Summer Stays Busy for NHS Students, Faculty

NHS Professor Alexander Theos teaches high school students from the Pathways to Success program in the Discovery Center.

Throughout the summer months, many NHS students and faculty members are participating in a range of health-related special programs.

For example, a team of undergraduates from NHS and Georgetown College traveled to Argentina for the university’s second annual translational health science internship.

From May 23-July 4, the eleven undergraduates are at the INFANT Foundation, based in Buenos Aires, along with faculty trip leader Pablo Irusta, a microbiologist and assistant professor of human science at NHS. The foundation is a part of Johns Hopkins University’s Panamerican Infant Network.

While there, the students are conducting basic science and clinical research projects in laboratory and hospital settings on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Andrew Rumin (NHS’10), originally from the Pittsburgh, Pa., area, is majoring in health care management & policy at NHS. He said he hopes to learn more about the operations of a foreign health system during the internship.

“Up to this juncture, I have only been exposed to America’s health care system,” he said. “By traveling to Argentina, I have the opportunity to perform research and clinical work first-hand in another country, which could help me to discern the strengths and weaknesses of Argentina’s health care system.”

In addition, a variety of other activities are in progress, including:

From June 21-July 12, nearly 30 high schoolers from Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, and South Dakota are participating in the school’s sixth annual Pathways to Success program—funded by founding sponsor The Goldman Sachs Foundation to introduce students from rural areas to careers in health, science, and technology. Students learn from NHS faculty, tour area sites, host cultural dinners, and meet with Congressional representatives and staff.

Patricia Cloonan, associate professor of health systems administration, is directing the 12th annual Health Care Leadership Institute from July 13-18. The project, with underwriting from Kimberly-Clark, focuses on quality management, financial constraints, pay for performance, employee engagement, physician satisfaction, and disclosing unanticipated outcomes.

Martyna Skowron (NHS’09), a human science major and chair of the NHS Academic Council, is participating in an internship in Booz Allen Hamilton’s health care division.

Leigh McGrath (NHS’10), a nursing major, is traveling to Santiago, Chile to work in a hospital and with families affected by cancer.

Erin Carroll (NHS’11), an international health major, is in Cuzco, Peru to work for the Global Volunteer Network in a health clinic for low-income families.

Rebekah Bolton (NHS’10), a nursing major, is venturing to Uganda to work in orphanages and free medical clinics to distribute de-worming medication.

Samantha Tsang (NHS’10), an international health major, is interning with Global Service Corps and working on HIV/AIDS and community development in Tanzania, Africa.

Akite Daniel (NHS’10), an international health major, is interning with Project Concern International in Zambia on HIV/AIDS and food security.

Rebecca Maroon (NHS’09), a health care management & policy major, has traveled to Nicaragua to work with Manna Project International to teach English, literacy skills, and math, as well as address issues including child mortality rates and malnutrition.