STEAM Towards a Healthier World
STEAM Course Overview
“I’ve always loved science and had a passion for art. However, I’ve struggled trying to find a balance between the two. It seemed as if I had to give up one of my interests to pursue the other. Through this course I’ve been introduced to many different career paths and goals that have integrated my love for both science and art.” - 2019 Ambassador
Ambassadors spent 9 days at ISB learning about Systems Medicine principles and practices from research scientists, investigating under the microscope the changing phenotypes of nematode worms when exposed to different environments in the lab, and hearing about the future of medicine from a colon cancer survivor and the chief medical officer of the P4 Medicine Institute.
Ambassadors were invited to participate in an "Anatomy Boot Camp” hosted by the Seattle Science Foundation. During this 2-day experience, neuro and spinal surgeons from around the country engaged students in an exploration of the human body through dissections of real human cadaveric specimens.
Cambia Grove, an innovator hub for healthcare entrepreneurs, opened their doors to the Ambassadors, allowing them ample working space for the design and development of their Showcase projects. Each day Ambassadors took a break from their work to hear from guest speakers on many interesting topics, including Entrepreneurship, Healthcare Economics, Interoperability, and Healthcare Policy.
Students Learned About
- Systems
- Anatomy
- Genome sequencing
- Polygenic risk scores
- Bioethics
- Environmental impacts on gene expression
- Cancer biology
- Lifestyle and behavior coaching
- Proteomics
- Metabolomics
- Microbiome
- Correlation networks
- Patient stratification
- P4 Medicine
Student Quotes
"The morning guest speaker was really cool because it felt more like a conversation between scientists and it was so interesting to listen to everyone's questions and listen to the fascinating answers that followed.”
“The moment I held the human heart, I knew this was what I wanted to do in the future.”
“I enjoy statistics, so finding an application for stats in biology was something that really intrigued me.”
“I've met some really fun and great people through this program, and I'm hoping we can continue to stay friends even upon the completion of these three weeks.”
Student Showcase
At the culmination of the course, student Ambassadors developed art projects to teach others about these important topics, serving as agents for change in optimizing current health and future wellness for themselves and their communities.
Click here to learn more about each Ambassador and their projects.
