Tremayne Ansani

Hometown: Columbia, SC
Education: University of South Carolina
MD Mentor: Dr. Mario Goessl
Staff Mentors: Sara Olson and Jennifer Nguyen
Project: Temporal change of mitral stenosis in patients with MAC after successful aortic valve intervention

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

I heard about the MHIF internship through researching summer research programs online. I was drawn to this internship because it allows the unique experience of participating in groundbreaking cardiovascular research while also engaging in clinical shadowing. In addition, I wanted to be paired with a physician mentor and observe the type of research physicians can conduct.

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

Witnessing several of my family members struggle with heart and blood-related diseases such as hypertension drove me to learn more about cardiology and medicine. Learning more about medicine fascinated me due to the intricacies of the field and the ability to give personalized care to people. My initial interest in medicine has been reinforced by being able to shadow physicians and work as an EMT. In regards to research, I participated in a program in high school in which I designed and presented two research projects. I fell in love with the process of research and how diverse the field of studies can be. I want to continue research to be better informed about problems impacting our society and develop ways to address them.

What is your desired career in medicine?

Though I am not sure what specialization I want to pursue, I hope to become a physician that is able to promote health equity in communities and make patients feel heard and understood.

What are you most looking forward to this summer?

I am most looking forward to conducting clinical research with the physicians and staff mentors. I participate in bench research at my university and enjoy it. I am excited to compare the similarities and differences between bench research and clinical research, along with seeing the application of clinical research towards patient-based cases. Furthermore, I am looking forward to shadowing physicians and getting to know the other interns.

What do you hope to gain from this experience?

I hope to gain a stronger understanding of all aspects of cardiology, from general cardiology physiology to cardiovascular research and the technological innovations in cardiology.

What are your plans after the summer?

After the summer, I plan to return to the University of South Carolina to complete my junior year of my undergraduate career.

What is a fun fact about you?

I am a passionate foodie and have created food blogs in the past.