. hospital to a rehabilitation facility, etc.). Working at MedCare has given me experience in handling stressful and life-threatening situations, as well as taught me how to communicate with patients, patient family, nurses, and other healthcare staff. I also currently volunteer at the James Cancer Center, a part of the Ohio State University Medical Center.  I plan to continue these activities throughout my remaining time at Ohio State, and continue to grow as a scholar, academic, leader, and volunteer.

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Health and Wellness: Fitness Assessment (RPAC)     October 18, 2015

In the fall of 2015, I participated in a fitness assessment conducted by a personal trainer at the RPAC.  I chose to do this for many reasons: to educate me about my current physical fitness, to use the results of this assessment to help individuals a workout plan for me, and to motivate me towards a fitness goal.  Participating in this fitness assessment helped me to understand the importance of fitness, and what general fitness really means.

Global Awareness: COMPAS — Sustainability Program      January 28, 2016

Dr. Steve Vanderheiden and Dr. Julia Driver touched on the sustainability of the human lifestyle and how it effects the environment.  They discussed the responsibilities of individuals when environmental harm results from the actions of many.  The main idea of this presentation was the idea of carbon rationing.  Dr. Driver explored the idea that moral responsibility entails causal responsibility, even if an individuals causal contribution to a larger problem may be minimal (or even virtually nonexistent).  She encouraged the idea of moral bookkeeping in order to counteract a person’s complicity, and introduced these ideas as plausible ways to implement carbon budgeting in the world.

Original Inquiry: Internship at Paradigm Dx (Ann Arbor, MI)     August 2015

During the month of August (2015), I interned at Paradigm Dx—a bioinformatics company that uses Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) accurately assess genes of a specific tumor sample and identify potentially treatable genomic alterations in cancer’s DNA.  At Paradigm, I learned about and assisted in NGS of tissue samples and how this revolutionary procedure is influencing the field of oncology

Academic Enrichment: B.S. Psychology

I chose to pursue my B.S. in Psychology to further my knowledge and understanding of behavior and cognition, and understand the different aspects of human experience.  Through the department of psychology, I take courses in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, and social psychology.  This allows me to complete a well rounded course-load in many facets of psychology.  I believe that understanding the basic workings of the human mind is important in health-care, as health-care workers often encounter people in very devastating situations.  Having a B.S. in Psychology from Ohio State will help me greatly through Medical School and beyond.

Leadership Development: Mirrors Sophomore Class Honorary

During the academic year of 2015-2016, I served on the Leadership Committee in the Mirrors Sophomore Class Honorary.  Mirrors is a  program dedicated to serving the local Ohio State community as well as the global community through service and leadership, as well as represent the 2015 – 2016 sophomore class.  On the Leadership Committee, we focussed on creating a program that portrays to the community our commitment to service and education.  This program helped me prepare for graduate school and provided me with the leadership foundation that I need to succeed.

Service Engagement: Broad Street Afterschool Program

As a volunteer at the Broad Street Afterschool Program, I tutor children between the ages of 7 and 16 to help them increase their understanding of class materials and perform better in school.  In this program, we focus on providing academic support through homework assistance, one-on-one reading and math tutoring, on-line learning and engaging hands-on learning experiences.

Informational Interview

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http://www.paradigmdx.org/

At Paradigm, I worked as an intern, learning about and assisting in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) of tissue samples in order to provide the patient’s treating oncologist with important information regarding the patient’s specific type of cancer.  While at Paradigm, I met Dr. Paulauskis, the Chief Operating Officer of the company.  Dr. Paulauskis runs the day-to-day operations at Paradigm, and he made it his mission to help inform me of the process and science behind NGS, and also taught me how the company organizzes and executes their research.

 

 

About Me

AnnaNunesI am currently working to get my Bachelor of Science in Biological Mathematics as well as my Bachelor of Science in Psychology at The Ohio State University.  I have always enjoyed observing people and their behavior, and I am eager to learn about the mental processes in humans as well as how people react to certain situations.  Another one of my passions is mathematics, and I am very excited to study and explore the use of mathematics in biological sciences.  I love science and research, and I hope to explore many different fields through research, education, and internships.

Service Project

JamesCancerCenter

Throughout my sophomore year at The Ohio State University, I have volunteered at the James Cancer Center in the lobby.  At the James, I greet and welcome families and visitors at the main entrance, provide personal escorts and guide patients, families, and visitors to requested locations, and circulate through the James to ensure people are comfortable and answer any questions.  Being involved with the James has helped me to grow as an student, leader, and volunteer.