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Oliver Lao, MPH in Epidemiology/Global Health

Oliver Lao – MPH in Epidemiology/Global Health
Practicum Site – Seattle Children's Hospital

I feel very successful in achieving all of the learning objectives that I initially set out for myself. The scope of work was appropriate, definitive and I was able to complete it. There are no changes that could have improved this practicum experience. I was given the advice to begin my practicum early and this was crucial to successful completion.

I developed the ability to obtain data from a national organization, successfully obtain an institutional review board approval, perform data analysis and statistical analysis, orally present our work, submit our work to both local and national meetings and finally write about our experience and findings.

This experience has provided an opportunity to develop the skills and tools outlined above that will allow me to pursue and accomplish similar projects in the future. This project has given me a sense of personal satisfaction and accomplishment. On a professional level, the exposure to pediatricians, neonatologists, transplant surgeons and pediatric surgeons has furthered my development as an academic surgeon.
Similarly, the contacts and resources that I have made with other surgeons will only serve to assist me in further research endeavors in the future.

Recommendations to future students preparing for a practicum are first and foremost to begin fulfilling the administrative requirements and paperwork early in the process so more focus can be paid to the actual data gathering, analysis and presentation as the quarters and year progress. The advice that I received to start early was invaluable