This summer, the launched its inaugural “Summer Experience in Science Communication,” offering a unique six-week paid internship to a (UNR Med) student. The program was designed to help the student develop skills in communicating scientific information to general audiences. The first intern for the 2024 program was Douglas Collins, a now second-year medical student at UNR Med.
Douglas Collins, a second year medical student at UNR Med.The Hitchcock Project is an initiative within the Reynolds School of Journalism aimed at preparing students, professionals and scientists to present science in easy to interpret, visual forms. Collins had the opportunity to work closely with Reynolds School of Journalism faculty members Kelsey Fitzgerald, M.A., and Vanesa de la Cruz Pavas, M.A., from the Hitchcock Project. Meeting with Collins twice a week, Fitzgerald and de la Cruz provided hands-on training in science communication, guiding him through the creation of a project of his own design.
“This summer internship has been an incredible experience,” Collins shared. “The team working on the Hitchcock Project is incredibly talented in journalistic communication. They know their audience and how to reach them. Thanks to their guidance, I was able to hit the ground running and conduct several interviews on topics that are deeply important to me. I appreciated how Kelsey and Vanesa consistently met with me, helping me through every step of the process, from interviewing and editing to crafting content for a young, science-interested audience.”
Collins’ Science Communication Summer Project
With the support of Fitzgerald and de la Cruz, Collins developed a TikTok interview series aimed at addressing common health issues and timely topics relevant to a college-aged audience. After brainstorming ideas for ten episodes, he prioritized three to begin working on during the summer. The Hitchcock Project team helped him refine the style and format for his TikTok series, offering one-on-one training in story planning, interviewing, video recording, editing and more. Collins even had the chance to join a Hitchcock Project graduate assistant, Jayanti Sarkar, on a video interview shoot, gaining valuable insight into video interviewing techniques from a fellow student journalist.
Collins’ first published project was a with Lindsey Pisani, the anatomy lab manager and administrator for UNR Med’s Anatomical Donation Program. This program, which facilitates whole-body donations for science, allows medical and undergraduate students to learn anatomy and physiology firsthand.
During his internship, Collins interviewed Lindsey Pisani (pictured), the anatomy lab manager for UNR Med’s Anatomical Donation Program. Photo by Douglas Collins.Through this interview, Collins practiced conducting and editing a video interview, blending it with b-roll footage to create a compelling story for social media. His goal was to highlight the impact the Anatomical Donation Program has on students and future physicians, while also emphasizing the program’s continued need for community support.
“Not only is communication between physicians and patients incredibly important, but communication between physicians and the public is often lacking in today’s world,” Collins said. “I know that this experience has already helped me become a better communicator, but I can now also help my colleagues and classmates with their skills and communication so that they can help people live happier, healthier lives.”
Collins’ TikTok interview with Pisani is just the beginning. He also completed interviews with a representative from the Betty Ford Clinic, Joseph Skrajewski, national director of Business Development - Healthcare Solutions, and Daniel Spogen, M.D., professor of Family Medicine at UNR Med. Collins is working on finalizing these episodes for release this fall. The from his interview with Pisani can be found on the Hitchcock Project website.
“I sincerely hope that this program continues, expands and becomes an example for how other medical schools can replicate this to train better physician communicators and make the world a better, and healthier, place,” Collins said. “Thank you for allowing me this incredible opportunity, and I look forward to supporting and hearing where this program continues in the future.”
