Hailing from Korea, a Southern California Harvey-Mudd College graduate, and now working at OrACORe in…
SIX QUESTIONS FOR FIRST-YEAR RESEARCH ASSISTANTS: ABBY SMITH
Abby Smith, a Boston native, returned to the city this summer after spending four years at Hamilton College studying Biochemistry and Molecular Biology while also playing ice hockey and lacrosse. As a member of the OrACORe team, Abby contributes to participant-facing projects, including CoMeT, KArAT, PIKASO, and TOPS. When Abby isn’t busy collecting samples from patient ACL reconstructions for PIKASO, or conducting motivational interviews for KArAT, you might find her listening to her top Spotify artist: Mt. Joy. In the couple of years since Abby was first introduced Mt. Joy, Abby has earned her status as a super fan, having now seen them in concert 3 times!
What about this research position attracted you to it?
I was initially drawn to OrACORe after taking a deep dive through the “Ongoing Research” page on the website. I was impressed by the sophistication and potential impact of the research, and I wanted to be part of the team that made it possible. I was excited by the idea of working with research assistants, principal investigators, and surgeons from both the Brigham and our collaborating sites. Moreover, the shared focus of many of OrACORe’s studies on osteoarthritis felt very relevant to me as something that could have a significant impact on Orthopedic practice. My extensive experience playing hockey and lacrosse encouraged me to pursue research related to physical activity and athletics. Furthermore, after reading through the research projects, and the RA blog posts sections from the website, I knew that OrACORe would be a good fit.
What do you enjoy most about working at OrACORe?
As you may be able to tell, teamwork is a central feature of the OrACORe research group. Having many coworkers who are also recent college graduates is a unique opportunity in the research field, and it has proven to be a great environment to learn while also having fun. I am so lucky to have the opportunity to collaborate with my coworkers on a project, then later walk from the office together to have dinner at Time Out Market, go to the BWH Run Club, watch reality television, or attend a Bruins game. Additionally, interacting with research assistants with varied levels of experience and strengths has made the post-graduate transition to OrACORe smooth. The second-year research assistants are tremendous role models and have been invaluable in helping me understand and succeed in my role, but they also provide insights with non-work challenges, like studying for the MCAT.
What is one piece of advice/wisdom you would offer to someone considering applying to a research position at OrACORe?
I would advise potential applicants to figure out how they can best stay organized and develop a system that works for them. During my first week at OrACORe, I learned that organization is a critical aspect of the job. There are study participants to call, radiographic/MRI images to download, meetings to book, etc., and without an effective organizational system, it can quickly become chaotic. For me, organizing my physical space helps me stay mentally organized, so that I can better communicate information and ideas with my coworkers. I have learned that using sticky notes and the app Notion, introduced to me by second-year Rachel, has been a game changer for my productivity.
What does a day in the life at OrACORe look like for you? What is your favorite project that you are working on and why?
Every day at OrACORe looks different for me! It is part of what makes the work so engaging; each of my projects requires the use of different mental muscles. I usually start my day by pre-screening for the two surgical studies I work on: CoMeT and PIKASO. PIKASO, an ACL reconstruction study, is my favorite project because the patient population is between 18 and 45 years old, meaning that most of the participants that I interact with are close to my age. Also, having the opportunity to observe ACLRs performed by different surgeons has been fascinating and educational. Witnessing firsthand how an OR operates, how different surgeons lead their surgical teams, and the various surgical techniques used have defined some of my OrACORe highlights to date. After I complete prescreening tasks, I usually perform health coaching calls for the KArAT study, during which I work with participants to develop short and long-term physical activity goals during their recovery from total knee replacement. The other surgical study I work on is CoMeT, which focuses on patients undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for a torn meniscus. In a typical day, I call study subjects to schedule in-person visits for CoMeT and PIKASO. On the days when I conduct study visits, I spend time in the OR managing study documents, medications, and forms so that study procedures can run smoothly alongside surgeries. These days are my busiest, and I enjoy immersing myself in the hustle of the surgical floor and learning from the medical professionals who surround me. I am also training to be an exercise interventionist on the TOPS study, and I will soon lead exercise classes twice a week. A day at OrACORe is never predictable but always engaging.
What have your first few months in Boston looked like?
I have been excited to return to my hometown after being at college these past four years. Boston offers so much, especially with the changing seasons. Right now, my friends and I have been frequenting the cafes in the South End and Back Bay to find the perfect combination of coffee, food, and aesthetic. I am also always game to try new restaurants and different cuisines! I have been walking or running along the Esplanade or around Castle Island to enjoy the last of the fall foliage before the deep cold sets in. Lastly, as all post-grad athletes do, I have picked up playing pickleball. I have played in a few public parks around where I live, as well as at the indoor facility “PKL” which was super fun!
What are your plans post-OrACORe?
I am currently studying for the MCAT as part of my plan to apply to medical school. My work at OrACORe has helped me improve and hone my interpersonal skills and I have learned how to work more productively in a research group setting. Through my projects, I feel lucky to interact with study participants, many of whom are planning to undergo surgery or have recently undergone surgery. Hearing their experiences and perspectives has given me an invaluable look into how healthcare impacts lives. Furthermore, one of OrACORe’s key values is teamwork, and I have been amazed by the collaboration required to not only prepare a clinical trial, but also to keep one running day to day. I have loved learning how to work in this new type of team, and I look forward to continuing to be a productive teammate no matter where my career takes me.
