Daniel Woolfenden ’21

SUNY Downstate Medical Center, New York, NY

My job this summer at SUNY Downstate was to write full articles or case reports for research abstracts for studies hoping to be published the following year. Depending on the case this involved interpreting data and preforming statistical analysis, or in other cases interpreting MRI reports, X-ray imaging and surgical reports.

One case report in particular captures the type of work that I was doing at SUNY Downstate this summer. After a brief phone call with one of the doctors involved with the case, I received an email which included pre and post-operative X-ray imaging, MRI notes and surgical notes. With this information at my disposal I was to deliver a polished case report within the next couple weeks. A deep sense of nervousness washed over me. I was the same person now as I was two minutes before receiving that phone call. I had never done writing of this kind. I was certainly not an expert of the anatomy and kinesiology of the hip and knee. How was I supposed to come up with good explanations for the unique and seemingly inexplicable results of this surgery? However, I was also filled with an overwhelming sense of excitement. I was being trusted to write a case report for an extremely unique surgery. And if things went well the article I wrote would be published into a medical journal. Real life surgeons could read the article I wrote to inform their decision-making during surgery. With these competing emotions in my mind and body I got straight to work.

Working remotely at a café close to the Medical Center.

My job was to provide a detailed summary of the case and to explain why the surgeon chose to do what he did. In addition, in the discussion section of the report I had to develop a cohesive explanation for what happened. Everything in the report had to be backed by research and supported with evidence. I needed to think creatively to search for explanations for what occurred in our surgery. This was the most fulfilling part of the project. I loved thinking differently about the body and how it moves. I began to look at people on the street differently, observing the way that they were moving and based of that what orthopedic problems they might have or what problems they may develop. To come up with a cohesive explanation for my case I needed to look back into my own history. I recalled my experiences as a physical therapy aid and to my own injury history. Through this recall I had a breakthrough, since there is no explanation for my case in the literature of the hip and knee maybe there is something useful in the literature of the shoulder and elbow. In this body of literature, I found the missing piece of research I needed to finish my argument. After some edits from one of the medical students at the SUNY Downstate, we submitted the case report for publication.

Upon completion of the case report I thought back to the phone call that started the project. How amazing was it that an attending orthopedic surgeon trusted an undergrad student with such a unique case report? This is what I appreciate most about SUNY Downstate. Once I demonstrated my ability, they gave me as much responsibility as I could handle. In some ways the nervousness that I felt after the initial phone call was a sign of this. I was unsure if I was prepared for the amount of responsibility that they were giving me. I cannot express how thankful I am that my research coordinator Neil Shah knew before I did that I was capable of rising to the occasion to produce such a report. To be trusted to perform in the way I was filled me with confidence in my abilities. I hope to take this confidence back to Williams with me in the fall.

My official ID badge

Not only am I returning to Williams with restored confidence, but also with a refined set of skills to help me find my way. At school much of our time and energy is spent producing quality products as efficiently as possible. We read as quickly as we can, so that we can write and edit in time to submit our products in time. The unfortunate reality of this process is that it forces us to rely on our strengths and neglect our weaknesses. This summer I have been fortunate to be able to work methodically and intentionally. It has allowed me to focus and improve the aspects of my writing that inevitably are masked and neglected while I am at Williams. I am emerging from this summer with more confidence in my writing generally, rather than just one style or subject.

From my perspective the summers should be spent learning in a different way than the school year. Students should take the time to be reacquainted with the holistic value of learning that can be hard to recognize amidst the toil of the academic year. This summer has been that for me. Through my work and projects at SUNY Downstate not only have I gained valuable research experience but I have also gained skills and more importantly confidence as I return to school. None of this would not have been possible without this internship. I cannot understate how thankful I am for the opportunity to learn and contribute in a different and important setting. Thank you to the Class of 1972 who made this possible for me, and to Williams for having such a generous program for its students.