Victoria Carfi

I am a rising high school Senior from Wilmington, Delaware. I am extremely passionate about the medical field and have been able to explore it by shadowing local physicians, amassing over 30 hours of experience. Additionally, I have an ongoing research internship with the Delaware Academy of Medicine and have interned with my school nurse this past academic year. Other than medicine, I love to lead in my community. I have done so by being a key member in my libraries Teen Leadership Council, while also cofounding Pioneer Pathways; a shadowing network for first-generation low-income students in my area. Within my school, I lead by taking the role of Spanish and Writing tutor for the NHS, while also stepping up as co-president of Knitting and Environmental Club.

About my YCCI Internship

My experience with the Yale Center of Clinical Investigation quite literally changed my life. As a first-generation low-income student, opportunities do not come easy. Thus, when I got my acceptance from YCCI, I was beyond excited to embark on my journey with them. Through the internship, I gained a whole new perspective on a field I never thought I would get the privilege of exploring. Coming from my background, I do not have any connections to professional industry, especially the medical field. While I have been able to gain experience by shadowing doctors, I had NO IDEA about the world of clinical research when it comes to medicine. YCCI changed this, sparking my growing interest in clinical research. In fact, YCCI has inspired me to become an advocate for growing minority participation in clinical trials, which is something I hope to act on as I begin to learn more about its effects in my local area.

For Students Considering a YCCI Internship

If you are undecided about whether to participate in YCCI, I 100% encourage you to take the chance. The internship is extremely educational, with talks from countless influential figures in the world of medicine that will without a doubt inspire you in your future endeavors. Other than being an incredible learning experience, YCCI has shown me despite being such a competitive field, the world of medicine can be a welcoming community. Not only were my peers extremely collaborative throughout the process of completing the project, but the speakers themselves were always kind and took the time to thoughtfully answer every question that came their way.