Three easy steps to becoming a Phoenix Children's Hospital intern:
1) Attend, in order, a five hour Patient Care Orientation, an eight hour Online Hospital Orientation, a two and a half-hour Hospital Tour. Take two TB tests, three vaccinations, a blood test, and sign five forms. Attend a one hour interview, receive two official badges.
2) Receive a beautiful, new, red, official Hospital Volunteer t-shirt.
3) Love the t-shirt. It took you long enough to earn it. Also, red is a great color.
In ten short days, the results of the final medical exams will come in, and I will strut into the hospital in my official red t-shirt and badge. And it will be the best day ever.
As my blood sits in a petri dish in a doctors office, I have begun my research for my project. So far, I have looked through state laws and records of Mississippi, the state which has the highest child obesity rate in the US, and compared the enactment of state laws with the trend in child obesity in the state. I have found, surprisingly, that the rate has fluctuated slightly as some laws were passed, indicating that there is a strong response to changing policies. However, over time, the rates would go back to their original status. Clearly, taking action is making a positive difference, however, the problem seems to lie in getting the changes to stick. I plan to continue researching exactly which policies correlated to the greatest fluctuation in child obesity rate, and why they have not had a long-term effect.
Additionally, I have begun my research of the great umbrella that is "Affects of Child Obesity." I have decided to build a firm foundation for my research by first studying Hepatology, the science of liver diseases. Liver diseases are directly related to the levels of adipose tissue (fatty tissue) in one's body, so educating myself on them seems like a good starting point. Interestingly, the study of Hepatology is so much more than just understanding liver diseases. Rather, Hepatology most directly deals with curing and preventing liver diseases. For example, nearly 80% of liver cancers can be attributed to the Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C virus. With this new knowledge, vaccines have been developed to limit the spread of the Hepatitis B virus. Additionally, new policies in blood and organ transfusion have drastically reduced the rates of liver cancer in the US.
The more I learn about the far reaching effects of Hepatology, the more I am becoming interested in it. Studying this is akin to learning Biology or Chemistry, in that it is a whole new science. However, I am loving every bit of knowledge I gain on my research project, and cannot wait to apply it all in the lab.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
What It's All About
Hello and welcome to my blog! Here, I will be detailing the progress of my Senior Research Project, a unique opportunity in which I will be studying a topic in depth. For my project, I will be researching how to counter childhood obesity in Arizona. In the end, I hope to create a plan for schools to implement to counter Arizona's alarming childhood obesity rate. Following is my formal proposal :
In addition to my work with Dr. Milo, I will be conducting my own research on the psychological effects of obesity so that I may fully understand the kids I will work with. Furthermore, I will personally be researching why some states have a drastically higher obesity rate than others, focusing on Mississippi, which displays the highest rate of obesity amongst children, and Colorado, which has the lowest. Furthermore, I will be researching why Utah, so very near in demographics to Arizona, has a lower childhood obesity rate than Arizona. In my comparison of these states, I want to find out how some states regulate their obesity. I will include this research in my development of a healthy lifestyle campaign for children.
I am interested in this topic because I believe it to be worthwhile to pursue. Obesity leads to many critical health problems such as diabetes, heart problems, and even cancer. Currently, obesity is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States. Children who suffer from obesity have a drastically increased rate of becoming critically overweight as adults. Alarmingly, adolescents who are obese develop major health problems usually associated with adults.
However, research to stop obesity and efforts to make a change work. New York City recently brought their obesity rate down drastically after sustained efforts to educate people on healthy eating and regulate food products. Philadelphia has also shown success in lowering their obesity rate through similar efforts. Clearly, efforts to reduce obesity are effective. In the research I do with Dr. Milo, I will be helping him augment his study of Hepatology, the science of diseases associated with fatty livers. I hope that this research will further the national discussion on health concerns. The research I do personally will directly help children in Arizona, as my plan for healthy living will hopefully make a positive difference in the lives of kids and their families. Lastly, as I work with children, I hope to make a positive difference in their lives as I educate them on how to take care of themselves, and make them aware of what they put into their bodies.
I am extremely excited to begin work on this project. I love working with children, and believe that the work I do will really make a difference on a local scale, and perhaps even on a national one.
In
Arizona, it is estimated that 20% of children aged 2 to 19 years suffer from
obesity. Obesity has serious and lasting health effects. Through this project,
I will examine the factors influencing obesity, as well as the factors
influencing a society’s success at reducing the childhood obesity rate. Working
closely with Dr. Tamir Milo at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, I will develop
a plan for families and schools to counter childhood obesity.
In addition to my work with Dr. Milo, I will be conducting my own research on the psychological effects of obesity so that I may fully understand the kids I will work with. Furthermore, I will personally be researching why some states have a drastically higher obesity rate than others, focusing on Mississippi, which displays the highest rate of obesity amongst children, and Colorado, which has the lowest. Furthermore, I will be researching why Utah, so very near in demographics to Arizona, has a lower childhood obesity rate than Arizona. In my comparison of these states, I want to find out how some states regulate their obesity. I will include this research in my development of a healthy lifestyle campaign for children.
I am interested in this topic because I believe it to be worthwhile to pursue. Obesity leads to many critical health problems such as diabetes, heart problems, and even cancer. Currently, obesity is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States. Children who suffer from obesity have a drastically increased rate of becoming critically overweight as adults. Alarmingly, adolescents who are obese develop major health problems usually associated with adults.
However, research to stop obesity and efforts to make a change work. New York City recently brought their obesity rate down drastically after sustained efforts to educate people on healthy eating and regulate food products. Philadelphia has also shown success in lowering their obesity rate through similar efforts. Clearly, efforts to reduce obesity are effective. In the research I do with Dr. Milo, I will be helping him augment his study of Hepatology, the science of diseases associated with fatty livers. I hope that this research will further the national discussion on health concerns. The research I do personally will directly help children in Arizona, as my plan for healthy living will hopefully make a positive difference in the lives of kids and their families. Lastly, as I work with children, I hope to make a positive difference in their lives as I educate them on how to take care of themselves, and make them aware of what they put into their bodies.
I am extremely excited to begin work on this project. I love working with children, and believe that the work I do will really make a difference on a local scale, and perhaps even on a national one.
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