• “I would take it [the Summer Internship] over any other possible research experience. It has taught me a ton of things that I will be able to carry with me into my career as a medical professional.” 2006 Summer Intern
• “You should be very proud of the role DAGC is having in shaping the careers of these talented students.” 2005 Summer Intern Sponsor
• “I would rate [the experience] to be 4.5 out of 5; it’s good to see that an organization such as DAGC puts so much effort into the community. I learned a lot about science this summer, and I am sure to take my experience through my medical career.” 2005 Summer Intern
• “Thanks so much, again, for allowing me the opportunity to spend my summer learning about diabetes. The excitement that I conveyed in my presentation was genuine; I loved learning about the genetic aspects of this disease, and I can honestly say that I am incredibly interested in pursuing a future in genetic research. Thanks again for giving me this great opportunity. I will never forget the kids that I met at camp, and I even find myself dropping diabetes facts and figures in conversations with family and friends. This is an experience that I will always remember.” 2006 Summer Intern
• “What made the experience most beneficial was the transitioning from bench-work to seminars and then learning first hand at Camp Ho Mita Koda. Wide variety of insight and learning opportunities also made the internship more beneficial for me.” 2006 Summer Intern
• “I want to tell [DAGC/DDRI] what a huge impact this has on students interested in grad school like [my summer intern]. It is not only giving her exceptional experience, it also raises confidence levels.” 2005 Summer Intern Sponsor
• “I am very impressed by all the presentations from the interns and how energized they were. It is a tribute to the type of program the DAGC puts together that gives these interns a wholesome experience related to diabetes and diabetes-related research. Thanks again for supporting these young investigators through your summer programs. They spend their summer time in these labs to figure out whether biomedical research is a career option for them. I feel it is our responsibility to guide them in the right direction.” 2005 Summer Intern Sponsor
• “It was idyllic and made my friends and family jealous. I can’t say enough for how the research experience shaped my summer into a significant, educational and informative one. It was spectacular. [The best part was] the day-to-day lab work and lab experience. The hands-on experience is the best way to learn and the only way to evaluate career choices.” 2005 Summer Intern
• “The most beneficial part of the internship was definitely the informal seminars. I was not pressured to learn the material, and the material itself was extremely interesting. I feel I came away with a strong foundation of knowledge of diabetes.” 2005 Summer Intern
• “I found the seminars very informative, especially since the speakers were very educated in their field. I did attend a Grand Rounds at the Cleveland Clinic, and I liked being able to get a sense of the different complications of diabetes, not just my own project. Spending time with the campers was such a great learning experience. Just in talking with them, I learned some valuable vocabulary relating to diabetes. I learned how kids manage their health, and through this experience, I’ve come to appreciate my own health more and more. It made me realize how much I’ve taken my health for granted and how I should manage my diet more like the campers even if I don’t have diabetes. I liked hearing about my fellow interns’ summer projects because I was able to step outside of my own project and learn other research in diabetes. I also liked being able to tell others about my own research in an understandable way so that they could see its importance. Also, I liked how the DAGC incorporated different activities throughout the summer like the seminars and especially Camp Ho Mita Koda. I would definitely recommend this opportunity to others.” 2005 Summer Intern
• “The seminars were very informative and the overnight stay at Camp Ho Mita Koda was an unforgettable experience.” 2006 Summer Intern
• “Activities [seminars & Camp experience] really brought everything together; we got a chance to see how diabetes is looked at from all different points of view.” 2006 Summer Intern
• “I am impressed by the level of enthusiasm and energy these interns exhibited during their [final] presentations yesterday.” 2005 Summer Intern Sponsor
• “I would rate the experience very high. It was an excellent program. The internship offered the opportunity to learn about diabetes on many different levels. It provided great exposure to research that will help me decide on my future career... Outside of the laboratory, I found the seminars to be the most beneficial aspect of the experience. It was great to learn from local experts, each with a unique background.” 2005 Summer Intern
• "Thank you again for the opportunity. Through the research I was able to see that complications from diabetes are more serious and prevalent than I had previously thought. Therefore, I hope to continue pursuing medicine and research... I hope all the interns have a chance to see patients suffering and living with diabetes first-hand. Thank you again." 2004 Summer Intern
• “The camp was an AWESOME experience! I definitely support it, and I hope next year's interns will be able to have this opportunity as well. The campers were really friendly and candid whenever we asked them questions. Most of the time, they were more than happy to talk about their daily routines. The campers I talked to seemed very aware of their bodies and everything that may affect them such as the activities they do or the foods they eat. For instance, the campers were very aware of what they put in their mouths. They were allowed 5 units of carbs per meal (1 carb = 15 g). I was impressed by their maturity, which was well over their years... the camp provided a great opportunity to take a look into the lives of those with diabetes and what is "normal" to these kids may not be normal to other kids without diabetes. I was impressed at how the camp was so supportive, helping the campers manage their diabetes and instilling confidence in them so that they could go to a sports camp next summer or another camp that wasn't for kids with diabetes. Overall, I definitely think the experience was positive, and hope the DAGC provides this opportunity again for interns in the future.” 2005 Summer Intern
• "[The final presentation] felt professional and significant." 2005 Summer Intern
• “The program components of the DAGC summer internship (i.e.: not my personal research project) were extremely beneficial and will be a great addition to my career portfolio. I found two experiences, the seminars and the overnight at camp, to be my most beneficial experience of the summer (they tied). Specifically in regards to the seminar, having the opportunity to speak candidly with leading researchers is something most students at this level do not have the luxury of experiencing. Each one of them spoke with us on a comfortable, relaxing and very personal level; I felt that their honest discussion, as well as their knowledge, helped put several aspects of diabetes in a perspective that is not obtained through lecture and reading alone. In regards to the camp overnight…I gained such an appreciation for the nuances of disease management by seeing 8 and 9 year olds woken up at 2am for finger-pricks and PBG’s... and [the overnight experience is] something that, as a practitioner, I will always remember when dealing with diabetic children in the future. I honestly feel that it should be recommended to all of the interns that they see what goes on overnight.” 2006 Summer Intern

Return to the overview of the DDRI Summer Internship