71 Research Reflection by Fatima Faizi

I met Dr.Man Hung in the summer of 2020, the midst of covid. I was interested in researching, and Dr.Hung was more than willing and happy to teach me. I was given the opportunity to research diabetes with Dr.Man Hung. Dr.Hung has been a supportive mentor, and has taught me how to research properly and efficiently. I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to gain experience in research. I am a type 1 diabetic (T1D), and I am also pre-med. I chose the pre-medical route, because I feel I can be the type of doctor who will prioritize patients’ trust, listen to patient’s concerns, and value their opinion. As a T1D, I felt the need to research my disease in more depth. I started diabetes research and the factors associated with it. I most recently researched the effects of high fructose corn syrup(a man made sugar) and its effects on a diabetic’s body. I am currently utilizing my research as a Bennion Scholar, working with Maliheh clinic on their ‘healthy living’ course for patients. As Dr.Hung taught me data analysis, how to research properly and how to conduct a literature review, I learned I truly enjoyed spending time researching. After a couple of months of learning from Dr.Hung, she introduced me to UROP. I became intrigued by the program description, and I took a leap of faith and applied. I have enjoyed the UROP program since, as it provided me with structure, resources, and a great team to help guide me. I gained leadership skills and confidence in my ability to research from participating in UROP. I appreciated the different services UROP provided, such as advisor appointments, research seminars and resources.