Elsa Faulders ’26: Lofty Aspirations, Grounded Principles

Describe what you’re doing this summer in your internship.

This summer I worked at the Penn Medicine BioBank, helping with research outreach and coordinating study visits. The Biobank holds blood, saliva, and tissue samples that have been genetically sequenced to help Penn researchers with their work to improve healthcare. I conducted saliva samples on patients to add to the biobank data, and I helped a physician with his study on a specific genetic condition. For the study, I reached out to potential participants and scheduled study visits, as well as conducted the study with informed consent. Finally, I shadowed genetic counselors from Penn Medicine in several areas, such as cancer, hearing loss, and general medical genetic clinics, learning what it means to be a genetic counselor. I learned so much about different genetic conditions and how they manifest themselves.

How did Oberlin shape or influence you to pursue this internship?

In the spring of my freshman year, I took a course on Medical Ethics. I fell in love with the discussions surrounding so many different topics and the ambiguities that came with them. This summer allowed me to apply some of the principles I learned, as I administered informed consent and discussed ethics of medical research. Working in the field directly allowed me to put to use the knowledge and perspectives I gained from that class. Furthermore, my advisor Gunnar Kwakye has encouraged me to pursue the field of genetic counseling, encouraging me with the fact that many people in the field are very happy with their position.

How does pursuing this internship align with your post-college life and career goals?

After Oberlin, I plan to continue working in a research setting, whether that be through research coordination or directly working with samples. I enjoyed working towards the goal of discovery. I also plan to pursue a master's in genetic counseling, in order to work as a pediatric genetic counselor. After this summer, I am more confident in my interest in working in this field. I loved being able to talk to people and help them directly, something a genetic counselor must do. Finally, I plan to pursue a PhD in a related field to boost my ability to conduct research.

Is there anything you’ve learned this summer from your internship that has been particularly noteworthy or surprising?

From this summer, I’ve learned that even those working in the medical field are learning something every day. It is easy to assume that physicians know everything, but it was refreshing to see that learning never stops after school. I want to be in a field where I keep learning and uncovering new information, because then I will never be bored!

How has your internship deepened or changed your love for healthcare?

From my internship, I have learned how much people in healthcare care about their patients. I want to work in a field where the main goal is to help those most in need of it. Health can be such a scary thing, so I am inspired by those who try to make it a little less scary. I am intrigued by the opportunities to connect and learn from patients. This summer, I got to see the amount of gratitude some families had for genetic counselors and geneticists. When it comes to complex genetic conditions, families are grateful to have someone who understands the illness completely, which many physicians do not. To see how thankful these families were is reason enough for me to pursue working in healthcare, specifically as a genetic counselor.

If you're interested in a summer internship, connect with Career Exploration & Development team to learn more about exploring career interests, gaining real-world experience, and developing a professional network.