Rockswold Health Scholars Program

—Written and contributed by Reid Rognerud who completed this research in Summer 2025

The Cardiac Biomarkers placement is research heavy. I did research on risk assessment based on troponin levels in COVID-19 patients. My days were spent in the lab running six different chemiluminescent assays on a number of blood samples. From here, I compared the troponin levels in ~260 patients to their compiled outcome data. Everyone in the lab was incredibly kind and always willing to help out where I needed it. The members of my lab also brought me with to enroll patients in ongoing research studies, which led to some patient-facing experience that I hadn’t expected. I had frequent meetings with my mentors, Dr. Brown and Dr. Apple, where we talked through the specifics of the research papers related to my project that I was meant to read. Dr. Brown, who was on-site for the summer, would also walk me through interesting cases in her own work in the core lab space. I got a good mix of different experiences in this placement, as my mentor was also very good about making sure I got shadowing experience outside of the lab (about once or twice a week). I was able to get a variety of different connections from my mentor’s encouragement. Overall, I was very happy with the balance between lab research and clinical shadowing, especially in the context of career decision-making.

—Written and contributed by Sarah Oppenheim who completed this research in Summer 2025

Being part of the Restorative Neurotrauma Lab and the neurosurgical team is the perfect opportunity to get ample shadowing of all kinds, as well as be directly involved in clinical research. This program is especially engaging if you have an interest in neuroscience or neurological problems. My week was usually spent with a day or two of clinic, a day or two of research, and the rest spent in the OR or shadowing a different specialty. The program is set up where you are able to choose what interests you the most, there are various people both within the surgical team and the research team who you are able to spend time with leaving lots of flexibility. There are lots of research projects happening in the lab as well, some dealing with brain injury like the SMART program which is testing non-invasive neuromodulation to help recovery after a TBI and others that are investigating spinal cord injuries like the ESTAND program which is where I spent most of my time. The ESTAND project uses epidural spinal cord stimulation in order to help restore volitional movement and autonomic function in patients suffering from chronic complete motor spinal cord injury and paraplegia. My project specifically was to produce a paper with a neurosurgery resident on “how to” perform the implantation surgery in order to standardize the technique. For my poster, I was able to use images and scans taken by me as well as personal observation of the surgery in order to understand every specialized component of the operation. Dr. Cramer was my primary mentor and frequently checked in about how the summer was progressing and what I wanted to see more of. Both Dr. Cramer and the rest of the doctors are committed to teaching you what they are doing and thinking, even in the OR – they are excellent educators. The whole team, both on the clinical and research side, are lots of fun and very welcoming to students! Overall, this program gives you amazing exposure to essentially whatever you chose, with lots of time observing amazing skills in the operating room, problem solving and compassion in clinic, and curiosity and technical work in the lab.

—Written and contributed by Mauricio Dozal & Joy Meyers who completed separate research projects in the Simulation Center during Summer 2025

Summer of 2025 was a transformative experience for me, as I had the opportunity to be an intern at HCMC’s Simulation Center. My days consisted of participating in a variety of simulation-based activities, including clinical scenarios, operating high-fidelity mannequins, and designing my own task-trainer, which was the main focus of my summer research. As a simulation actor, I played the roles of many healthcare providers, nurses, family members, and patients. These experiences were unique in their own way, from Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP) to new resident focused simulations for Emergency Medicine 1st year residents. In these roles I was able to connect with HCMC residents and faculty, giving me exposure to the clinical reasoning behind medical decisions and procedures. More importantly, they provided a space well suited for learners to develop their skills through simulation. Using high-fidelity mannequins consisted of applying the technical aspects of their function in order to incorporate it into clinical training. For my research project, I developed a task-trainer to simulate cervical dilation. Throughout the manufacturing of my trainer, I learned the methodology behind performing cervical dilation checks and knowing the clues that providers gather in order to know the stages of a woman in labor. This required my previous knowledge of anatomical terminology to apply when building my trainer, building the model by hand, and testing it with OB-GYNs, residents, and L&D nurses to gather feedback and refine the trainer. In constructing my trainer, I worked closely with Russ, Dr. Charles Lei, Mindi, and Vicky in a supportive team that offered incredible advice, mentorship, and help with shadowing different departments and specialties. Looking back on this summer, I am confident that I was immersed in a unique experience that not many undergraduate students have the opportunity to be a part of. Especially as an intern at the Sim Center, every day is different, you never know what you will expect. However, what you should expect is to come out knowing more about the clinical training that simulation can offer to a wide range of healthcare providers.  ~Mauricio

The Simulation Center at HCMC interacts with a variety of departments and disciplines on a daily basis, and this program provided healthcare insight from a birds eye view. I had opportunities outside the Sim Center to shadow, but most of my days were spent in the Sim Center and consisted of three things. First, I began my summer observing simulations and skills labs, and worked up to participating by acting as a patient or family member and controlling high-fidelity mannequins during sims. The acting role allows you to connect with learners (oftentimes residents, new nurses, EMS responders) and hear their faculty members debrief both medical and interpersonal skills of the case (which was one of the most impactful parts of my experience). Second, I spent time working on my project, which was creating a skin-like puncture pad for a pericardiocentesis trainer, a procedure that is part of emergency medicine training. There was an incredible amount of support from the Sim Center staff when it came to construction of the puncture pad, ideas for troubleshooting during the research process, and gathering data on effectiveness of the model. Last, I worked with the Sim Center staff and the other interns to extend simulation education to other areas of the hospital. This looked like conducting sims “in situ” in various departments, providing resuscitation skills labs outside of the sim center, and getting to work with and mentor the high school interns in the Sim Center. I became cognizant of three aspects of medicine this summer. I learned the key role education plays in medicine and would strongly recommend this program to anyone interested in the intersection between medicine/healthcare and education. I learned a LOT about emergency medicine as the connection between the Sim Center and the ED at HCMC is very strong. I would recommend this program to anyone particularly interested in emergency medicine as there are very frequent opportunities to interface with EM residents and faculty. Lastly, I was exposed to new departments I had never even heard of as they rotated through the Sim Center. Notable departments included toxicology, critical care, ECMO, family medicine, emergency medicine, and residents from all programs during new resident orientation (which occurs during the course of this placement and was a blast!). Highly recommend this program to anyone interested in healthcare in all regards, there is a place for everyone to learn in the Sim Center. ~Joy

–Written and contributed by Mary Kreklow who completed this research in Summer 2025

This summer, I worked with the transplantation biostatistics team in the Chronic Disease Research Group (CDRG), where I had the opportunity to work on a research project analyzing how a policy change impacted lung allocation. My primary mentor, who was my main point of contact, met with me regularly to discuss progress and future steps, and everyone on the CDRG team was always happy to answer any questions or chat with me. Throughout, I was given a few mini-lectures introducing me to new biostatistics topics such as survival analyses, and I was provided with many resources, both on theory and coding, to help me implement the new tools I was learning. I was also able to utilize data visualization and data analysis tools that I had learned from classes at St. Olaf. This placement has a very flexible schedule, and I also had the option to work hybrid/remotely. I was able to sit in on the transplantation biostatistics team meetings, which gave me a clearer understanding of what a career in biostats could look like and the types of projects that the CDRG works on. Outside of my project, I had the incredible opportunity to shadow a live donor renal transplant, which illustrated the impact of organ transplantation and complemented the research I worked on.

—Written and contributed by Tashani Williams who completed this research in Summer 2025

I had the incredible opportunity to be part of the NextStep program, a hospital-based violence intervention program that advocates for survivors of assault and gun violence, while connecting them to various rescources around Minnesota. As a part of NextStep, I shadowed hospital responders who communicated with survivors and their families, attended conferences about violence, promoted gun violence awareness week at different clinics, and supported different programs offered by NextStep. From these experiences and the people I interacted with, I learned about the negative impacts of gun violence on communities and the healthcare system, such as how perceptions of violence changes the way healthcare workers care for survivors of a violent injury. I mainly worked as a community outreach intern for my incredible mentor, Thea Williams, who showed me firsthand what it means to be an advocate for survivors from the various support groups she facilitated in Minneapolis. Thea showed me how effective community outreach can be when it is partnered with healthcare. My favorite part of my summer experience was helping run the childcare aspect of the Harriet Initiative, a support group for survivors of trauma. We participated in various activities from attending a Minnesota Lynx game to creating slime. Working on my research project which assessed how environmental factors may contribute to gun violence also deepened my knowledge of violence in different communities and how targeting these factors can inform resource allocation to communities experiencing violence. While NextStep informed my perspective of communities around Minneapolis, I was able to broaden my understanding of the impact healthcare workers have on these communities from shadowing Doctors at HCMC and broadening my view of medicine. I shadowed various departments such as trauma surgery, emergency medicine, labor and delivery, and addiction medicine. I had an impactful summer as a Rockswold Scholar, learning about the intersection of community service and medicine. I truly encourage you to apply.

The Minnesota Regional Poison Center (MRPC) is one of 53 poison centers in the United States accredited by our professional organization of record, America’s Poison Centers^TM (APC).  We are a network of medical professionals that includes highly trained medical toxicologists, certified Specialists in Poison Information (C-SPIs), diplomates of the American Board of Applied Toxicology (DABATs), and others who care for and provide specialized consultative knowledge for the management of acutely poisoned patients. APC maintains the National Poison Data System^TM (NPDS), a medical record of all cases reported to US poison centers annually. In 2024, the last year for which complete data is available, poison centers logged over 2.4 million calls; of these, MRPC took more than 56,000 calls, including more than 43,000 from Minnesota, almost 7,000 from South Dakota, and nearly 6,000 from North Dakota.

The MRPC is located within Hennepin County Medical Center. The four medical directors are faculty physicians who work clinically in the busy HCMC emergency department and see toxicology consults throughout the hospital. More than 15 board-certified medical toxicologists provide consultative support to our C-SPIs, who take most calls to the poison center. Four physician fellows, training in medical toxicology, also take consultative calls from C-SPIs, with medical toxicologists providing support.

We are a busy poison center, with a heavy emphasis on collaboration across job classes and research. In 2025, the Hennepin Division of Medical Toxicology counted 29 peer-reviewed publications, 24 abstracts presented at national or international conferences, and 13 invited regional, national, or international lectures or grand rounds. Among us we count colleagues with roles on the American Board of Emergency Medicine’s Medical Toxicology Sub-Board, the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology Board of Trustees, and the Board of Directors of America’s Poison Centers. We are additionally a clinical rotation site for University of Minnesota medical students.

The Rockswold Scholar spending time at the Minnesota Regional Poison Center can expect to develop an understanding of poison center contributions to the national public health system in the US, learn about the scope and limitations of the NPDS, and develop a basic understanding of common and important exposures and toxins in the US. We expect in return professionalism, timeliness, and consistent presence, and a willingness to learn about NPDS, APC, and our role in the community we serve. While here, you may expect to work on projects that are likely to result in presentations, lectures, and posters at national and international conferences, some of which will go on to full publication in peer-reviewed journals.

For those interested in the interface between public health, biochemistry, and medicine, the poison center offers a unique opportunity to dig deeply and learn about a unique part of medicine.

• Current Junior or Sophomore or (Class of 2027 or 2028)
• Good academic standing (minimum GPA of 3.0, not on academic probation or academically dismissed according to the Registrar’s Office and Dean of Students Office)
• Students selected for the program will be asked to complete the Consent and Disclosure Form

The selection committee will consider the following:

• Ability to represent St. Olaf College in a mature, professional manner
• Positive attitude and outlook, excellent interpersonal skills
• Past related academic, research, and/or internship experience
• Student’s ability to support the mission and values of HCMC and their Commitment to Diversity and a Culturally Competent Workforce

This program’s application and interview process will be combined with the selection process for the Health Scholars Program at the Mayo Clinic.

Students will apply through a video, Handshake, and a Google Form (see details below) by Friday, Feb. 13th at 11:59 p.m. All three components are required for a complete application. 

Two-Minute Video

• Create a two-minute (or less) video addressing the following questions:
  • Tell us more about your interest in your top choice internship placement. Why do you believe this is the best internship placement for you, and how did you go about making that decision? What do you know about your top choice for an internship site and how does that knowledge contribute to your choice?
• Students should consider this a formal video. Students are strongly encouraged to use the Video Recording Room in the DiSCO to create their videos. You can make reservations here. Students may also use their computers or phones, but they should make every effort to present themselves professionally wherever they create their video.
• Upload your video to YouTube. You may make the video Public or Unlisted. If it is Unlisted, only people with the link will be able to view it. In your Google Form Application, we will ask you to provide the link to your video so the selection committee can see it. We will not share your videos with anyone else. For more information on YouTube and privacy settings, please click here.

Handshake Application, Resume and Unofficial Transcript

• In Handshake, complete and submit the application AND upload your resume (one page) and your unofficial transcript (access SIS and save as a .pdf) and apply for the position.

Fill out the Online Application – Google Form

• Complete this online application, which includes essay questions, faculty references, rank ordering of internship positions, and space to provide your YouTube video link. You can see the questions on the application here.

Selected candidates will be invited to interview. Interviews will be 20 minutes in length.

Note: The St. Olaf orientation session for selected students will take place in April. Selected students will participate in an orientation session at HCMC at the end of April or early May. St. Olaf staff will coordinate transportation for the orientation. Students should plan on 4-5 hours, during which they will travel to and from HCMC, complete paperwork required for HCMC to perform a background check, and meet faculty mentors.