I was wondering if someone could look over my activity descriptions? Do I need to explain more or anything? Give motivation for doing these things? etc I would really really appreciate it? Also would anyone mind reading my PS? I just want to get everything right this time!!!!!!
Parks and Recreation Employee
As an employee of the City of Humboldt Parks and Recreation Department I primarily dealt with the upkeep and development of the city parks. Duties of this job included: park landscapping, mowing the parks, and preparing the city baseball and softball diamonds for play among many other miscellaneous tasks. In addition, I was in charge of holding and running a three day baseball camp twice a year for elementary children in which I taught the fundamentals of baseball.
Rivers Program Mentor
The Rivers Program was instituted at Phillip's Middle School in an attempt to supply positive role models to elementary age children who were struggling academically and/or behaviorally. The idea behind the Rivers Program was that interaction with an older role model would positively influence the child altering their academic and/or behavioral habits. During my involvement with the River's Program, which lasted one full school year, I met with a 6th grade child once a week for approximately two hours. My first priority when meeting with the child was to aid him in his studies and homework. We would complete his unfinished school assignments, study for upcoming exams, and read together. If time was permitting we would also engage in recreational activities such as basketball, board games, and playing cards.
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Fraternity
After graduating from Iowa Central Community College with an Associate Degree, I was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education with more than 1.5 million members and 1,200 chapters located in all 50 of the United States. Induction into Phi Theta Kappa is limited to students of two year colleges who complete a minimum of twelve hours of Associate Degree course work and earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Volunteer in Burn Treatment Center
I dedicated three hours per week for six months volunteering at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics Burn Treatment Center. This volunteering was done not only to be exposed to and gain a better understanding of the medical field, but also to improve the unfortunate experience of those patients who found themselves in the Burn Treatment Center. While volunteering in the Burn Treatment Center my duties included: aiding with bed baths, tub baths, and resoaking procedures; restocking blankets, sponges, gloves, and gowns; delivering newspapers, filing paperwork, talking with patients, making beds, and aiding in the transport of patients and belongings. Occassionally, there were opportunities to observe minor medical procedures.
Intramural Chair
As Intramural Chair of Delta Upsilon Fraternity I was responsible for finding dates of intramural athletic events, relaying the dates to the members of the fraternity, posting sign up sheets, relaying the sign up sheets to Recreational Services, paying the required dues, and informing the participating members of the actual event dates and times.
Assistant Little League Coach
I served as an assistant little league baseball coach to a 3rd and 4th grade baseball team. During the practices, which were held once a week, I taught the participants the fundamentals of baseball including hitting, fielding, base running, catching, and pitching. In addition, the Head Coach and I worked in concert to construct game rosters and ensure equal playing time for all players.
Assistant New Member Educator
As assistant new member educator of Delta Upsilon Fraternity I assisted the head new member educator in teaching the new members the history, traditions, rules, and expected conduct of the fraternity. I also aided in establishing and enforcing study hours for the new members as mandated by the head new member educator.
Head New Member Educator
As the head new member educator of Delta Upsilon Fraternity I was responsibile for educating the new members of the fraternity on the history, tradition, rules, and expected conduct. In addition, I was also responsible for monitoring the grades of the new members, establishing study hours, and planning and carrying out the rites of initiation.
Patient Account Representative
As a patient account representative in the emergency room of the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics I interracted directly with patients in order to register them for emergency care. In addition, I updated and edited patient medical records, worked closely with emergency room staff relaying patient descriptions of illness, contacted specific hospital departments for the emergency room staff upon request, and escorted family and friends of patients to specific hospital clinics.
Honors Research
In order to graduate with honors in biology at the University of Iowa it is required to have a G.P.A. of 3.3 or higher in all course work, commit one's self to a minimum of two semesters of research, complete an honors seminar, write a thesis, and give a presentation detailing your research. I completed all of these requirments to graduate with honors, however, I performed three semesters of research in the lab of Dr. #$#$#. I showed through my research that Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV impacts early vertebrate patterning. I elucidated this protein's role in developmental patterning by overexpressing the normal protein and introducing a dominant-negative protein into zebrafish embryos. Methods I used included: restriction endonuclease reactions, production of synthetic RNA, and microinjection of the RNA into the zebrafish embryos among many others.
Research Assistant
I am serving as a research assistant at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics for a study examining and evaluating the different methods of clinical teaching. The main objective of the study is to evaluate which method of clinical teaching is more effective and preferred by faculty and patients: staffing in the presence of the patient or staffing in a conference room outside of the patient's presence. Duties include: informing patients of the study and securing consent to complete post-appointment survey, tracking and enforcing randomination of staffing location, recording the total time that the trainee spends with the patient and in staffing, distributing and collecting surveys at end of appointments and monthly rotations, and managing data.
Free Medical Clinic Patient Guide
As a patient guide at the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic, I initially escort the patients to an open examing room. In the room I visit briefly with the patient and elucidate why they are at the clinic. I then obtain a brief medical, family, and medication history. Lastly, I obtain vital signs including blood pressure, pulse, and temperature. I document all of this in the patient's chart before passing it on to the physician.
Physician Shadowing
I have had the opportunity to shadow a physician in the General Internal Medicine Clinic at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. Dr. #$#$ allows me to observe him and the patients as he makes his rounds to see his patients. Dr. Wilson answers any of the brief questions I have as we make the rounds. In addition. following each of the shadowing sessions he answers my more in depth questions explaining each patient case further if need be.
Dean's List
I was awarded to the Dean's List the last three semesters of my undergraduate work: May 2005, December 2006, and May 2006. This honor is awarded to those students who ear a grade point average above 3.5.
Research Assistant
Throughout my last three semesters of undergraduate work I performed honors research in the lab of Dr. $#$#. Following my graduation, Dr. #$#$ requested that I join her lab for the summer as a research assistant. The lab of Dr. #$#$#$ primarily focuses on the effect of calcium and its regulatory targets in early vertebrate patterning utilizing zebrafish as a model organism. My research for Dr. #$#$# focuses on a gene known as F04 suspected of playing a role in retinitis pigmentosa when mutant. By elucidating the role, mechanism, and pathology of this gene and its protein in early vertebrate development it may be possible to develop better prevention and treatment options in humans. Methods that I am utilizing for this research include: gene knockouts via morpholino microinjections, gene cloning and subcloning, and dissection of zebrafish eyes among many other procedures. In addition, I am responsible for supervising, aiding, and troublshooting for an honors student within the lab.
