Week 9:
Class observation, Cryosectioning, Imunnostaining, and hanging out with friends.

July 28, 2019

I started this week a little different than previous weeks. I was given the wonderful opportunity to sit in on a Palmer College of Chiropractic class about the philosophy behind chiropractic. During the class, I learned about how art, science, and philosophy make up the three-legged stool that is the chiropractic discipline. This was interesting and eye opening because I have generally been thinking about chiropractic in more of a scientific way with some philosophy in the back of my mind. I never thought about how art was incorporated. The professor also spoke about the history of the founder of chiropractic, Daniel David Palmer, and how his philosophy to help people is what shaped the profession we know today.

After the class was over, I went up to thank the professor for letting me sit in on his class. He said that it was no problem at all and that I was welcome in his classroom anytime. He also recognized my last name and said that he knew my cousin from when he went to Palmer. He was pleased to see that another Zemba had latched on to the chiropractic profession. After that interaction, I plan to make it to another one of his classes to learn more about chiropractic philosophy.

I then went to the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR) and sent Palmer and Parker University my official transcripts to help move along the application process. At the start of the week, I also scheduled a meeting with the PCCR Clinical Research team to give my Journal Club presentation because they were not able to attend last Monday.

I spent Tuesday and Wednesday morning on the cryostat cutting neural tissue that we immunostained later in the week. This time, I felt that the cutting went smoother and that my placement of the sections on the microscope slides has improved. When I finished sectioning, Dr. Onifer and I went down to the basement Conference Room to log on to the new computer for a projector so that I could examine the pictures of my Final Assignment PowerPoint Presentation. I had to adjust the brightness and contrast of some of the pictures.

Afterwards, I went to my office and worked on the Presentation adding feedback that I received from Dr. Vining. I also worked on my application statement for chiropractic school and added additional feedback from Dr. Vining. I am very thankful that I have developed a connection with both my mentors and that I can look to them for educational and life advice.

Later on Wednesday, it was time for me to give my Journal Club presentation to the Clinical Research team of  Dr. Vining, Anna-Marie Schmidt, MM, DC, Zacariah Shannon, MS, DC, Elissa Twist, MS, DC, and Kara Shannon, D C. I was less nervous for this because I had already given it once before and I had practiced much. I was still a little nervous. At the end of the presentation, we had a good discussion about the presentation topic, the experimental work I have done with CGRP, and how it may be involved in the mobility of fascia in persons with chronic low back pain. I received positive feedback from my presentation.  This was nice to hear. I think Cornell has helped me develop some of my presentation skills.

To round out the day, I went to a research meeting with R15 Research Honors Program chiropractic students. There, one of the Post-Doctoral Clinical Research Scholars, Zac Shannon, D.C., M.S., gave an introduction to basic statistics and epidemiology. It was very interesting, and I am glad I was able to get a good refresher on the basics of stats. Dr. Shannon is a Palmer graduate whom after being in private practice returned and received a M.S. degree. He now is working on a Ph.D. in Epidemiology at the University of Iowa.

On Thursday, the Basic Science Research team of Mr. Arends and Mr. Sozio and I started the first day of CGRP immunostaining on the neural sections I previously cut and spinal cord sections. Since I participated and observed CGRP immunostaining a couple of times now, I carried out some of the methods. I filled out the calculations sheet and made solutions for the procedure. Then, I pipetted solutions onto the microscope slides to complete the first stages of washing the sections on them and blocking non-specific immunostaining. We then left the slides alone for 24 hours so that the primary antibody incubated with the sections could bind to CGRP. After that, I read an interesting article Dr. Shannon gave me. For the clinical research study reported in the article, the brain was imaged before and after exercise and after spinal manipulative therapy to see how the pain centers were affected. I would like to learn more about studies that are doing this type of live brain imaging to understand how pain is processed in the brain. So that in the future, I can possibly understand how and why a patient is feeling a certain way and help improve their mental as well as physical well being.

To round out the week, Mr. Sozio and I started the second day of immunostaining. I was able to make more solutions that were necessary for the procedure. I also pipetted the solutions on to the slides for the next stages of washing the sections and incubating them with the secondary antibody. After further washing, I cover slipped the slides and stored them in the refrigerator to dry. Next week, we will examine the sections with the microscope to see CGRP in the brainstem and spinal cord. I am also going to spend time capturing images and learning how to quantify CGRP immunoreactive axons terminating in the brainstem and spinal cord. After immunostaining was finished, I edited my chiropractic school application statement by adding some new paragraphs and changing some repetitive words.

This weekend was very busy for me. On Saturday, I ran the Bix 7 road race, a famous, hilly, 7 mile road race, held in Davenport, IA. The conditions were not that bad, it was kinda hot but the humidity was very low, which made it almost perfect. Instead of racing it, I helped pace one of my AirBnb hosts, and good friend to an amazing personal best time, so I felt very accomplished even though I did not really race. My Cross Country training leading up to the Bix was very good, so the race felt very easy, even on such a difficult course. The race also had an elite section, it was cool to see all of the professional Nike and Adidas athletes battling it out, and unfortunately I was not able to get a picture with any of the elite runners.

Since this was the 45th annual Bix 7 they were giving out medals to everyone, so it was fun to walk away with a big medal to commemorate such an amazing race. For the race, they also put on a big after race festival for all the runners and the city of Davenport. So it was fun to mingle with other runners and just enjoy the nice day. Next year I hope to continue training and also get a picture or two with the elite runners.

On Sunday, my good friend and teammate, Evan Mills ’21, came up to visit me. I attended a morning church service with him and then afterwards we got some ice cream. We also had some really good intellectual conversation about religion, politics, education, and science. It was awesome to just speak freely and have a civil conversation in a nice environment. After Evan and I spoke for a couple hours, he had to hit the road and go back to his home in Orange City, IA. The Cross Country teams have to be back on campus on August 16th, so I can wait to see him and my other teammates again.

After Evan left, I revived a call from another good friend and former teammate, Cuyler Gabriel ’19. During the call he told me had an extra ticket to the final day of the USA National Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, IA, at Drake University, and wanted to know it I wanted to go. As an avid lover of Track and Field I immediately said yes, so we met in Iowa City, and then he drove the rest of the way. There, I was able to witness all of the best American athletes compete in the 400m hurdles, 800m, 1500m, 3000m steeple chase, 5000m, 110m hurdles, and 200m races. The meet itself was amazing and I even witnessed a World Record in 400m hurdles! It was amazing be so close to a lot of my favorite professional runners like, Craig Engels, who won the 1500m, Mathew Centrowitz, who was second in the 1500m, and Lopez Lemon and Paul Chelimo, who were first and second in the 5000m respectively. I wish I was able to get a picture with some of them, but just being in the same atmosphere as them was amazing enough. I am really glad that I was able to hangout with Cuyler while also witnessing one of the coolest meets in the world, it was an experience I will never forget. I love my friends!