08/03/2026
The Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Research Institute opened its doors in a new way this summer, launching a pilot internship designed to give college students and recent graduates a hands-on introduction to clinical research. The hope is that the program will become a pathway for young professionals to enter the research field earlier, and maybe even return as future colleagues.
The students had the opportunity to shadow teams in multiple departments, including Trauma, the Cath Lab, Women & Babies Hospital, and The Heart Group of Lancaster General Health. They explored how to complete a meta analysis and ways a study moves from concept to completion. Under the guidance of The Heart Group’s Dr. Sandeep Bansal and Dr. Amit Varma, the interns helped develop two new study protocols and prepared them for submission to the Penn Institutional Review Board, an impressive milestone for a first-year program.
“This internship has given me invaluable insight and experience within the world of clinical research. I am grateful for the mentorship I received from everyone on the team and the chance to work with the other interns,” said Misha Patel, a University of Pittsburgh graduate.
Heather Madara, supervisor of Research Regulatory and Outreach, explained that the program’s benefits went both ways. “We could not have been more fortunate with the four interns who completed this pilot program,” she said. “Their efforts have provided tangible benefits to our department. They have been a delight to both teach and learn from and we wish them the best in their future endeavors.”
In the photo, front row from left: Interns Misha Patel, Leah Karwic, Lily Frank, and Allie Saylor. Back row: Halle Miller, primary supervisor, and Heather Madara.
