DAVIS, Calif. — For UC Davis field hockey's rising senior goalkeeper, Chelsea Bigelow, reaction-time, adaptability, and awareness are critical factors in finding success both on the turf and as an EMRAP (Emergency Medicine Research Associate Program) intern at the world renowned UC Davis Medical Center. 

As the only Level I trauma and burn center for this section of the state, the UC Davis Medical Center's emergency department cares for an estimated 80,000 patients per year and provides a wide array of medical services ranging from acute severe trauma to a "safety net" for patients with no other avenue to the medical-care system.

Created by the emergency medicine faculty as means to support the department's research in 2000, EMRAP provides unique learning opportunities for future health care researchers and practitioners alike, and focuses on allowing interns to learn about the field of clinical research, observe emergency department operations, and work closely with the physicians, nurses, and staff who make up one of the nation's busiest emergency departments. Research in the field of emergency medicine can lead to the identification of fundamental health-care issues as well as ways to improve the quality of care for patients. 

Throughout each quarter, research associates attend weekly lectures and meetings, are tested on basic elements of clinical research, and are required to complete at least 10 four-hour shifts. 

After wrapping up her third season for the Aggies last fall, Bigelow's tenacity in the cage and success in the classroom has not gone unnoticed. A 2018 America East All-Championship Team selection, Bigelow was also named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Academic squad as well as the league's Honor Roll. Her season-best 12-save performance in the Aggies' narrow 0-1 loss to No. 21 Albany in the quarterfinal round of the 2018 America East Conference Tournament (Nov. 2) helped the San Diego-native secure her spot atop the UC Davis record books, as she set a new program record for career saves (274). Bigelow's name can be found in ample supply throughout the program's all-time record books, as she is ranked among the top three in program history across six of the seven goalkeeper-specific categories. 

Q: What do you hope to gain from this program?
A: Although I do not wish to work in the emergency room setting, this program has already provided me with real-world opportunities that any healthcare professional would need to face. It has provided me with an insight into the medical field and introduced me to the fast-paced environment that health clinicians encounter on a daily basis. I hope to continue learning how best to navigate the pace and urgency of healthcare. In addition, this program is remarkable in the way that it allows for connections between doctors and research assistants like us. Many times, we are encouraged to ask questions about a study, a symptom that we may see in a patient, how to read MRI and CAT scans, etc. The wealth of knowledge that surrounds us in the emergency room is readily available and something that I definitely hope I can continue to utilize in order to better learn how to best be of assistance to others.

Q: How has your experience as a student-athlete helped you with this internship (i.e. time management, teamwork, work ethic, etc.)
A: The emergency room is an incredibly high-paced, fast environment so it is imperative to catch on quickly and be able to think of solutions on the fly in order to keep up with the atmosphere. There is always something happening and there are plenty of new or rare cases that arise where doctors must problem solve and familiarize themselves with the issue at hand rather quickly. My time as a student athlete at UC Davis has helped immensely with both the high-paced stress environment that the emergency room offers, and the communication aspect between the research assistants (me) and the patients. As a Division I goalkeeper, I am constantly enhancing my ability to comprehend and retain information quickly and working to apply that knowledge to the high-speed challenges that arise in game situations. Both my individual success and the team's success are based on my ability to be alert and attentive towards the play, while scanning the field and thinking five possible steps ahead in order to anticipate what type of shot will be coming my way, and how the players surrounding me may react to each of those possible situations. Therefore, high stress and fast paced environments are natural for me, and tend to be where I thrive, preparing me for the situations that could present themselves while working in such a rapidly changing environment that is the emergency room. My athletic experience also has prepared me in a unique way for this opportunity, in training me to cooperate as part of a team while understanding different viewpoints and diversities. I am fascinated by the different backgrounds, beliefs, and opinions that form everyone's life perspective, and I learned to not only understand, but deeply appreciate these points of views, and cater my responses and assistance in a way that suits what is truly best for each individual. Therefore, I am able to bring that to the emergency department in order to establish a strong connection with the patients that I may be asked to interact with at any given moment. 

Q: How has the AggieEVO student-athlete outcomes program helped prepare you for this opportunity?
A: AggieEVO has prepared me for this opportunity every step of the way- from the application process all the way to actively working in the job force. My field hockey team has participated in many of the EVO sessions and we have collected a wealth of knowledge about the world of work. Something that really stuck with me throughout the application process was how to answer interview questions in a way that shows off the assets and skills being a student-athlete has equipped us with. As Division I student-athletes, we are exercising such important life skills that are of great value in the workforce, and identifying them in an interview or job application really helped to give me confidence in who I am as well as the skills that I have, and made me feel like I had something that set me apart.

Q: Career plans after graduation? What has inspired/drawn you to that career and has this internship given you a better idea of possible career paths?
A: Although I am still contemplating what path I want to take post-graduation, this internship has really opened my mind up about potentially taking the healthcare path. Currently, I would like to attend graduate school and then advance on to get my nursing practitioner credential in order to become a psychiatric nurse. I have always been interested in how brain chemistry and medicine relate to each other so it would be interesting to add my psychology major into the mix in order to study the whole person while integrating healthcare, biology, and brain structure to provide the top quality care for the individual in need. 

Q: What advice would you give to other student-athletes and/or the student body at large, who are a little nervous/unsure about adding an internship to their workload? 
A: I would say go for it. If it is something that you are passionate about, you will make it happen. My internship, as well as many HRI's, is only 40 hours/quarter. That comes down to 4 hours a week, and I am pretty sure that most of us can find time for 4 hours. The experience and knowledge that I have gained from this internship is unparalleled with anything that I could have imagined. The internship has allowed me to become more open minded than before, forced me step out of my comfort zone while communicating with some of the nations best doctors, and helped me become more confident in future endeavors that I may chose to pursue. Internships are great opportunities to expand your horizons and continue to learn in ways that you haven't been accustomed to before, and those benefits should definitely not be overlooked. 

To read more about the EMRAP, click here. 


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. 5-ranked public university in the nation, according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, 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 plant and animal programs.

AGGIE EVO
Established during the 2017-18 academic year, 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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