Providing the Greater Boston Area with Accessible Healthcare

By Melissa Su ‘24​
Improving chiropractic care access for low-income individuals experiencing low-back pain
Melissa works on their laptop at their desk at the Boston Medical Center.

During my internship, I worked with Dr. Eric Roseen on multiple clinical research studies and made improvements to the Program for Integrative Medicine and Health Disparities within Boston Medical Center. 

Boston Medical Center is an academic medical center and safety-net hospital located in Boston’s historic South End. The hospital’s mission is to serve the Greater Boston area by providing accessible care for everyone, Boston Medical Center has a dedication to not only providing traditional medical care, but also programs and services that wrap around that care to enhance overall health.

The main research study I worked on was a pilot study on improving chiropractic care access for low-income individuals suffering from low-back pain (LBP). I also worked on a study that is investigating whether non-pharmalogic treatments are effective in treating lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Additionally, I worked on improving/updating the website for the Program for Integrative Medicine and Health Disparities. 

When I wasn’t working on research projects, I was also able to interview different physicians and members of the Program for Integrative Medicine and Health Disparities. The conversations I had with these individuals affirmed my interest in integrative medicine and the type of doctor I wish to be in the future. I was also able to shadow both the Hematology/Oncology acupuncture clinic and the Pediatric Pain Clinic which were transformative experiences that I will remember forever.

Internship funded by the Peter Buck Internship Fund​.