Katherine Van Tassel
Education: Yale University
MD Mentor: Drs. Jay Traverse
Staff Mentors: Katianna Feldewerd
Project: Does Pre-Infarction Angina reduce microvascular obstruction (MVO) and Intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH)
How did you hear about the MHIF internship and why did you want to participate?
I originally heard about the internship from family members who had interned/ worked at MHIF. I was drawn to the internship for the diverse array of experiences it provides. I wanted to develop my research skills alongside a world-renowned research team while taking advantage of the shadowing hours and field trips to explore a variety of medical fields.
What sparked your interest in the field of research, medicine and cardiology?
From a young age, my family instilled in me the importance of helping others. This value became deeply personal as I volunteered in clinics serving immigrants in my hometown and participated in international humanitarian trips, where we provided aid through engineering solutions. These experiences opened my eyes to the power of both medicine and innovation to dramatically improve lives. In college, I further explored the intersection of medicine and innovation through biomedical research, which I have found to be incredibly rewarding. I now hope to continue exploring this intersection through research in cardiology.
What is your desired career in medicine?
I am still exploring various fields in medicine, but I am currently very interested in cardiology and neurology.
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
I am most looking forward to exploring the breadth of opportunities that MHIF has to offer. I am excited to learn alongside my research mentor as I dive into a project at the cutting edge of cardiological advancement. As a Biomedical Engineering major, I am also excited for the field trips to Medtronic and the Visible Heart Laboratories to see their recent work in technological innovation.
What do you hope to gain from this experience?
From this experience, I hope to develop my skills in research and further explore various careers in clinical and research medicine. Working under a research physician mentor, I also hope to learn about opportunities in medical education as this may be a field in which I am interested.
What are your plans after the summer?
I intend to finish my senior year at Yale University, after which I hope to apply to MD/PhD programs.
What is a fun fact about you?
I have been playing soccer since I was three!
