Eastern Student Mariana Serrano of Waterbury Completes Medical Internship at Harvard

2016 Aug 29

Mariana Serrano '18, a biology and health sciences double major at Eastern Connecticut State University, spent the summer in Boston, MA, participating in the Harvard Catalyst Summer Clinical and Translational Research Program (SCTRP). The Waterbury native was one of 10 students nationwide accepted into the 10-week program based at the Harvard Medical School.

In addition to mentored clinical/translational research experience, she participated in weekly seminars with Harvard faculty and graduate students focusing on topics such as research methodology, health disparities, ethics, career paths, and the graduate school and medical school application process.

"My research project was on the topic of anticoagulation of patients who underwent aortic valve replacement," said Serrano, who was mentored by Dr. Jacquelyn Quin, a cardiac surgeon at the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System.

"I was able to build relationships and gain mentors that are willing to participate in my journey to success," said Serrano, who aspires to become an obstetrician gynecologist. Serrano was able to shadow her mentors through a number of surgeries, including open heart surgery and laparoscopic hysterectomies.

"This program has shown me that there are so many opportunities available to help students who are interested in research and medicine," said Serrano. "It just takes dedication and the will to step out of your comfort zone and pursue them. I've also realized the importance of networking and the benefits that both parties gain from collaborating - even doctors learn from students."

The SCTRP program is designed to enrich the pipeline of college students' understanding of and interest in pursuing clinical and/or translational research, as well as to increase exposure of college students from groups underrepresented in medicine and from disadvantaged groups to clinical/translational research.