Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Student (2013)

"During my internship at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention, I worked with my mentor, Dr. Joel Fein, on the Violence Intervention Program (VIP), offering case management services following violence-related injuries. I focused on developing a qualitative analysis of the program notes to study the post-assault needs of violently injured youth and the systemic barriers and facilitators of violence prevention. Studying these themes helped me better understand the scope and variety of problems linked to violence in communities and that a successful violence intervention requires interdisciplinary and sustainable approaches. I was also inspired by the VIP’s 'trauma-informed approach' which targets the trauma underlying youth violence and addresses how this influences individual needs and treatment.

Since my internship, I have been using and developing the insights I gained at CIRP about trauma-informed assessment and treatment as a volunteer for the Bridging Program at the Yale-New Haven Hospital, a program providing psycho-education and therapy for families and children following incidents of sexual abuse. As I engage with families and children entering the program and continue my pre-medical studies at Yale, I have been able to appreciate learning more about healing that not only addresses medical needs, but also goes beyond them by considering context and accounting for emotional and social needs, environmental factors, community resources, and more. I have gained so much from my summer at CIRP, and I would like to thank Dr. Fein, Rachel, Laura, Jenna, and the rest of the VIP team for helping me make the most of my REU experience and for their meaningful work in the Philadelphia community."