DAVIS, Calif. — With the 2018 season already in full swing for UC Davis field hockey forward Emily Chen, the biomedical engineering major out of Saratoga, Calif., utilized her summer break not only to prepare for her sophomore season, but for her future off the turf, as one of eight students accepted to the UC Davis biomedical engineering department's Summer Innovation Internship.

Throughout the full-time seven-week internship, participants undergo clinical immersion splitting time observing various departments at the UC Davis Medical Center as well as the world renowned UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, spending one week within each department. The goal of the program is for students to gain a better understanding about the needs finding process and how to effectively engage with clinicians in order to identify and address their needs. Additionally, interns have the chance to participate in the Graduate School of Management Child Institute's Biomedical & Engineering Entrepreneurship Academy, in which they will become familiarized with cultivating the commercial potential of an idea.

Chen's successes both on the field and in the classroom during her debut season as an Aggie garnered recognition from the America East Conference as well as the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). A 2017 Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division I Scholar of Distinction honoree, All-America East Commissioner's Honor Roll member, and NFHCA National Academic Squad selection, Chen also finished the 2017 season as the Aggies' leading scorer and co-leader in points, notching seven points on three goals and one assist. She was also one of nine Aggies to see action in all 18 games on the schedule, making nine starts. 

Q: What do you hope to gain from this internship?

A: Since the biomedical engineering field is pretty broad, I'm hoping that being exposed to various clinics and technologies will help me get a better idea of what I want to do career-wise. I'm also hoping to make more connections with people in the field to learn what others are doing or have done to get to where they are today. Currently, I'm still unsure about what I want to do in the future, but I can definitively say I've met some great people already.

Q: Of the departments you have visited so far, do you have a favorite? Or one you are most looking forward to?

A: My favorite clinic so far has been radiation oncology at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The whole concept of using 3-D images developed from CT scans to plan radiation treatment for the patients is incredibly fascinating to me. The doctors explained the physics behind the linear accelerator machine and how the computer calculates the dose of radiation different parts of the body receive. It's so interesting to see how science, math, and engineering can directly be applied to medicine. 

I am really looking forward to the neuroradiology clinic at the UC Davis Medical Center. Since I have an interest in neuroscience and have found radiation oncology to be so exciting, I think I will also really enjoy this clinic.

Q: How has your experience as a student-athlete helped you with this internship? (e.g. teamwork, time management, work ethic, etc.)

A: During this internship, it has been fun to collaborate with the other interns and share our experiences with one another. Because we go through each clinic one at a time, we periodically meet up to discuss what we've learned from each rotation and share advice for the next interns headed to that area. Without teamwork, we would start from square one at each rotation rather than building off what the previous interns learned, which helps us maximize the number of needs or places for innovation we can find. 

Additionally, similar to balancing school work and field hockey during my freshman year, this summer I've had to manage time between my internship, an online class, physical therapy, and training for field hockey (extra thanks to my teammate Sara for helping me navigate my first year). 

Q: How has the AggieEVO student-athlete outcomes program helped prepare you for this internship?

A: I think AggieEVO has prepared me well for this internship, specifically for the Entrepreneurship Academy we attended. I felt I had a solid foundation in understanding the importance of developing a network and conducting information interviews, which we got to do with various mentors at the event. In general, AggieEVO has encouraged me to think even more about what I could do in the future and to be extra attentive to different people's jobs because you never know where you might find a career interest.

Q: What are your career plans after graduation? What has inspired or drawn you to that career and has this internship given you a better idea of possible career paths?

A: I'm still not sure what I want to do after graduation, but this internship has showed me some really unique areas in the field of biomedical engineering. Prior to this internship, the specializations I was interested in were biomechanics, cell and tissue, and medical devices, but after being introduced to radiation oncology, I feel like I can add imaging to my list of options. 

Q: What advice would you give to other student-athletes, and/or the student body at large, who aren't quite sure about adding an internship to their workload?

A: I think internships offer a great opportunity to gain experience in a field you are interested in and have potential to make you more receptive to a career path you hadn't considered before. They allow you to expand your knowledge, experience, and network in ways that regular classes can't provide, so I think it's worth the added time and work. And if the school year is too busy, there's always summer.

To read more about the Summer Innovation Internship, click here. 

UC Davis (2-3) is slated to face La Salle on Saturday (Sept. 8) at 8 a.m. PT/11 a.m. ET in the second of an eight-game road trip for the Aggies. 

ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 6-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal, and among the top 10 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and animal science programs.

AGGIE EVO
Launched in 2017-18, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation. Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis. Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.

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