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Keira Wilson, College of Medicine student

Setting herself up for success: Keira Wilson

How does one juggle medical school, an internship and being a mother? If you ask Northeast Ohio Medical University student Keira Wilson, she’ll tell you it’s all about having a good support system.

Wilson, a rising second-year College of Medicine student, matriculated to the University through the NEOMED-Cleveland State University Partnership for Urban Health. As a Northeast Ohio native, Wilson found value in the pathway, as she intends to remain and practice in the area once she earns an M.D.

Throughout her time at CSU and NEOMED, Wilson notes how supportive her family and both universities have been.

It’s that constant backing that allowed her to apply for and accept an internship on campus.

An innovative internship

While Wilson was searching for unique summer research opportunities, she stumbled upon the REDIzone® Future MedTech Entrepreneur Internship — a program she hadn’t heard of before.

The inaugural program, supported by a grant from the Burton D. Morgan Foundation, provides medical, pharmacy, business and law students opportunities to learn from regional experts in medical innovation.

Over the course of the six-week paid internship, Wilson has been interested in learning what goes into developing medical innovations and pitching them; identifying the product’s market; calculating how much money businesses may need from investors and more. The program will conclude with a Shark Tank style presentation.

Wilson’s takeaway from the program this far goes beyond the basics of product development. She likes to put experiences into perspective and look at the big picture.

“If you see an area in medicine or life in general, that you would like to improve, have the confidence to go for it. It seems like that’s how a lot of these innovations have come about,” says Wilson.

Thinking ahead

Aside from spending a great portion of her summer as an innovator in-training, Wilson also volunteers as a teaching assistant for NEOMED’s Anatomy Academy, a two-week immersive anatomy institute led by Dana Peterson, Ph.D., an associate professor of anatomy and neurobiology.

“I just wanted more experience with the body’s structures. And if you’re teaching it, you have to have a better understanding of it yourself. So this is also my way of starting to study for Step 1 (the board exam required after the second year of medical school) earlier,” explains Wilson.

With Wilson’s drive and the help of her support system, this student is setting herself up for success.