Past and Current YCCI Interns

Mitchelle Abuna, ScM, is an early career mixed-methods researcher with a diverse background in epidemiology, sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention, care, and treatment. Mitchelle received her Master of Science in Global Public Health degree from Brown University in 2021. During her time at Brown, Mitchelle developed as a public health scholar and professional and further deepened her commitment and passion for a career in health research. To date, her primary area of interest is in the intersections of health equity, sexual and reproductive health, and prevention and treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases in marginalized populations. Mitchelle has utilized mixed-methods research to address these issues, and over the past two years has cultivated opportunities to develop her research skills – including qualitative methods, quantitative survey analysis, and community engaged methods. Mitchelle joined Yale University in May 2021 and is currently a clinical research intern at the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (YCCI).About my YCCI Internship“My internship with YCCI has given me the opportunity to work closely with the Cultural Ambassadors program, an initiative that increases community participation in clinical research by directly connecting clinical investigators and researchers to community organizations and resources. My experience has aligned with my interests in utilizing community engagement to address health disparities that affect underserved populations. During my time at YCCI, I have received invaluable mentorship from senior leadership and been exposed to different stages of the clinical research process. This has allowed me to expand my perspective and gain more knowledge on clinical research.”For Students Considering YCCI“Regardless of whether you are decided on attending graduate or medical school, or pursuing a career in healthcare or research, the YCCI Clinical Research Internship Program is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in translational and clinical research. You will work closely with Yale’s influential faculty, administrators, and staff and participate in different aspects of research while simultaneously gaining the skills, and tools needed to succeed in the above-mentioned career paths.”

Fatima Aly is a senior at Waterbury Career Academy in CT, where she is enrolled in the health sciences strand. Fatima is an ambassador with her school’s Sustainability Club which seeks to raise awareness for the increasing environmental crises and how citizens can make more sustainable choices. Fatima felt privileged to be elected president of National Honor Society and is excited to continue to serve as a student representative to her local Board of Education.n Fatima hopes to major in neuroscience and plans to continue advocating for health equity and climate change initiatives. About My YCCI Internship This internship was an incredible experience as I’ve never learned so much about our health system and clinical research.  The program opened my eyes to the health inequity in America. We talked to so many important leaders in the medical community who were inspired and committed to make changes. If there is anything I learned from these amazing figures it is that there is never a right time to start making changes, the time is always now- if you have a goal work towards it.  For Students Considering YCCI This internship isn’t just something you complete to put on a resume and forget, it’s an unforgettable experience. You’re exposed to things you normally would not be, and it really sheds light on the systemic issues of our healthcare system. If you’re lucky enough to get in you’re going to have an incredible time!

Ayan Ansari is a student at Brashier Middle College in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Despite just starting high school and his young age, Ayan has been able to pursue research and professional development opportunities. In the past, he has worked on an initiative called Solenoid Stimulations, which has weekly articles covering topics such as medtech and flight dynamics, as well as how to create web programmed education-based sites. He has also worked on entrepreneurial projects including having created a shop called LazyCowGoods and LazyCowUSA to sell sustainable clothing such as faux leather jackets, and labor-friendly necklaces and earrings. Ayan is interested in learning artificial intelligence research and industry work in the domains of healthcare, transportation, and specialized chat applications and studying at one of the top medical clinics to help prepare for his early academic career in health. About My YCCI Internship I applied to this prodigious program to help achieve my goals of learning more about clinical trials related to medicine, frontline drug discoveries, supply chain of certain drugs in clinics and helping patients with heart failure or heart disease. This program benefits oneself in many ways, such as learning how to communicate formally with other students and professors, getting to work on projects that help benefit many communities, and preparing oneself for their early academic career in health. Yale Center for Clinical Investigation gave me the opportunity to receive guidance from multiple clinical researchers and professors at Yale, while also driving me to do my own research and studies in the health field. For Students Considering YCCI I recommend that prospective and incoming interns find ways to automate surveys and small tasks to offset more time to dedicate towards analyzing results and conducting further research if necessary. My experience has prepared me to delve deeper, always asking questions and creating solutions to make people's lives easier and healthier.

Jake Boston is a junior at Hercules High School in the Bay Area as well as a part-time student at Contra Costa College. Through his local community college's dual enrollment program, he is actively working towards his associate degree in Public Health Science. Some accomplishments include leading a successful volunteer campaign at his school as well as establishing a Japanese club for students to engage in new cultures.  Jake is also a varsity cross country and track runner, with the position of team captain in both sports. An area of medicine that he wishes to research is lymphatic malformations, with hopes that he can advance the treatment options available.About My YCCI Internship Thanks to YCCI and the Cultural Ambassadors, I came out of this internship with a massive amount of knowledge on clinical research and the health care system. Being given the opportunity to engage with so many professionals at Yale has inspired me to pursue the medical field. Some of my most memorable experiences were bonding with the other interns and working directly with the YCCI staff on our research projects.  For Students Considering YCCI Go for it! The program is an amazing way to introduce yourself to research and medicine, with the advantage of it being run by professionals at Yale themselves. While the program may seem intimidating at first, the projects you do and the people you meet are incredible, and the supportive environment of the internship will make you feel a part of the YCCI community.

Asia V. Brown is currently a nonprofit strategy consultant at Wellspring Consulting. She works on a variety of projects across the nonprofit sector including strategic planning, integration planning, financial modeling and organizational planning. Prior to working at Wellspring, Asia received her MA in Religion from the Yale Divinity School, and her MPH in Healthcare Management from the Yale School of Public Health During her Masters programs, Asia worked at the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation conducting a needs assessment across various YCCI stakeholders, and worked in collaboration with the FDA's Office of Minority Health on strategies to improve diversity in clinical trials.About my YCCI Internship “Working at the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation was an amazing experience, and one that was formative to my career today. I regularly met with senior leadership who mentored me throughout the process, and was invited to meetings through which I got a first-hand look at the innovation coming from Yale Medicine and the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation. I am thankful for the opportunities I had to weigh in on strategic insights, which has prepared me for the work I'm currently doing. The YCCI takes care of their interns to ensure you get the experience and exposure you desire!”<For Students Considering YCCI “The YCCI gives you the opportunity to understand various aspects of clinical research administration which relate to the diversity, equity and inclusion, innovation, collaboration, and access. You will have the opportunity to see how all of that comes together in new and exciting ways!”

Joshua Brown is a senior at Mount Saint Michael Academy in Bronx, NY where he has served as president of the Student Council, manager and recruiter for the Film and Philosophy Club and secretary for the HACK CLUB.  Joshua is an Honor Student, with interest in Data Science and has experience in analyzing data sets and coordinating Python for Slack.  He is an active volunteer in Campus Ministry as a Spiritual Leader.About My YCCI Internship During my internship with YCCI, I was introduced to multiple leaders from many fields. I was able to connect with professionals and learn about the fields of neuroscience and informatics. With this information, we connected data and worked on team projects to explain the different aspects of clinical research as it relates to children and adolescents. This was a great opportunity to gain friendships with like-minded people while teaming up to cause change.  For Students Considering YCCI If you are a leader striving to bring change to the world and your community this is a wonderful experience to gain the knowledge to do that.

Hansuja Chaurasia is a senior at Pomperaug High School in Southbury, CT. As the Co-Captain of her school's debate team, she is passionate about speech, debate, and politics. Hansuja additionally has an interest in public health and medicine. She is involved in many community public health organizations and clubs and has participated in virtual and in-person regional and national shadowing programs. Hansuja enjoys giving back to her community. In 2020, she founded Words of Thanks, an organization dedicated to spreading love, appreciation, and encouragement through handmade cards and digital messages to those affected directly & indirectly by COVID-19.About My YCCI Internship My time at the YCCI internship was one of the highlights of the summer. This program had such engaging, informative sessions where I learned so much. I loved meeting various leaders throughout the internship and having lunch with them while asking questions and learning about their lives. Working with my project members was a wonderful experience.  As a result of this internship, I met a lot of incredible students just like me; some of whom I still keep in touch with today. Finally, every staff member was extremely kind and treated all the interns, including myself, with such respect and love, which I greatly appreciated.  For Students Considering YCCI If you are able to apply, please do! I was not sure if I would be "good enough" to get into this program, but I made it, and so can you! This is an experience where you will learn so many valuable skills and new information. You will get to meet influential individuals and ask them questions that pique your own interest. There was never a dull moment in this internship, and I highly recommend you apply.

José M.P. Méndez Chévere is entering his third year at Universidad de Puerto Rico Recindo de Mayagüez and is majoring in Industrial Microbiology. This semester he is enrolled in Microbiology, Medical Mycology, Statistics and Sociohumanity courses.  An aspiring physician, his interest include research in Astrobotany and Biotechnology. About My YCCI Internship My experience as an YCCI intern was amazing. I was able to develop, alongside my team, a wonderful project that made children and adolescent assent forms more user friendly and less intimidating. During my time as an intern, I got the chance to speak with so many professionals; it was truly inspiring. It was incredible how I could ask questions of these professionals and have a productive conversation. I really learned a lot and my goal to become a physician became much clearer.  For Students Considering YCCI Do it! Take this opportunity to get to know yourself better. This internship presents you with the chance to take a look at the many careers in the healthcare system. You will surely find the career you would like to pursue and learn more of it.

Stephanos Fikru is a student at West Career and Technical Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada. He gained a national merit award for consistent volunteering from the Red Cross Club and was recognized for humanitarian efforts by the National Honors Society. Stephanos holds multiple leadership positions and currently works as a Team Captain at Nanoparticle Research Project on a project that seeks to eliminate tumor cells and combat pancreatic cancer. He is Co-Captain of BC Labs where he and partners used an existing machine learning device to create an accurate system that tracks the brain, heart, and veins. Stephanos is also the Executive Director of the Southern Nevada branch of the International Youth Neuroscience Association amongst other positions.

Sahana Ganesh is a rising senior at Rocky Hill High School in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. Sahana has an interest in research, data analysis, medical ethics, biomedical engineering and technology, and medicine. She has extensive leadership and research experience including the organization of a day-long Free Health Camp, being a student researcher at UConn investigating stem cell engineering and technology, serving as the co-leader of the Research Team, Recruiting Chair for the Rocky Hill State Champion awarded Marching Band, and a historian for GirlUp which aims to advance girls' skills, rights, and opportunities to be leaders. Her additional achievements include being a member of the Junior Achievement Alumni, being an AP and college credit student and a 2021 summer intern for Yale Center of Clinical Investigation. This fall, she hopes to continue her research of the MyChart electronic patient portal and health records to boost pediatric research participation and implement her findings into the Yale Health System as a year-long intern. About my YCCI InternshipIt was amazing to have an opportunity to work with some of the most renowned and top professionals of the medical and data informatics team at Yale. I always came to the internship excited to learn more about topics that are not normally taught in high school classes and are more reflective of what students will hear in the real world. In addition, working on a project to be presented and implemented into the actual Yale Health System was impressive as it taught me that even as a student, I could impact the community around me and improve it through my work. Overall, the internship was a great opportunity, and I would recommend it to any students who are interested in clinical research and the health/data industries.  For Students Considering YCCIApply! Even if you do not think that you'll get in, you never know where an application can take you, and it is certainly better than not trying at all :)

Victoria I. Garcia is a Biology Pre-medicine student at The University of Tampa, with the pursuit of becoming a physician in the future. She became a 2021 summer intern at YCCI as she began her senior year. Last summer, Victoria was given the opportunity to be a Research Assistant at the Puerto Rico Medical Research Center which coupled with being a part of the YCCI Internship Pilot Program broadened her understanding of clinical research. Currently, she is working with an associate professor at UT investigating positive selection of the Hendra Virus and she is involved in various community service organizations University of Tampa like MEDLIFE.About my YCCI InternshipDuring this internship, the interns were given the opportunity to meet extraordinary leaders and remarkable physicians who focused their attention in introducing and educating us on information corresponding to medical informatics, the importance of privacy and HIPAA, what EHR is, the importance of clinical decision report, an overview of the human research protection, different research study designs and focused information about clinical research and investigation and its impact in society and the growing science. Additionally, I was able to build a project with a group of chosen students that involved generating an idea on how to take the importance of research and clinical trials from its complex concept into an easier form in which children and adolescents could understand and be educated about. Being granted the opportunity to be an intern in this program has broadened my communication skills and most importantly, educated me on the importance of research. It has unquestionably made me consider becoming a researcher in the future with the goal of becoming a principal investigator within my department of interest in medicine. In addition, it has given me the opportunity to meet students from all over the world with the same interest and involvement as me and to meet incredible leaders which inspire me to become a successful healthcare professional in the future. For Students Considering YCCIAny student that has an interest in becoming more involved in clinical research and forming part of the medical field, should most definitely apply for this internship. It has been the highlight of my whole summer as there was never a dull moment; all the speakers were very interactive.

Krystal Grover is an ambitious teenager from Toronto, Canada. She is fueled by her genuine passion and curiosity for a wide range of topics. Krystal likes to keep herself busy. She co-founded The Bloom Red Project, a non-profit organization centered around diminishing period poverty and stigma.  Krystal is also involved with research through COBWEB at the University of Toronto and occasionally enjoys writing for local papers such as The Downsview Advocate. Aside from these commitments, she is also a professional dancer and loves to strike up conversations with anyone anywhere! Krystal hopes to pursue her passion for medicine as a career while being mindful of continuously giving back to society as a cornerstone of her life. About My YCCI Internship The YCCI Exposures Pilot Internship was easily one of the greatest highlights of my high school and summer experiences. I remember receiving the acceptance email and feeling a huge wave of excitement and optimism. Throughout the internship, I had the incredible opportunity to hear from esteemed speakers, eat virtual lunch with today’s leaders in the health space and explore career paths I did not even know existed! I ended the internship with an even stronger passion for my medical career and my mind racing with deep inspiration and aspirations for the future. For Students Considering YCCI I have nothing but praises for this valuable opportunity. If you are a student interested in pursuing a career somewhere even remotely in medicine - whether as a doctor, a clinical researcher, working in health informatics and everything in between - this internship would be quite the exposure opportunity for you. The knowledge you gain and the connections you make throughout this program are truly incomparable and priceless. This internship, beyond a doubt, equips you with skillsets and experiences like no other; ones that will not only aid you in navigating future careers but present you with a competitive edge amongst other students.

Shelby Harris became an intern at YCCI after graduating from University at Albany with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. Formerly looking to pursue social media, she worked under the YCCI communications officer learning about marketing and recruitment strategies used for clinical trials. Through her time with YCCI she was able to find a passion and continue forward to study it in depth. Shelby will be pursuing her master’s degree in Public Relations this fall.  About my YCCI InternshipThis is one of the most immersive internship experiences I have ever been a part of. There are so many different parts in research that, as an intern, I could partake in and learn from. Working with the Yale Cultural Ambassadors to help patient recruitment while learning marketing strategies from YCCI professionals and outsources marketing firms allowed me to interact with the Greater New Haven community and develop skills that will always be useful in my career path. From creating recruitment flyers to aiding in the organization of the 10-year partnership gala to working with a videography team to create a video that encompasses the work being done at YCCI, I have gained so much exposure and learned about the process involved in upholding a successful clinical research department. Being a part of the YCCI Internship program was a key step in figuring out the next steps I want to take with my career. I will always be grateful for the experience and never forget my time here.For Students Considering YCCIBasically, anything you feel that would be relevant for a student considering YCCI as an option. YCCI is at the forefront of innovation in expanding clinical research while engaging the surrounding community to promote diversity and racial equity. For any student looking for an opportunity to learn directly from passionate healthcare professionals and have hands-on experience aiding in the clinical process; YCCI is the best place to be.

LaToya joined YCCI as a summer intern during her junior and senior years as an undergrad at the University of Georgia.  After graduation, she decided to stay at YCCI, changing her career to focus on clinical research.  She assumed increased responsibilities that include supervising the administrative aspects of the scientific review committees under the auspices of YCCI and the Yale Cancer Center along with coordinating YCCI’s training programs for research staff. Howard has spent the several years providing administrative support for these programs.  As she became more knowledgeable about the challenges inherent in quality assurance for clinical research as well as ways to assist investigators and research staff in meeting those challenges, she was promoted to a leadership position within the Quality Assurance Unit, before leaving the YCCI to join the Yale Human Research Protection Program, a as Senior Regulatory Analyst.  LaToya is now a Clinical Trial Manager 2 at Alexion Pharmaceuticals.About my YCCI Internship“The YCCI internship experience was instrumental in my career and I am forever grateful for the opportunity.”

Aastha Kashyap is a senior at Glastonbury High School. Aastha has a strong passion for human studies, seeking to develop a knowledge of traditionally marginalized and underrepresented communities. Through her leadership roles within her school’s Newspaper Club and Gender and Sexuality Alliance Club, she has written, edited, and published educational content promoting the importance of tolerance, community, and civic and social responsibility. Aastha’s current focuses include exploring how different groups of people interact with the healthcare system and how to improve access for traditionally marginalized groups. She is currently considering a major in anthropology, psychology, or a public-health related field. About My YCCI Internship YCCI’s Exposures Summer Internship was the most extraordinary introductory experience into clinical research I could have hoped for. As summer interns, we were immersed in YCCI’s supportive educational atmosphere, especially as we worked on our projects. Through this internship, I received a crash course on integral systems like Epic, MyChart, and REDCap. Thanks to this internship, I have also developed the skills necessary for thinking of problems from multiple angles. For Students Considering YCCI Before this internship, I was super hesitant to consider healthcare as a career. I had no idea how many diverse fields existed within healthcare, because the only professions associated with healthcare that I’d heard of were the traditional doctor, surgeon, and nurse. YCCI expanded my horizons and in a way, helped me to be less afraid of pursuing a career in the future. This internship taught me so much about how many paths I have to pursue the topics that I love.  I think that many others, especially high school students, need that type of exposure to the broader world in order for them to be brave enough to pursue their dreams.

Diya Girish Kumar is a rising sophomore at Brookfield High School. She has a strong interest in neuroscience and has taken on many STEM-related initiatives. Currently, she is in the process of establishing NeuroGEN, an organization that provides opportunities for young students to get involved in the field of neuroscience. Interested in clinical research and healthcare, Diya pursued this internship as it aligns with her research and career interests. She hopes to pursue a career within the field of clinical neuroscience in the future. About My YCCI Internship This internship was truly the highlight of my summer. Being able to hear from world-renowned clinicians and informaticists gave me a lot of insight into the field of clinical research and data management. It was also exciting to work with fellow high schoolers who shared the same passion and interests as me. I was able to explore many career options and learn more about the ways that I could become involved within the field of clinical research as a whole. For Students Considering YCCI As a high school student, I have always been interested in exploring various pathways to pursue in the future. Being part of the YCCI Internship Program will really allow you to explore many different career options within the field of clinical research and informatics. The program is a great opportunity for students to connect with mentors and students from different backgrounds, and become involved in a range of opportunities relating to their personal interests.

Brandon Kumpf is a sophomore at The Hopkins School in New Haven, Connecticut. He is interested in many different medical specialties, from psychology to dermatology. He has received merit awards for his performance on both the National Spanish Exam and the National Latin Exam. Although he is broadly interested in the medical field, Brandon has a large interest in the connection between medical informatics and IT tools used in the clinical setting and how they may drive innovations in future treatments. Brandon also has a large interest in data analyzation and how it can be used to drive diagnoses and treatments for different conditions. About My YCCI Internship My internship at YCCI was something that I never could have imagined. There were some incredible presenters, from Dr. Paul Taheri to President Marna Borgstrom, that gave insight into their work lives and suggestions on where interns can go next. I also got to contribute to projects that hopefully will become something much bigger, teaching years of students to come about clinical trials. This experience was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity that gave me many connections and skills to help me pursue my career in the future.  For Students Considering YCCI No matter what you think you want to go into in life, the YCCI internship may open your eyes to paths that you had never originally thought of. The experience is so engaging and the presenters are so talented at what they do. If you are even just considering applying to an internship at YCCI, I would strongly suggest following through. My experience here was something I will never forget.

Lorrin Liang is currently a research associate in pediatric nephrology with Boston Children’s Hospital and currently completing her graduate thesis for the Boston University Master of Medical Science program. Lorrin’s experiments with the Majumindar lab explore variants of TRIM8, a protein encoding gene, as a cause of nephrotic syndrome in children. The lab is actively developing CRISPR cell and mouse models of this disease to understand the pathogenic mechanisms by which patient variants cause disease and develop biological assays for future therapeutic studies.About my YCCI Internship“Working with YCCI was an incredible experience that I will never forget! Coordinating the Cardiology INVESTED clinical trial with the Hugo Healthcare mobile app was an amazing experience that I learned so much from. Moving forward from that project, it was a pleasure to meet the amazing team and work collectively to nurture the Generations Project together as well as the numerous COVID-19 trials that allowed the team and I contribute hands-on to aiding during the onset of the pandemic. I will always cherish the incredible friendships made with colleagues and patients!”For Students Considering YCCI“I highly recommend that students interested in any aspect of healthcare and medicine consider YCCI as a part of their journey in medicine!”

Cassandra Lincoln is currently a student at Stanford Law School, studying the intersection of healthcare and the law. She is interested in a wide range of topics, including access to mental health services, healthcare innovation policy, and competition in the prescription drug market. Before law school, Cassandra worked as a life science consultant at Clarion Healthcare in Boston, providing strategic consulting for biopharmaceutical companies. Her projects included market access analytics, forecasting, new product launch planning, and product lifecycle optimization. Cassandra graduated from Yale College with a double major in History of Science, Medicine & Public Health and Economics, and from the Yale School of Public Health with an MPH concentrated in healthcare management. During her time at Yale, she interned with the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation, working on a project analyzing the value of centralizing certain clinical trial support services.About my YCCI Internship“My internship experience with YCCI was a highlight of my time at Yale. It was exciting to learn from and work with senior leadership and faculty across the university and contribute meaningful work to cutting-edge clinical research. The program provided me not only with substantive knowledge about clinical trial operations and management, but also with a network of mentors invested in my professional growth. Over the course of the internship, I learned how to better communicate, drive to consensus, and present actionable recommendations.”For Students Considering YCCI“YCCI provides an incredible opportunity to work on innovative clinical research across a wide range of medical specialties and stages of research. The internship program provides ample mentorship, training and guidance, while at the same time allowing you to pursue your specific interests, whether they are narrow or broad.”

Frances Bernier Matta is an undergraduate student at Universidad de Puerto Rico Recinto de Mayaguez, studying Industrial Microbiology. Frances plays a role in different associations including the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space Research, Student Association of Industrial Biotechnology and Beta Beta Beta (Tribeta) Biology Honor Society Zeta Alpha Chapter UPRM. Frances has plans of pursuing a career in the medical field. About My YCCI Internship YCCI gave me the opportunity to meet and learn from brilliant professionals in many different fields of medicine. This had such a positive impact on me personally and my future goals. The knowledge I gained serves as a tool for my future path in medicine. Building research projects with my fellow interns helped me broaden my view on what research truly entails. For Students Considering YCCI This internship is an amazing opportunity for students who want to learn about the research process and professions in the medical field. It provides you with great mentors that help you understand each of their professions and broadens your understanding to the different paths in this field.