Health Sciences major Anna Cuzick ’27 gained firsthand insight into the world of medicine through a summer internship program Medical Intelligence and Innovation Institute (MI4) at CHOC which gives students the unique opportunity to explore the future of healthcare — an invaluable experience for anyone interested in or exploring the healthcare field. The interns learn to problem solve and create solutions unique to hospitals while gaining hands on experience.

Tell me more about your internship experience at CHOC.

This summer, I had the opportunity to participate in CHOC’s Medical Intelligence and Innovation Institute (MI4) Summer Internship. The program gave me exposure to so many different sides of medicine through physician shadowing, clinical discussions, hands-on workshops, innovation projects, and opportunities to learn directly from healthcare professionals.

My favorite part of the experience was definitely shadowing. I was able to spend time in several different specialties, including the NICU, cardiology, anesthesia, and general surgery, which were some of my favorite rotations. Being able to step outside of the classroom and actually see concepts I have learned about at Chapman applied to real patients was incredibly rewarding. I also loved being able to ask physicians questions about their careers, their patients, and why they chose their specialties. I came into the internship already excited about medicine, but I left even more certain that this is the field I want to dedicate my career to.

What surprised you or inspired you while working at CHOC?

What inspired me most was honestly the environment at CHOC. You can feel how much people care about their patients just walking around the hospital. I expected to learn a lot about medicine, but I didn’t expect to learn as much as I did about the human side of being a physician.

During shadowing, I saw how physicians could be incredibly knowledgeable and skilled while still taking the time to make a child laugh, comfort a nervous parent, or explain something in a way that made a family feel heard. Especially in places like the NICU, I saw how much trust families place in their healthcare teams during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. That really stayed with me.

It reminded me that being a great physician is about so much more than knowing the science. The compassion I saw throughout CHOC is something I hope to carry with me into my own career.

How do you see this experience influencing your future goals and career in healthcare?

This experience strengthened my desire to become a physician, but it also made me even more curious about what kind of physician I want to become. Shadowing so many specialties allowed me to see how different areas of medicine approach patient care, teamwork, and problem-solving.

MI4 also showed me how closely research, innovation, and clinical medicine can work together. As someone who is already involved in research at Chapman, I loved seeing how new ideas and technologies can eventually translate into better care for real patients. In the future, I hope to be a physician who stays involved in research and innovation rather than viewing them as separate from clinical care.

More than anything, I left CHOC wanting to become the kind of physician who combines curiosity with compassion. This summer genuinely changed the way I picture my future in medicine, and I know I will carry what I learned with me throughout medical school and beyond.

What mentors at Chapman have inspired you?

I have been really lucky to have several mentors and professors at Chapman who have shaped the student and future healthcare professional I am becoming. My research mentors, Dr. Gartner and Nayiri Alexander, have played a huge role in that. Through working with them on my NMR research, I’ve learned not only how to become a more independent researcher, but also how to be curious, ask questions, troubleshoot when things don’t go as planned, and keep the bigger picture of why our research matters in mind. Their mentorship has helped me grow so much more confident in myself as a scientist.

I’ve also had professors within Crean College, especially Dr. Caroline Wilson, who I interned for in anatomy lab, and Dr. Jim Herkimer, who have genuinely inspired me throughout my time at Chapman. Their passion for teaching and for the subjects they teach made me even more excited to learn about the human body and medicine. Some of my favorite moments at CHOC were when I would see something during shadowing and immediately think back to something I had learned in one of my classes at Chapman.

I think one of the things I appreciate most about Chapman is how invested my professors and mentors have been in my growth. They’ve encouraged my curiosity, challenged me academically, and helped turn my interest in healthcare into something I can genuinely picture becoming my future career. I’m incredibly grateful to have people here who I know are rooting for me as I continue working toward medical school.

Anything else you want to share?

I think the biggest thing I would say is that I am incredibly grateful I took the chance and applied to MI4. Going into the summer, I knew it would be an amazing learning opportunity, but I didn’t realize how much the people and experiences would impact me personally.

I met physicians and mentors I really look up to, made friendships with other interns who are just as excited about medicine and innovation as I am, and had experiences I will genuinely remember for the rest of my life.

Do you have any advice for students considering a career in healthcare?

For other Chapman students interested in healthcare, I would encourage them to seek out experiences that put them outside of their comfort zone and let them actually see the careers they are considering. Ask questions, introduce yourself to people, and take advantage of opportunities even if you’re nervous. Some of my favorite moments this summer came simply from being curious and asking someone if I could learn more.

I’m incredibly thankful to CHOC, MI4, Chapman, and everyone who invested their time in teaching me this summer. I walked into this internship excited about becoming a physician, and I walked out even more inspired to get there.