Alumni Stories Karen Penelope Ibarra, MD College of Medicine-Tucson FRONTERA 2015
What benefits did you experience during your time in the Program? The FRONTERA summer internship helped me shape my understanding about health disparities in rural areas and obtain hands on research experience. My research project focused in analyzing the prospective data obtained Diamond’s Children Hospital about children that came in to the Emergency room due to an acute asthma exacerbation. The purpose of my research was to see if there was any ethnic differences in the asthma triggers or parental knowledge in the children that were hospitalized with an acute asthma exacerbation. The data indicated that the population that was coming in more often with an acute asthma exacerbation were indeed from a minority group or from a low socioeconomic status. Specifically, the population focused around Hispanics and patients on Medicaid. It was also determined that certain triggers were more common among these children hospitalized. Therefore, it is imperative that a culturally appropriate program exists in effort to address asthma education to Hispanic families. Asthma control in families of Hispanic and low socioeconomic status can potentially reduce the number of preventable emergency department visits due to an acute asthma exacerbation. Furthermore, this experience was beyond meaningful to me because I obtained real hands on experience in research with something that I am highly passionate about. In addition to expanding my knowledge about health disparities, the FRONTERA summer internship offered a unique opportunity to prepare for medical school by obtaining valuable study and test-taking skills. As part of the program, I was able to develop a better understanding of the pathway to medical school.
Katherine Bakke, MD, MPH University of Michigan FRONTERA 2010 What benefits did you experience during your time in the Program? FRONTERA provided me with my first experience in public health research when I was a rising-college senior. Although I was new to research, my PI and mentor, Dr. Ana Maria Lopez, encouraged me to take ownership of my project and gave me latitude and resources to be a true leader. Not only did I gain practical skills
44
2021 FRONTERA SUMMER INTERNSHIP
such as writing IRB applications, liaising with clinic administrators to gather study participants, and basic qualitative analysis know-how, I also gained insight, through site visits to hospitals in Sonora, Mexico and clinics on “the res” (among many others), into the vast, interrelated factors that contribute to Latino health in the southwestern United States and along the MexicanAmerican border. How has the Program experience benefited you now in your current life? Currently, I am a rising second-year medical student at University of Michigan Medical School pursuing an MD/MPH degree. My time in Tucson was short—only a summer—but the lessons I learned and relationships I gained during my internship continue to have an impact. The bulk of my FRONTERA research involved interviewing patients of the El Rio Community Health Center about their understanding of health education materials used by the clinic. I conducted nearly 100 interviews, and the listening and probing skills I acquired talking with patients in Tucson easily translate to my interactions with patients now as a physician-in-training.
Megan Fah, MD College of Medicine- Phoenix Border Health Scholar 2012
What benefits did you experience during your time in the Program? During my time as a Border Health Scholar, I was able to gain unique insight into the health care systems of both the U.S. and Mexico. The program really opened my eyes to health disparities that border populations face, and the mistreatment they experience. Consequently, I was inspired to someday work with underserved populations in effort to close the gap in the medical attention they receive. How has the program experience benefited you now in your current life? The program introduced me to a wide array of opportunities in public health. I will be starting my MD/ MPH dual degree at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix this July. My work with the Border Health Scholars program is what sparked my interest in completing a Masters in Public Health. Additionally, the program benefited me by providing talking points about my experiences throughout the medical school interview process. Overall, the Border Health Scholars program made me a more competitive applicant for medical school.
