By Joan Tupponce

How many people can say they sat in on a 13-hour surgery, made hospital rounds with a neurosurgery team and conducted their own research – all during a summer internship? Faith Parker can.

The Virginia Commonwealth University senior called it a “truly one-of-a-kind experience, with an incredibly deep exploration into all things neurological,” as she embraced her summer internship in neuroscience at Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and its affiliated Boston Medical Center.

“You’re given opportunities that allow you to bridge the gap between the research and clinical fields,” said Parker, who is studying philosophy and bioinformatics in the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences.

Parker, who grew up in Chesterfield County and hopes to become a neurosurgeon, became interested in how the mind works when she was in middle school.

“Everyone was trying to figure out the person they want to be and the foundation of who they were,” she said.

In high school, she gravitated toward science and math-based courses.

“By senior year, I became curious of the roles our biological components play and how they mesh with the intangible parts of ourselves, like consciousness and personality,” Parker said. “Inevitably, this led to a desire to pursue neuroscience in an academic setting, but also to find a way to utilize the perspectives gained through a philosophical lens.”

During her work in Boston, Parker met diverse patient populations, which she said helped her understand the importance of public health within a clinical setting. She also developed hands-on skills, such as suturing underneath a microscope, and watched a variety of surgeries, from craniectomies (where part of the skull is removed) to procedures to correct a herniated disc.

“It was fascinating to learn how the nervous system works and take information from textbooks to solve patient cases,” Parker said, highlighting her expanded knowledge about the 12 cranial nerves and their functions. “We also learned about the peripheral system, such as touch, motor, pain and proprioception, and how the spine receives this information.”

Her busy internship included working in the wet lab, shadowing the neurology and neurosurgery clinics, and making rounds with the neurocritical care team.

“Once or twice a week, I would spend my days with the neurosurgery team, where rounding began at 6 a.m. Shadowing operating room cases began at 8 a.m. And the rest of the day depended on the case and the attending/resident I was paired with,” Parker said.

For her research, she collaborated with principal investigator Christopher Gabel, Ph.D., to work on whole-brain imaging of neurons and how they are affected by anesthetic drugs and aging. Parker’s individual research focused on Alzheimer’s and its effects on the behavior of neurons.

“I loved working with Dr. Gabel,” she said. “During this internship, I was surrounded by professionals that were just incredibly passionate about their fields and willing to share that passion with others. To have the opportunity to witness and be involved in such a love for what they do was a huge takeaway.”

Parker came to VCU because it matched personal priorities that included diversity, accessibility, affordability and strong science departments.  

“I loved that VCU wasn’t just placed in the city of Richmond, but it is the city of Richmond,” she said. “Community and diversity are important to me and the career I wish to pursue. It was important that the school I attended was reflective and inclusive of the diverse community in Richmond.”

And like college itself, another takeaway from her internship is to remain open to new experiences and opportunities.

“You never know the amazing people and things that can be behind the door that is just waiting to be opened,” Parker said. “Going to this internship was exciting but also scary. I had to quit my job to leave for two months, and I also left the family and friends that I had here. I’m lucky to have had VCU’s internship funding because I’m not quite sure how it all would’ve worked out. But without a doubt, I’m beyond grateful that, in the end, it all came together.” 

Parker received financial support from VCU’s Internship Funding Program, which is funded by the Student Life and Learning Fund, the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) and Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success. Supporters can donate to the Student Life and Learning Fund online.