CSCG Fellow 

Living in a world where the latest science and technology breakthroughs are increasingly evaluated for their economic success rather than their ethical and societal impacts, it is becoming more and more important to learn how to apply ethical principles to scientific discoveries and medical practice. As a first year student entering Ursinus, I was always keen to enter the field of clinical medicine. However, my experience with the CSCG opened my eyes to the importance of the social and political factors that interact with science and medicine to influence patient outcomes. As a result of this realization, I was drawn to the field of policy, and conducted a highly selective health policy internship as a result. After graduation, I hope to work at the intersection of medicine and policy in an effort to ease the disproportionate burden of disease on society’s less fortunate. 

Major/Minor/Campus Organizations

Neuroscience / Brownback-Anders Pre-Health Society (BAPS), UC Bioethics, UC EMS, Nu Rho Psi Neuroscience Honors Society 

My Research 

My senior year I was fortunate to start a novel study with Dr. Bish, aimed at elucidating the manner in which learning occurs via semantic network mapping. Through a three pronged approach utilizing participant surveys, semantic network mapping algorithms, and participant electroencephalograms (EEG’s), we were able to determine how an individual forms and retains concepts – in essence, how one learns. Our work has both theoretical implications in clarifying the neurological basis of learning, as well as practical implications in improving students’ learning ability in the classroom. 

My Favorite CSCG Events

<– Click on the links to the left! 

• Dr. Heinzl
• Dr. Harris
• Dr. Salk

 My CSCG Courses

POL-399 (Science and the Common Good); MCS-275 (Decoding Science); PHIL-246 (Biomedical Ethics); SOC-295 (Sociology of Medicine); RELS-211 (World Religions); HEP-202 (Public Health)

My CSCG Civic Internship 

I had the opportunity to serve as a health policy intern at HJA Strategies – a boutique health policy consulting firm. In this position, I was responsible for conducting a comprehensive review of the structure of the nation’s healthcare infrastructure and recently passed legislation affects local and state governments. My work culminated in a brief that continues to be used to inform local and state policymakers on the status of healthcare in the nation, and how it relates to their constituencies.