Brilliant Bones & Health
By: Angela Ding, Nursing ’23
Learning about men’s health disparities, their fracture risk, and associated osteoporosis in men with intellectual disability in Ireland
Nursing Research in Dublin – Ireland
My first few days as an intern have been much different than expected, but still incredibly enjoyable. As far as Zoom meetings go, I have to say that the professors of Trinity College Dublin are killing the game. On our first day, we were welcomed into the team and met the professors, our PIs, all at once. They were warm, personable, and excited to meet us virtually. We were given a presentation on Trinity College and of Ireland as a whole. Upon seeing the pictures of the beautiful green landscapes and the famous Trinity College Library, I felt my first pangs of sadness, the typical “if only there wasn’t COVID…” thoughts arising.
After our group meeting, my peer and I met our personal PI, Éilish, and began roadmapping the summer ahead of us. Right at the start, Éilish shared her goal of publishing her research article in the OBM Geriatrics Journal. Éilish is not only incredibly sweet and accommodating but also very passionate about her research projects. Of those, she’s written several publications on osteoporosis, a weakening bone disease, especially among the aging and intellectually disabled population in Ireland. In the week ahead of me, I’ll be responsible for conducting a short literature review on the risk of bone fractures, particularly among those with intellectual disabilities. I’ll also be writing about the hidden poor health of men with intellectual disability, and how the gap between women’s and men’s health needs to be closer examined.
For the past few weeks, I’ve appreciated the time getting to know the professors and my fellow GRIP interns. Every Tuesday, we have coffee meet-ups to update each other on our projects and experiences. The host professors have been so engaging, showing us the lush green fields and grazing sheep in the backyards behind them. I titled this blog post “Brilliant Bones and Health” because I couldn’t help but notice the subtle differences between the Irish and English languages. Aside from their charming Irish accents, our professors often react with cheerful “Brilliant!”, “Super!”, and “Lovely!” exclamations that turn any of my average responses into something with seemingly more meaning. Their vibrant reactions make me smile and feel connected from the other side of the screen, which is a rare feeling for me in this world of virtual environments. Although GRIP is online, I’m glad I had the opportunity to experience it with the professors in Dublin because their warmth, contagious energy, effortless charm have made the virtual experience so engaging so far. Looking forward to weeks ahead, stay tuned!
The Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP) provides outstanding undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to intern or conduct research abroad for 8 to 12 weeks over the summer. Participants gain career-enhancing experience and global exposure that is essential in a global workforce. Placements and funding awards are available.