A lesson that has stuck with me is striving to communicate my research with others at a variety of levels. This is a powerful skill to engage the community, educate people who are and are not in the medical/science field, obtain funding for research, get people excited about your research and inspire future scientists. I think this is something that takes time and should continuously be worked toward as a scientist. I would say that the F-Troop grant writing workshop and Translational Science Courses I have taken at UT Health have been essential in challenging me to improve these skills.
I have many memorable moments at UT Health from publishing my first first-author paper and co-authoring a book chapter to receiving grant awards. However, I will always remember my first observation of Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia. For this treatment, patients receive a brain frame, which requires multiple screws screwed into their skull, as well as an MRI Angiogram and CT scan to generate images of their internal anatomy. Images are used to create a treatment that will target the trigeminal cranial nerve of the patient, and the radiation oncology team works together to plan this treatment with millimeter accuracy. The patient I observed was a young girl who was so positive and brave. I find it incredible how we can use physics, medicine, and advancements in technology as an alternative to brain surgery to treat tumors and abnormalities in the brain. I am excited to attend residency and be a part of the complex planning process for these types of treatments.
Which student organizations did you participate in? What did you learn from them?
I am active member in multiple student organizations at UT Health San Antonio including Linking Interprofessional Networks for Collaboration (LINC) Student Council; Women in Science, Development, Outreach and Mentoring (WISDOM), and the Student Legacy Council (SLC). Participation has permitted me opportunities to give input on interprofessional student events, volunteer to raise money for student scholarships, and work with local high students at science fair expos and as a science fair judge. In addition, I am an affiliate member of Mays Cancer Center (Experimental and Developmental Therapeutics) and was the 2020-2021 Committee on Graduate Studies (COGS) Radiological sciences student representative. As student representative, I was inspired to begin our department’s Radiological Sciences social media committee (check out our twitter page! @UTHSARadSci) and help pilot our department’s first medical physics patient communication workshop for medical physics graduate students.
Finally, I am involved in the medical physics professional community as a student member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and a member of the AAPM Student and Trainee subcommittee. Here I can connect with colleagues all over the world, assist in planning student events at annual meetings and help run social media pages. I have learned an immense amount from all these organizations about how events and programs are run throughout the graduate school and at a national level. I am excited to use these skills throughout my career to inspire and positively impact the medical physics community and future scientists.
What advice do you have for incoming students who are interested in Radiologic Science?
- Have fun. Graduate school is an exciting place to meet people who are passionate about the same ideas that you are. Maintaining a work-life balance is crucial to not burn out. You need to have fun to produce your best work.
- Get involved. Don’t be afraid to join a student organization or become involved with the San Antonio community. Sign up for a three-minute thesis presentation at a conference or volunteer to be a science fair judge for a local high school science fair.
- Manage Your Time. Don’t wait until the last minute. Doing a little bit each day toward your projects will eventually add up to a more thoughtful outcome.
Who is your favorite professor, mentor or staff member? And why?
Karl Rasmussen, PhD, is my advisor and my favorite mentor. He challenges me to work independently, think critically, and inspires me to become involved and take on more responsibility in the professional community. He always says it like it is and does a wonderful job teaching clinical skills and communicating medical physics to people at different levels.
What is your plan for after graduation?
This next December I will apply for the CAMPEP accredited Medical Physics Radiation Therapy Residency match program. After graduation, I plan to attend a therapy residency and become an American Board of Radiology certified Medical Physicist and continue my career in research to improve the quality and accuracy of radiation therapy, ideally work in a pediatric radiation oncology environment.
How do you intend to give back and pay it forward for future students?
I plan to pay it forward to future students throughout my career. My goal is to one day work as a clinical medical physicist at an academic institution with a medical physics residency or graduate program. This environment will permit me to continue in research to mentor and teach future scientists. I have been fortunate to learn and be inspired by many professors and scientists throughout undergraduate and graduate school and I hope to be able to do the same for more students.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my pre-professional ballet career and dancing the sugar plum fairy in the Nutcracker.