Reflecting on my internship and capstone experience, I can see how much I’ve grown—both in my understanding of clinical research and in my confidence working within a healthcare environment. Being part of many different cardiovascular studies study allowed me to step into a meaningful role where my work directly supported a project designed to improve patient safety and early detection of a life‑threatening condition.

I gained firsthand experience reviewing patient histories, interpreting clinical information, and applying strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. This wasn’t just administrative work; it required critical thinking, attention to detail, and an understanding of how each patient’s medical background aligned with the study’s goals. I learned how research teams collaborate, how protocols guide every step of the process, and how essential accuracy is when working with human subjects.

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Beyond the technical skills, this experience helped me understand the human side of research. Every chart I reviewed represented a real person living with spinal cord injury—someone who could benefit from earlier detection of autonomic dysreflexia. That perspective made my work feel purposeful and grounded in real‑world impact.

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Overall, this internship strengthened my interest in clinical practice and research, sharpened my analytical skills, and gave me a clearer sense of the kind of clinician and professional I want to become. It was a meaningful step in my development—and one that will continue to shape my future goals.

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