What Healthcare Means with Lucy Lee ’25

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

In my summer internship I was working as a Research Program Assistant in the Johns Hopkins Multiple Sclerosis Center. In this position I assisted the Research Program Coordinators with the collection and maintenance of the data. This included escorting patients to study activities and collecting and entering data. In the Johns Hopkins Multiple Sclerosis Center, I observed the day to day happenings of a clinical research setting. Here, I learned how to take medical histories and visual acuities of patients involved in clinical studies. 

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

I started doing research at Oberlin at the beginning of my junior year (fall 2023) with Professor Tracie Paine in the neuroscience department after taking her neuropharmacology course. Taking Professor Paine’s neuropharmacology course and Professor G. Kwakye’s Neurobiology of Disease courses have  been influential in my interest in the brain/nervous system. 

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

Pursuing this internship aligns well with my post-college life and career goals as I am currently completing the pre-medical track at Oberlin with the goal of attending medical school to become a doctor. This internship was my first window into a clinical patient care setting where I was able to interact with the patients as they were receiving care and also learn from their physician. This internship also expanded my knowledge of research, as the wet lab research I do at Oberlin is very different from research that happens within a clinical setting. 

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

I learned a lot about multiple sclerosis this summer while in the clinic, but I also learned a lot from my coworkers and the patients. I learned about the diagnostic tools used in multiple sclerosis and the different ways it can present or not present itself in different patient populations. I also found it so interesting that MS is a disease where its course in an individual can change so much over time. I learned how important clinical research like what is happening in the MS center at Hopkins is, because the more we understand about a neurological demyelinating disorder like MS, the better we are able to treat the condition.

Another noteworthy aspect is that I mainly interacted with patients of Dr. Calabresi. Many of them have been patients of his for over 20 years, and have followed him many times when he has moved to different hospitals. They had such amazing things to say about him. I think that is the ultimate goal; to become such a great provider and someone that your patients trust so much that they fly in for an appointment because the level of care is so good. 

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

My internship solidified that going into healthcare is something that I want to do. It is a big decision to pursue medical school in many ways, so it was something I always thought I wanted to do but I was never at the 100% mark. Now, I am. I really enjoyed working with both the team members in the center and with the patients, and seeing just how positive people with neurological autoimmune disorders are, even when they have the ability to take away so much quality of life. It is very inspiring and makes me want to be able to be a part of the care that they can receive.

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