Sarah Solano is a junior at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, with plans to apply to medical school this upcoming cycle. She aspires to apply what she learned from this experience to her medical career by actively contributing towards addressing these disparities and enhancing healthcare interactions.
Sarah enjoyed collaborating with her mentor, an experienced Epidemiologist, on the research project she presented at the CDC Showcase and how this experience contributed to her personal and professional growth. She mentions other notable memories, from receiving feedback on her poster from graduate students, viewing poster presentations from other Lewis Scholars and Ferguson Fellowship graduate students, and learning from others’ presentations. She mentions, “I really enjoyed working with such a diverse group of people, both from the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board team and my peers.”
Her advice: “Apply! I didn’t have any tribal health experience when I applied to the program, and I don’t come from a tribal background, but I applied anyway, and I am so glad that I did! It was a unique opportunity to learn about a culture seldom discussed in traditional educational settings. Moreover, I encourage future applicants to take the opportunity to network, ask questions, and be curious. The THESIS internship is an opportunity to learn from others and broaden your perspective, so be open-minded and listen to and learn from the perspectives and experiences of others.”
Overall, she felt this internship equipped her with unique insight into public health, cultural competency, and the healthcare challenges experienced by underrepresented minority groups. She highlights that the leadership team within THESIS has a drive to inspire the next generation to take action to address public health disparities, and those that you work with are fantastic, supportive, and genuinely care about you and what you can learn from the internship.