We are proud to have kicked off another year of the Basser Summer Scholars program. For our four undergraduate interns, Ashlyne, Ivy, Taliyah, and Yvonne, this program is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience by learning from our Basser Center team and colleagues as they attend lectures and career talks with various faculty members, departmental meetings and work in lab or clinical research settings. This eight-week summer experience offers the opportunity for our interns to learn about basic science, cancer genetics, and genetic counseling.
Not only are we excited to work with and teach these incredible women, but we are also thrilled to continue our efforts in expanding the pipeline for people who might not otherwise have an opportunity to pursue a career in cancer genetics. Applicants for the Basser Summer Scholars program are from racial/ethnic groups underrepresented in medicine, economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and/or first-generation college goers.
Our interns focus on one of these areas:
- DNA damage repair
- Basic science research
- Ovarian cancer research
- Cancer genetics and genomics research
- Clinical experience in genetic counseling and care of high-risk patients
Learn more about these impressive students below:
Ashlyne Yeuteuh
- Where are you from?
Cameroon, but currently living in Delaware - What school do you attend?
The University of Delaware - How did you hear about this opportunity and what led you to apply?
My professor had forwarded this internship opportunity to our school’s student club (the BioChemistry club) and after reading more about the program, I realized that I really like what the program stood for. I have always been interested in research as well as the studies of health disparities so I thought about how this program will help guide me in achieving that goal. Also, as a Black immigrant in America who wants to go into healthcare, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to explore my horizons. - What do you hope to gain from this internship experience?
I am trying to experience as much as possible before committing to one field. I hope to experience the different parts of medicine, learn how I can make an impact as both an immigrant and a Black woman in America. Also, I am a big fan of research so I hope to gain as much research and shadowing opportunities as I can. - What are your plans for the future?
The future for me is an open space. I want to be a researcher as well as a medical doctor who provides the care to people who need it the most. Living in a country with very limited numbers of physicians, scientists and researchers has inspired me to go into those two fields because the healthcare system won’t change unless we actively try to change it ourselves. - What are your hobbies or special talents?
For my hobbies, I am an avid book reader. I can read 50 or more books in a year, reading the majority of them over the summer. My favorite books at the moment would have to be “The Dragon, The Giant, The Woman” by Wayetu Moore and “The Hundred Wells of Salaga” by Ayesha Attah. Another hobby of mine is working out. I love weightlifting and just working out because it gives me calm and it is my therapy because it is my time away from school and stress factors.
Ivy Bethea
- Where are you from?
New Jersey - What school do you attend?
Pennsylvania State University - How did you hear about this opportunity and what led you to apply?
I heard about the program through a genetic counselor who I interviewed to learn more about the field. I thought the program would be a good fit for me so I applied. After performing research on the program and the Basser Center, I loved what I learned about Basser’s mission and the internship's emphasis on community outreach and diversity - especially in a field where people of color are underrepresented. I also thought that the hands-on experience would provide more information about the field and the day-to-day work. - What do you hope to gain from this internship experience?
From this internship I hope to learn ways to build supportive relationships with patients using effective communication techniques and obtain hands-on experience in labs and clinical rotations. Overall, I hope that this experience provides me with a deeper love and understanding of genetics and moves me closer to reaching my goal to become a genetic counselor. - What are your plans for the future?
After this internship I plan to complete my final semester in college and apply to a genetic counseling master’s program. Once completed, I plan on working in a hospital setting where I can share my knowledge and skills with others to make a difference. - What are your hobbies or special talents?
I enjoy gardening with my mom on the weekends.
Taliyah James
- Where are you from?
Columbia, Mississippi - What school do you attend?
Hamilton College - How did you hear about this opportunity and what led you to apply?
I have always been interested in genetic counseling as a career choice since high school, so this summer I knew I wanted to get more exposure to the field. I heard about this opportunity from Golden Genetics, a learning, development, and empowerment network that I follow that is catered to informing Black students about the career of genetic counseling. I also have only shadowed prenatal genetic counselors in the past and hereditary cancer was always something I wanted to learn more about due to hearing so much about it hitting a handful of people in my community back at home. - What do you hope to gain from this internship experience?
I hope to gain experience, knowledge, and develop relationships that will help me on my own journey of becoming a genetic counselor. - What are your plans for the future?
My overall goal is to help as many families as I can to understand and adapt to these genetic disorders, as well as spread awareness of availability of genetic testing and counseling to underrepresented communities. In addition, I also hope to explore the intersection between genetics and public health, in order to tackle existing healthcare issues and make way for equity in genetics. - What are your hobbies or special talents?
In my spare time, my hobbies include baking, dancing, and crocheting clothes.
Yvonne Bonsu
- Where are you from?
The Bronx, New York - What school do you attend?
Duke University - How did you hear about this opportunity and what led you to apply?
I heard about the program through the Gray Foundation. I applied because I wanted to become more familiar with a science and medical setting. Ultimately, trying new things to gain lab experience before my junior year was a big driving factor. - What do you hope to gain from this internship experience?
I hope to learn about different lab techniques and shadow doctors as I figure out what direction in the medical field I would like to pursue. - What are your plans for the future?
I am hoping to go to medical school and become an OB/GYN. - What are your hobbies or special talents?
I started my own hair business and have been loving it ever since. I also step and I am now vice president of Duke Nakisai African Dance Ensemble.
We look forward to seeing what our interns accomplish!