In GREMAP, we have been fortunate to welcome medical student Chris Okine to our team for the last two semesters. Chris is in his third-year at the University of Michigan Medical School and has been working with us on the Diabetes and Mental Health Initiative, or DMH project.
Chris was recently awarded funding from the NIH-supported Short Term Biomedical Research Training Program (SBRP), which is a two-month program designed to support medical students in integrating research into their training. As a part of the SBRP program, Chris was able to spend the two months working on the DMH project, focusing mainly on analyzing the qualitative interview data from the Diabetes, Distress and Disparities (3D) Study.
Following the SBRP program, Chris wrote up his reflections from participating in the program and engaging with health research more broadly. We wanted to share these reflections and highlight his experiences with research from the perspective of a medical student and future clinician.
My name is Chris Okine, I’m currently a third year student at the University of Michigan Medical School! During my first few years in the school, we focused on science and physiology, with the second year devoted more towards learning how to apply this knowledge and care for patients. However, during this second year, most students, like myself, quickly realized that there was a difference between “provider’s perspective” and a “patient’s perspective” in disease management. Sometimes this difference would affect patients negatively, and I realized that it was an important skill to be able to center the real experiences of patients managing their diseases, while facing the realities of working as a provider in this current healthcare system. Due to my own struggles navigating this, I knew by the end of my second year that I wanted to find a way to better understand what patients were experiencing on a daily basis.
I was afforded this opportunity by applying to the NIH Supported Short Term Biomedical Research Training Program (SBRP), which allows medical students to receive funding and take two months to spend fully on research. I was able to undergo this program by joining the joining the Diabetes and Mental Health (DMH) project, which consists of a team that is part of Dr. Briana Mezuk’s Group for Research on the Epidemiology of Mobility, Aging and Psychiatry (GREMAP). Since much of my training had described mental or emotional health as separate from other medical problems, it was interesting to see how Dr. Mezuk and lab members focused on the interaction between the two, often framing mental health as a symptom of the actual disease. Additionally, everyone in the lab was very welcoming and kind, and there was a spirit of self-growth, collaboration, and excellence that I was really drawn to.
To apply to the SBRP program, I submitted a proposal for a research project, which focuses on launching a qualitative analysis on data gathered through the Diabetes, Distress, and Disparities (3-D) Study, which was recently conducted to better understand the psychosocial needs of patients with diabetes. In line with my interests, I decided to focus on a patient’s “definitions” of success, when it comes to diabetes management, and how this may differ from traditional markers of success. Through this study I was hoping to find ways physicians and future providers (like myself) can tailor discussions and treatment plans to align with patient priorities and goals.
During these two months, I worked on a project timeline, learned about appropriate qualitative analysis methods for this study, and conducted a literature review focused on patient perspectives in diabetes management. I also met often with people from different disciplines within and/or associated with the lab who constantly gave me advice and direction. It was also very helpful to be able to bring my work to our weekly lab meetings, where everyone was eager to give feedback and advice on next steps. I did not have much research experience prior to joining the lab, and this project gave me the perfect opportunity to learn more about what goes into research. I was also able work with other colleagues in the lab to have this work accepted as an abstract titled: “Feeling secure is important to me… but I just don’t…most of the time”: Patient Definitions of Success in Diabetes Management” for the 85th American Diabetes Association Annual Conference this summer. Furthermore, a key aspect of my program was gaining insight into how research drives improvements in the healthcare system. I’ve come to understand that any change within a large healthcare system involves multiple stakeholders, making it essential to consider these broader, “big picture” factors throughout the research process.
Throughout my time in the lab so far, I’ve learned valuable lessons about how to think about research, pathways to impact, centering community, and leading a project. Furthermore, it has inspired me to see my role as a physician differently. I aspire to become a provider who prioritizes not just the health outcome, but the process and journey taken alongside each patient to achieve it. As I progress through my studies and rotations, I am committed to a holistic approach to care- one that integrates the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of my patients while remaining mindful of the psychosocial factors that shape their experiences.
GREMAP 