Health Science InternshipSummer 2016

Mary Hunter Brown

Department of Pediatric Academics and ResearchChildren’s Hospital Outpatient Center

Greenville Health System

GHS Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center

The courtyard in the GHS Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center at the Patewood Medical Campus. The Department of Pediatric Academics and Research is located at the back of the courtyard.

GHS Mission, Vision, and Values

• Mission: Heal compassionately. Teach innovatively. Improve constantly.

• Vision: Transform health care for the benefit of the people and communities we serve.

• Values: Together we serve with integrity, respect, trust and openness.

Source: http://www.ghscareers.org/mission-vision-and-values.php

Internship Training Programs/Software

• CITI Training• EPIC Training & Software• REDCap Software

CITI Training

• At the beginning of my internship, I completed the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) training– This training explains responsible conduct of

research, human subjects research, and healthcare ethics

EPIC• During my internship, I was trained to use EPIC,

an electronic medical record software for large medical groups, hospitals, and integrated healthcare organizations– EPIC is a useful tool for consolidating

information across systems to improve patient care

– EPIC was used throughout my internship to look at patient charts, notes, and medical records while “data mining” for necessary clinical trial data

Research Electronic Data Capture

• A secure web application for building and managing online databases and surveys

• Specifically geared to support data capture for research studies

• Allows users to build and manage online surveys and databases quickly and securely

Intern Roles/Duties• Chart review and data entry for multiple current and

ongoing research studies• Set up and organize study files• Create study-specific source documents• Prepare documents for submission to the

Institutional Review Board (protocol review, subject eligibility, informed consent)

• Supply inventory• Recruitment letters• Reminder phone calls

Intern Roles/Duties

Test Tube Organization for Patient Visit in Pediatric Research RoomOne of my roles as an intern with the department of pediatric academics and research was to organize test

tubes and other tools used during research visits. I found the test tubes of the correct size, labeled them with patient information, and set them up in order for the research nurses. This photo is an example of how test

tubes were set up, labeled, and placed in the research room for patient visits with a research nurse.

Intern Roles/Duties

Shadowing a nurse practitioner in Pediatric EndocrinologySince I interned with the research team at my site, I got to shadow many of the physicians, nurses, and nurse practitioners on the research team. I got to spend hours in clinic in many

different departments, including Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatric Sleep Medicine, and Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics.

Intern Roles/Duties

Re-enacted version of an infusion at a research visit with a patient in Pediatric GastroenterologyDuring my internship, I got to shadow a research nurse in Pediatric Gastroenterology during an infusion. The

patient was getting an infusion of study drug that reduces the symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis.

Internship Projects

1. Pediatric Endocrinology Diabetic Population Review

2. Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Growth Study3. Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Smoke Exposure

Study4. Pediatric endocrinology presentation and

brochure at department’s monthly staff meeting5. Bulletin board in research room

1. Pediatric Endocrinology Diabetic Population Review

During my internship, I performed data mining and data entry for the Pediatric Endocrinology Diabetic

Population Review, which is a database with diabetes-related medical information from 678

pediatric diabetic patients at GHS. This will serve as a useful tool for

finding participants for future diabetes research studies. I used

EPIC software to find patient information/data to be entered into

the REDCap Pediatric Endocrinology Diabetic Population Review Basic Demography Form.

2. Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Growth Study

During my internship, I found data/information for the Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Growth Study. I found important patient information

in EPIC, and transferred the information using basic demography forms that were later transferred into REDCap for research purposes. This research study currently has a total of 280 participants. Visit my online portfolio for more information on eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

3. Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Smoke Exposure Study

During my internship, I found data and information for the Eosinophilic Esophagitis Smoke Exposure Study. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects/outcomes of smoke exposure on patients with eosinophilic esophagitis. Visit my online portfolio

for more information on eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

4. Pediatric Endocrinology Presentation/Brochure

I created a presentation that was presented at the pediatric endocrinology department’s monthly staff meeting. The presentation described and explained the numerous current and ongoing

diabetes-related clinical research trials in the pediatric endocrinology department. The presentation included two type 2 diabetes research studies, the Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Exchange, and TrialNet

Studies. I also created a brochure that was handed out at the monthly staff meeting with the pediatric endocrinology department, which explained all of the current ongoing TrialNet studies at

GHS. This brochure included a flow chart for TrialNet studies that shows patients eligibility requirements, procedures, and locations for each individual TrialNet study. Visit my online portfolio

for more information on the T1D Exchange and TrialNet.

4. Pediatric Endocrinology Presentation/Brochure

TrialNet Studies flow chart from Pediatric Endocrinology Brochure

5. Bulletin Board in Research Room

I created a bulletin board in the research room to explain and describe the goals of the current clinical trials that are occurring in the pediatric endocrinology department. In the future, each

trophy, star, and ribbon will have a name and/or picture of a participant in one of the many ongoing diabetes-related research trials. The top of the bulletin board says “The Keys to Type

None”, meaning that the goal of pediatric endocrinology clinical research is to cure both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Reflection/Evaluation of Internship

I thoroughly enjoyed interning with the Department of Pediatric Academics and Research at the GHS Children’s

Hospital Outpatient Center this summer. I developed a passion for clinical research and desire to pursue a career in medicine during my internship. I worked with a wonderful

research team that was willing to help me gain knowledge in the medical field. The opportunities and experiences that I

received at my internship site were extraordinary, and I believe that I had the best internship experience possible.