Kayla Wong
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Education: Yale University
MD Mentor: Dr. Mario Goessl
Staff Mentors: Sara Olson and Jennifer Nguyen
Project: Change in mitral valve regurgitation (functional vs degenerative) after TAVR
How did you hear about the MHIF internship and why did you want to participate?
I heard about the MHIF internship through a couple of former interns who had great experiences with it. I developed an interest in cardiology after attending a conference, and wanted to delve deeper into the field. I thought the internship would be the perfect program for me to do that.
What sparked your interest in the field of research, medicine and cardiology?
The field of medicine did not call me until my sophomore year of college, when I started volunteering at my local hospital in New York. Interacting with patients in the surgical ICU and cardiac ICU served as my initial exposure to healthcare, and through the interactions that I experienced and observed among the healthcare team, I envisioned a career serving the community and providing medical care. Though I have been working in a neuroscience lab, I am excited to conduct clinical research to see how physicians use research to further advocate for their communities.
What is your desired career in medicine?
Although I want to keep in mind when applying to medical school and beyond, I am particularly interested in pursuing a career in cardiology or neurology.
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
I am most excited about listening to physicians' stories at the Lunch and Learns and observing surgeries in the OR! I also look forward to learning from my fellow peers and to grow professionally and personally this summer.
What do you hope to gain from this experience?
I hope to learn about the aspects of medicine, research, and cardiology that I enjoy the most and also the aspects that I might not be the most excited about. I also want to become confident in my abilities in conducting clinical research and presenting my findings.
What are your plans after the summer?
I will be a senior next year, but plan to take 1.5 gap years before matriculating into medical school. During that time, I plan to work as an EMT in New York City. I look forward to taking The Human Brain and a humanities in medicine seminar next year.
What is a fun fact about you?
I love avocados (I eat avocado toast almost every day, own an avocado AirPod case, phone case, socks, avocado-shaped cutting board, and a Jellycat named Tony who follows me everywhere) even though I am mildly allergic to them.
