"Being a part of the CVI Summer Research Program was an incredible experience. Dr. Adrienne Mueller and Micaela Harris, were so supportive throughout the program and made the coordination of the program as smooth as possible. I always had access to the resources I needed for the project and mentors to guide my work. All the workshops helped me learn the important skills related to research and professional development. I became confident in presenting my findings and learned the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in both clinical and scientific work. Most importantly, I had the opportunity to meet amazing talent from all over the country - my entire cohort made the program even more special."

"My biggest challenge was transitioning from wet-lab, engineering-heavy research to clinical research. It was my first exposure to extensive amounts of patient-data and analyzing them. Working with my mentor to get through the initial learning was crucial for me to adapt to this new working style."

"I learned that I as an engineer by training, I’m inspired by a clinical need. I am passionate about designing solutions to address disparities in medical technology. Whether observing the heart-in-the-box or pediatric prosthetic valves, each of the Stanford CVI labs were addressing a critical challenge and that is something I see myself aspiring to do with my medical education."

"I had the incredible opportunity to fly out to Michigan on a lung procurement. Dr. Chawannuch Ruaengsri helped me scrub in, walked me through every step of the procedure, and answered all my questions in great detail. Being a part of the organ harvest surgery was one of my most impactful experiences as a pre-medical student and really reinforced my passion for surgery."

"I think the CVI program gave me access to a huge network of incredible mentors from medical students to lab technicians, physicians, surgeons, and scientists. It gave me the opportunity to meet people I really look up to and learn about their journeys. Don’t be afraid to reach out and show interest! You will immediately sense the love for teaching and mentorship by the faculty you collaborate with at Stanford University."