Winship Cancer Institute Summer Scholars Research Program
The Summer Scholars Research Program is a six-week internship focused on exposing students to cancer research.
I was selected as one of 11 students who worked one-on-one with a Winship physician or lab-based researcher, conduct research in a working lab or clinic setting, attend field trips to places like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention David J. Sencer Museum and the Georgia Institute of Technology, and hear lectures from a variety of specialists in oncology-related careers. Participating in this program provided me a unique and valuable experience. Through this exposure and education, I have developed a passion for cancer research and have been encouraged to pursue further studies and careers in medicine.
Under the mentorship of Pamela Allen, M.D., M.Sc. and Mary Jo Lechowicz, M.D., my research focused on investigating risk factors for bacteremia and subsequent mortality in patients with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma at Emory University. This is a significant area of study, as bacteremia is a common complication in patients with cancer that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality.
I attended lectures, seminars, and workshops given by Winship oncologists about cancer research, which helped to broaden my understanding of the field and inform my research. I collected data and analyzed outcomes from electronic medical records (EMR), which provided me with valuable hands-on experience in data collection and analysis.
At the conclusion of the program, I presented my findings in both an oral and poster presentation at the Winship Symposium to faculty and students. This was an excellent opportunity to share the research with others in the field and receive feedback on our work. Dr. Allen and Dr. Lechowicz provided me with valuable guidance, mentorship, and support throughout the program.
ICYMI: On July 12, a group of high school seniors and recent high school graduates participating in Winship's Summer Scholars Research Program will present cancer research they have conducted to an audience of seasoned oncologists. https://t.co/OJF34iJIti
— Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University (@WinshipAtEmory) July 8, 2019
Esther Kim, a participant in the program, has spent the last few weeks working with mentor Mary Jo Lechowicz, MD, Winship hematologist and professor and vice chair for education in the Emory Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology. Working with a subset of Lechowicz’s research, Kim’s project focuses on risk factors for bacteremia and subsequent mortality in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. She also had the opportunity to accompany a Winship doctor during rounds at Emory University Hospital.
A proud day at Winship as this great group of high school students wraps up the six-week Summer Scholars Research Program by presenting their scientific projects to some of our top oncologists! pic.twitter.com/k6Xcd2ONJc
— Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University (@WinshipAtEmory) July 12, 2019
Following the completion of the program, I continued to work as a research assistant with Dr. Allen. We focused on expanding and examining the risk of bacteremia in patients with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL).
My responsibilities included programming and managing data in PowerChart, completing data collection forms for patient information from medical records, and ensuring the accuracy of the collected data. Additionally, I contributed to the analysis of the data and assisted with creating tables for a poster presentation. I also had the opportunity to contribute to the background and methodology sections of a poster presentation as well as the introduction and methodology sections of a published abstract and paper.
Our abstract “Mortality and Risk Factors for Bacteremia in Patients with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) at Emory University” was accepted to the Blood. We were able to present this at the 61st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), which took place in Orlando, Florida.
Presenting our data on bacteremia in CTCL with this amazing high school student, Esther Kim from our Emory Summer Scholars Program pic.twitter.com/MC34CjV2fM
— PamAllenMD (@PamAllenMD1) December 10, 2019
Our research has been now published in academic journals, Leukemia & Lymphoma, which include:
