Advancing Orthopaedic Research

I am very appreciative to have been given the opportunity to be a clinical and lab research intern at The Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education (SCORE) at Scripps Clinic this summer. While spending half time in the clinical setting and half time in the laboratory environment, I was able to assist in database organization, clinical study research, patient interaction, biological projects, and cell culture for osteochondral genesis. I contributed to multiple prospective and retrospective clinical studies while also doing hands-on research aimed toward osteochondral genesis.​

The SCORE organization is directed toward the development and education of Orthopaedic Research, finding ways to benefit people and surgical methods in a clinical and lab setting. Some of the major projects I worked on included a study involving the effect of two oral steroids (Dexamethasone and Methylprednisolone) on the usage of opioid narcotic drugs post total knee arthroplasty surgery and the development of a printable Bio-ink directed toward osteochondral genesis using a variety of stem cells. ​

This summer, I learned that I desire to be in a medical setting, working to benefit patients via research and surgery. I admired the routine of surgeons conversing with patients one day and performing highly specialized surgery the next. Furthermore, I saw the true effect biological research has on successful surgeries and patient well-being. ​

I enjoyed working alongside medical and research professionals as they constantly gave me great perspectives and advice. Working on laboratory projects both on my own and with professionals was one of the most rewarding pieces of this exposure. As a result, patient interaction, data entry, hospital communication, and laboratory benchwork have all been added to my tool belt from this amazing opportunity.

Internship funded by the Peter Buck Internship Fund​.