Murisi Zimbwa

Education: Northwestern University
MD Mentor: Dr. Jay Sengupta
Staff Mentors: Dawn Witt, Kerollos Abdelsayed, Efrah Hussein
Project: Predictive value of early atrial arrhythmia recurrence for late recurrence across catheter ablation modalities: A retrospective cohort study

How did you hear about the MHIF internship and why did you want to participate?

MHIF medical doctors Jay Sangupta and Edwin Zishiri recommended this internship as an impactful, mind-shaping experience that can create a clinical and research foundation before medical school.

What sparked your interest in the field of research, medicine and cardiology?

Studying neuroscience at Northwestern has shown me how early our understanding of the human body and disease still is, even in fields that seem highly advanced. Cardiology is no different, but with so much already known about how the heart works, prospective research can effectively tackle problems that affect large numbers of people.

What is your desired career in medicine?

I want to pursue surgery after medical school. With a research background involving neurosurgical procedures and injections in mice, I feel I'm comfortable and passionate about helping people through surgery.

What are you most looking forward to this summer?

I'm most looking forward to creating camaraderie between me and my cohort and between my lab group and me through shared challenges, wins, and experiences. I'm also looking forward to applying myself as diligently as I can to get the most depth and reward out of this experience.

What do you hope to gain from this experience?

I hope to gain an experience that not only sharpens and hones my understanding of the scientific research method and clinical skills, but more importantly, helps build my teamwork and communication skills alongside a group of individuals working toward a common goal.

What are your plans after the summer?

After gaining insightful research and clinical experience with MHIF and reflecting on my experience and lessons, I intend to continue building up my character as well as my clinical experiences before applying to med school in the following spring.

What is a fun fact about you?

I was born in Oxford, England and support Liverpool F.C