Research. Heard, said out loud, or even simply thought about, research sounds boring. You know it requires thinking and exploring, but for some reason the word "research" scares some students.
Maybe it's the fact that, when researching, you aren't sure what you're going to find ; it's an ambiguous pursuit. But, for the majority of students at Hopkins, research is a popular way to enhance their knowledge on a certain subject -- so don't be so hesitant about it.
Research allows a student to have an opportunity to find and discover new information. Some argue that merely studying the basic scientific facts in a classroom is not as effective as actively participating or learning about information from a first hand experience.
Many students therefore look to research as an outlet and a way to put to use the knowledge they learn in lectures given at Hopkins.
Sophomore Amanda Beck came to Hopkins last year knowing that she wanted to pursue medicine. As a biology major, Beck needed to learn more than just the mundane biology facts.
Like many aspiring doctors, she wanted to submerge herself in research and surgery, and experience the world of Ph.D.'s for herself. Beck realized she was interested in surgery.
Because she lives in New York, Beck applied to the NYU School of Medicine Summer Undergraduate Research Program. After undergoing numerous interviews, Beck was accepted into the program in April of 2003.
For the next three months, she would facilitate three doctors in the Department of Surgery within the NYU Medical Center.
Working Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Beck dedicated the majority of her summer to research. Under this program, she was given the ability to help out in both researching in a lab and observing surgery.
"I not only had to stay in a lab and conduct research, but I also was able to take the basic science and apply it to surgery," said Beck.
While in the lab she studied the activation in arterialized vein grafts, a process which translates to the effects of graphing veins in the arterial system when conducting multiple bypass surgery.
When one undergoes multiple bypass surgery, there may not be enough arteries to carry out the bypass. Therefore, doctors look to a vein and use this in the place of an artery.
However, veins react differently then arteries and doctors must use vein graphs in order to compare the two. A doctor then will use this vein graph when performing a multiple bypass.
Beck's goal in the lab was to study, research and characterize the signaling pathway that mediates changes and occurs when using a vein graph.
While observing in the operating room, Beck witnessed several surgeries completed on a canine. The surgeons took a vein from the canine and graphed it to an artery by opening all the major veins and arteries in the dog's body.
From here the surgeon graphed the vein to artery, artery to artery or vein to vein; and this is where the bypass lies.
The canine then recovered and on a later date Beck was able to extract the graph from the dog and then studied the signaling pathways and therefore the effects that bypass surgery had on that specific canine; she also saw the potential effects it will have on humans.
Some surgeries lasted up to a full seven hours, but Beck was able to observe the precise actions of the surgeons the entire time.
"It gave me a good perspective about the entire medical field and helped me to become more enthusiastic about doing well in my classes at Hopkins," said Beck. "I hope one day I will have the opportunity to apply what I learn in class to surgery."
In those three months, Beck witnessed both research on multiple bypass surgeries and the actual carrying out of operations. The experience cemented her desire to pursue a career in surgery.
"I learned a lot and this research program helped me realize that this is what I'm interested in," said Beck.
