Learning through experience
By: Rachel Sudhakar
In recent months, I have developed a strong interest in addressing the increasing concerns related to dementia, as this passion stems from my first-hand experience working with individuals and families affected by dementia. This has led me to delve into potential preventive measures to mitigate its effects. As a result, I had the privilege of leading and conducting a research study catered to this interest. My research explored the emotional associations of episodic memory encoding and retrieval processes with how emotionally salient events influence the formation of engrams, particularly in individuals with dementia.
In May 2024, I had the privilege of showcasing this research at the Postsecondary Research Poster event during HOSA Canada's Spring Leadership Conference in Toronto. I was thrilled to receive 2nd place for this research and to have the chance to represent Canada at the International Leadership Conference the following month.
That said, I'm pleased to announce that I received 1st place in the Postsecondary Research Poster event at the recent HOSA International Leadership Conference in Houston, Texas. Bringing home gold for Canada and competing alongside amazing research projects was an enriching experience, allowing me to learn and network with other aspiring researchers from universities and schools across the world.
I want to express my gratitude to Dr.Jennifer O'Neil and the team at Reachable Rehab lab for their invaluable guidance in preparing my presentation. I also want to thank the HOSA uOttawa team for their unwavering support and HOSA-Future Health Professionals for providing me with this incredible opportunity. I gained a wealth of knowledge from this experience and am truly thankful to be among such inspiring and passionate healthcare professionals.
