The final part of my internship was a whirlwind of experiences, filled with exciting moments and insightful conferences on neurology and other areas of medicine. But what truly made this time special was the chance to bond even more with my teammates. We got to know each other on a deeper level, outside of the typical work setting, and those connections became a highlight of this last stretch.
It all started with shadowing two neurosurgeons, each handling different cases. This time around, I felt more at ease, thanks to my growing familiarity with Saint Marys Hospital. I was also more confident in the operating room, which made the experience even more rewarding. One of the unique perks of this round was getting my own locker in the doctors’ locker room—a small but meaningful milestone. During one surgery, I met a senior resident from Iowa who grew up in Waterloo. We chatted about Cornell and the block system, which was a great way to connect. In another surgery, I met a visiting medical student from Johns Hopkins. It was fascinating to hear about his med school experience and compare notes. Here are some photos from the locker room—my locker, number 1, was a little reminder of how far I have come.
Outside of the hospital, I had more opportunities to hang out with my teammates. The standout event was a lab outing organized by Dr. St. Louis. We went to an amazing Italian restaurant, where I tried some new pizzas that I hadn’t had before. We were joined by Makayla Kelleher, a Cornell Board Member, and her boyfriend, my fraternity brother, Parker Creech. I realized how much I’ve embraced Iowa when I asked for ranch dressing for my pizza, which surprised everyone at the table.
The dinner was filled with laughter and great stories. It was a rare chance to see Dr. St. Louis outside of the clinic, and we all enjoyed getting to know him better. After dinner, the interns continued the night at the county fair, a first for me in the U.S. The fair was a fun, nostalgic experience, topped off with ice cream. Later, we headed to Rahaf’s place for a bonfire, where we spent the rest of the night chatting and building even stronger friendships. Another great dinner was at Victorious, one of Rochester's coolest restaurants, which I highly recommend.
Here are some pictures of the county fair along with the different dinner outings:
As our time together drew to a close, we continued to support each other in the lab. We assisted our fellow interns in completing their research posters, a significant task before their departure. The posters, showcasing our summer's work, were presented flawlessly, marking a proud moment for all of us. Their departure was bittersweet, but we made sure to celebrate our time together with a multicultural dinner, featuring dishes from Palestine, Turkey, and Ethiopia. My humble contribution was an Egyptian salad.
Here are pics of the dinner with a Turkish dessert (Baklava cheesecake):
Before some of us left, we upheld the sleep lab tradition of taking a group photo with Dr. St. Louis—a great way to remember this special summer.
Similar to the previous weeks, Dr. St. Louis also encouraged us to attend various conferences at Mayo, known as Rounds. These sessions covered a wide range of fascinating topics, from specific neurology cases to broader medical discussions. During these Rounds, doctors and residents presented their latest research, shared insights on rare diseases, and discussed updates in the medical field, such as new diagnostic criteria. One memorable session introduced the latest criteria for diagnosing Alzheimer's, which was developed by Mayo’s own doctors.
In the final days of my internship, I explored a different side of the Sleep Lab—engineering and data analysis. I shadowed Olivia Cesarone, the lab’s engineer, and got hands-on experience with MATLAB coding, which reminded me a lot of Python. I also learned a bit about R coding, thanks to Jack Jagielski, who worked on the data analysis for the posters. Additionally, I had the chance to experience cognitive tests firsthand, performing them as if I were a patient. Guided by Makayla, I got a real sense of what it feels like to be on the receiving end of these tests, and how stressful they can sometimes be. Here are some photos from the color testing session, taken by Makayla, who kindly reminded me to capture these moments for the blog.
As I reflect on this journey, I’m incredibly grateful to Cornell and the BCI—especially Mark, Jodi, and Andrea—for making this internship possible. This summer has been an eye-opening experience, deepening my knowledge of the medical and research worlds, and helping me grow in ways I never expected.
Cheers,
MWE