My name is Lauren Afong, and I am from Miami, Florida. I am a rising sophomore pursuing a double major in Biological Science and Public Health on a pre-medical track.
This summer, I will be participating in the Children’s National Hospital Project in Washington, D.C. It is a service-research project centered on exploring child opportunity disparities through the lens of the Child Opportunity Index (COI). The internship involves community-based qualitative research—interviewing stakeholders, observing healthcare settings, and analyzing local disparities in pediatric care access. This aligns closely with my prior service and clinical experiences, especially those that emphasized language barriers and social determinants of health in underserved communities.
As for expectations, I’m excited to grow as both a researcher, future physician, and advocate for equitable healthcare. I hope to sharpen my analytical skills, gain mentorship from professionals in pediatrics and public health, and walk away with a clearer understanding of how policy and data intersect to impact real lives. One thing I am a bit uncertain about is the depth of qualitative research and how to best approach the methods of research, but I will learn more once the program commences.
I am currently very excited for the opportunity and cannot wait to conduct research!
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