Summer Scholars: Meet Natasha Dziarnowski

The Medical Student Summer Research Scholars (MSSRS) Program is a summer research opportunity open to rising MS-II students only. The project period is 7 weeks during the summer, and students are expected to devote at least 6 full weeks to the project. Students attend weekly work-in-progress sessions and provide the opportunity for MSSRS participants to present their work to student peers.  A final report is presented in the form of a poster or oral presentation at a local, regional, or national meeting. The Interprofessional Education Symposium held each spring at Campbell University is an opportunity to present, and all MSSRS participants are encouraged to present a poster at the event.

Name: Natasha Dziarnowski

Hometown: Haymarket, VA

Undergraduate Degree(s): B.S. in Biological Sciences with a Minor in Spanish, Virginia Tech

Research Project: “Evaluation of Frailty Scale Usage and Compliance in the Hospital Setting:  A Performance Improvement Approach”

PI/Mentor: Sarah McIntyre, RN; Trauma Program Manager – WakeMed Health and Hospitals, Raleigh, NC

What were the benefits of participating in the MSSRS program?  I wanted to participate in a research project that had application to a wide variety of medical practice, and frailty impacts a huge subset of the patient population.  Hopefully, by evaluating the implementation of a clinical frailty scale the project will provide a helpful clinical tool in assessing the best course of care for these patients. I learned valuable skills in data collection and literature review, as well as learning more about how frailty can impact multiple facets of a patient’s life.

What advice would you share with future medical students? My advice to incoming medical students, or students who wish to pursue medicine, is to have your reason ‘why’. Medicine is a life-long dedication to learning, so at the end of the day, among all of the hustle and bustle, be sure to remember your ‘why’ and enjoy the learning itself–it’s what will help you serve your patients in the future!”