The Center for Research on Health Care at the University of Pittsburgh (CRHC) provides a forum for talented multidisciplinary investigators from throughout the university community to collaborate in high-quality health services research and train future investigators in methods and practices critical to the conduct of rigorous and exemplary research.
Menna Abaye (featured far right in photo) is the current PULSE fellow serving at CRHC and is working on a kidney transplant fast track study.
Larissa Myaskovsky, PhD, focuses on using social and behavioral science methods and techniques to understand and reduce health and healthcare disparities. Below she reflects on CRHC’s partnership with PULSE.
ET: Why did your organization decide to work with PULSE?
LM: We learned about the program and the high caliber of fellows from a colleague. We were excited to work with a person with the kind of work ethic and motivation that is characteristic of PULSE fellows.
ET: What is the most rewarding part of working with PULSE?
LM: They do an outstanding job of screening applicants and accepting top notch candidates for the fellowship. The fellows are friendly and open, as well very professional and socially conscious. This is a rare combination in recent graduates. PULSE made our job of identifying the right candidate for our needs much easier.
ET: How has your partnership with PULSE impacted your organization?
LM: Our PULSE fellow is outstanding and has really helped our project in many ways! She has accomplished a number of research tasks on our project. She takes a personal interest in our research participants’ well-being and it shows in her work. For example, she independently put together a follow up protocol to help ensure participants’ understanding and engagement with the intervention materials. Throughout all of her work, our PULSE fellow has conducted herself with tremendous grace and enthusiasm, looking forward to new tasks and challenges.
ET: What do you like most about your current PULSE fellow?
LM: I have been very impressed with how she balances her time between working on our project and the number of volunteer opportunities she completes with PULSE. Our fellow is hard working and very reliable. She has an outgoing and friendly personality combined with a professional attitude. She is very dedicated to service and self-improvement. She has become a key member of our team, and we are very grateful for her help!
ET: What would you tell other Pittsburgh nonprofits about PULSE?
LM: Apply to be a PARTNER, and hope that you get selected! The PULSE fellows are gems, and PULSE does all the hard work of finding them for you.
Story by PULSE Associate Emma Toner.
Check out more great Partner Stories.
This is part of a series of posts about the Nonprofit Partner experience with PULSE. If you would like to learn more about a Nonprofit Partnership, please visit our Partner Page.