"It was a challenging yet rewarding experience. This was my first summer research program and first time on the West Coast, so there was a good number of adjustments to be had. However, once all that was settled, the combination of great people and an amazing environment truly allowed me to grow throughout the summer."

"While in the program, I was also in the middle of the medical school application cycle. Navigating the balance between learning the process of research, writing secondaries, being mentored by my team, and taking situational judgement exams (the AAMC Preview, the Casper) was difficult. However, utilizing proper communication with my lab and having a team that cared about my success, not only was I able to complete the application but was also able to succeed in my project, even being named one of the finalists for the CVI Symposium Award."

"I discovered a passion for the research topic I was in, bringing diversity to clinical trials. This is extremely important since as a future physician, I’ll be expected to practice evidence-based medicine. However, this becomes harder when the data is limited when dealing with specific populations. Through working a summer in the DIVERSE Network lab under Dr. Paul Wang, this cultivated a newfound interest in a topic I hadn’t previously considered. Additionally, I discovered a strength in oral presentations which was externally validated by being named a finalist for the symposium award. Now, being a current medical student looking for research opportunities, I can home in on interests that I picked up during this program."

"Firstly, it instilled confidence. Being immersed at a top-level institution such as Stanford was a blessing, allowing me to network with other like-minded and passionate individuals. With that came a drive for all of us to collectively embody the research process and learn as much as we could throughout the summer. Additionally, there were a lot of firsts: my inaugural visit to the West Coast, first summer research opportunity, debut abstract submission, participation in my first research symposium, and my initial oral poster presentation, resulting in being honored as a finalist for the symposium's award. All these increased my knowledge base as well as my ability to be adaptable in a variety of situations. Lastly, and uniquely, due to my interest in cardiology I was able to gain a brief introduction to the subspecialty of electrophysiology through my mentor. All these helped strengthen my path to medical school and eventually becoming a physician."

"For current students: utilize every aspect possible. From the optional MAvERICS program to networking with the different people in the Stanford community, don’t be shy in taking advantage of it all. To me, this is crucial in developing the skills that you were excited about coming to Stanford for. This even extends beyond the classroom – for some, this may be your first time away from home, on the West Coast, and/or in California. Be sure to fully experience it.

For prospective participants, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and apply! You never know what can happen and the only way to guarantee that you won’t be conducting research at Stanford is by not applying. There was a lot that I learned through this program, and I left with a very positive view of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute."