Lilya Eid

For the past three years, I have been involved with my school's dance marathon movement that raises money for our local children's hospital. As a morale captain my first year, I worked with my team to raise awareness and spirit towards our cause and get our community connected. My second year, I was the Hospital Relations chair, where I communicated with families of children treated at our hospital to immerse them with our school community and 12-hour main event. For my third year, I was voted by my peers as the President and Executive Director for our organization. I've delegated tasks, encouraged creativity, ideas from my team, collaboration, and voiced my approach in leading with accountability, respect, and kindness to accomplish our goals of raising money for the kids and improving children's healthcare.

I was elected by the student body at Stevens for two consistent years to serve as President of SHPC. In this role, I've worked with my team to promote pre-health involvement on campus and host events with guest speakers and organize exam reviews. I've also begun a Cohort leader program to promote interest and inclusivity in various healthcare fields and offer our students a variety of resources and mentors in these fields to pursue their career dreams.

As an EMT observer, I assist the emergency medical services team in Hoboken to transport and care for patients to definitive care. I'm also working on obtaining my formal EMT certification.

As a GEMS Intern, I collaborated with my principal investigator on Emergency and Trauma Research about EMS Systems/Patient Acuity. I did a literature search, wrote an abstract, and designed/presented a poster. I'm working with my PI on the next steps for the publication of her abstract. I'm a Research Associate on a project addressing the mental health of pregnant/parenting adolescents. I designed an initiative to address food insecurity in childhood obesity and delivered it at a Pitch Presentation. I received second place and a monetary prize to promote the idea. I've attended conferences and am working on present my work as a pilot program to the board of education in a school district with the anticipation of bringing my initiative to life and making a real change to promote health equity.

I'm a Clinical Genetics Lab Intern at KindBody Labs, who conducts scientific research on women's fertility health, men's sexual health, contraception research, etc. through data entry, posters, and graphs. I'm working with my team to publish a paper on embryologists' biopsy techniques and embryo classification. I've reviewed articles and presented feedback for improvement. I've visited the KindBody Clinic in NYC and presented our research to their team.

I've interviewed candidates for therapists in the Student Wellness Center, attended a Peer Connection Workshop, hosted Self Care Pottery Painting and World Down Syndrome Day Events, filmed a Health Summit Video, and I'm currently working on an intervention in my community to promote safe driving for pedestrian safety. I'm grateful to have received an appreciation reward for my efforts in improving mental health awareness at my school.

For the past 2 years, I've been working as a course assistant for the labs and lectures for Introductory Biology and Cell and Molecular Biology. In this role, I've worked with my advisor and team to provide the best academic experience for the students through support in office hours, organization in class, check-ins with the students, and encouraging participation.

I designed a mural for the athletic field and gymnasium entry tunnel at my university to brighten up our athletic space for the athletes while encouraging more creative involvement among students. I worked on a formal presentation of my design to our Student Government and Administration.

As a volunteer, I assisted the nursing staff with patient call bells, stocking gloves, patient gift backpacks, laminating forms, etc. I am certified by the hospital's Golden Spoon program to feed patients. I sent in artwork for the Greater New York Hospital Association and designed a mural for the hospital to bring a positive light to patients and the community.

The Research Associate (RA) program at Hackensack University Medical Center is part of a nationwide organization known as the National Alliance of Research Associates Program (NARAP). As a Chief RA, I am involved in welcoming and training our new volunteers and will be present on their Orientation Day. I help to plan and communicate new information about the program to my fellow RA's and send out important emails. I also filmed a video to represent the new Hackensack Orthopedic Practice. I am also involved as an RA in conducting research on tobacco cessation and screening studies by surveying patients in order to match them to the best care. I shadow Emergency Medicine and Trauma Physicians in the Emergency Department.

At the JCMC Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women's Health, I was assigned to a team and supervised by a Chief Resident. I shadowed multiple physicians and residents in the Labor and Delivery Department [c-sections and live births], Gynecology, and Office/Clinic. I also translated appointment information and assisted with answering questions from patients who only spoke Arabic.

I worked with a team of 9 high school STEM scholars to form a research question, conduct research, and present our research. I was featured in a newsletter for my university describing my accomplishments in the world of STEM as a scholar. I've also written an op-ed with another fellow scholar on the racial disparities present in healthcare and a call to action.

The Black Student Alliance Club at my school holds an annual Black History Month Assembly with a guest speaker and performances by students. As a member of this alliance, I worked with Dr. Chinwe Ogedegbe of Hackensack University Medical Center to prepare for this wonderful event and its activities. We spoke about the root of health disparities, how their increase relates to the COVID-19 pandemic, and what we can do as students.

I took care of rescue cats that were recovering from physical and/or emotional injuries. I made sure to communicate with the cats, ease their pains, feed them, and provide a nurturing environment. Throughout my time volunteering, I was inspired by the cats and community and wrote a poem about my unforgettable experience.