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An Interdisciplinary Approach to Assessing Developmental Disabilities at the CIDD - with Rachael Yuan


Hello everyone! My name is Rachael Yuan and I am a junior double majoring in neuroscience and psychology and minoring in education. I am deeply committed to working with diverse, underprivileged communities, and I aspire to channel this passion into a career in medicine. Outside of the Gil Internship, I’m involved as a Certified Nursing Assistant in the kidney dialysis Unit at Duke Regional Hospital, Coordinator of Mandarin Interpreting at the Student Health Action Coalition, and clinical research assistant for Parkinson’s Disease research at UNC’s School of Medicine. Through the diverse range of patients I’ve seen ranging from pediatric to geriatric patients, I’ve found a love for interacting with people from all walks of life. 


During the intern-site pairing process, I had one key request: I wanted an experience that would expose me to something new each day. Novelty has always been something that excites me. Thus, I was paired with the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities (CIDD) – an interdisciplinary institution dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. My primary mentors during my internship have been Dr. Jean Mankowski and Dr. Heather Hazlett. Through their mentorship, I’ve been able to contribute to various clinics including the Medical Autism Clinic, the School Age Team, the Hearing and Development Clinic, and my personal favorite, the Angelman/Dup15 Clinic.


Each clinic team comprises a diverse group of professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, occupational therapists, social workers, genetic counselors, and trainees, who collaborate to provide a comprehensive, holistic approach to each case. By working on these teams, I’ve come to appreciate the intricacies in each diagnostic evaluation and the importance of diverse perspectives during this process. It’s always inspiring to see each profession offer their individual expertise and integrate their unique perspective to the case reports provided at the end of the session. 


My experience at CIDD has provided valuable exposure to the clinical side of rare diseases, which is especially meaningful and personal to me because my research journey started with adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy– a medical approach to treat rare, genetic diseases using AAVs to deliver new genetic material to cells. I completed this research internship in my freshman year of college at UMass Chan Medical School where I specifically focused on the receptor-binding mechanism of AAVs to a primary receptor known as heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG). Although I loved working in wet-lab and learning about the potential AAV had to cure rare genetic diseases, I had never been exposed to the clinical applications of the therapies I was studying. This gap in my understanding made my experience at CIDD all the more impactful, as I was able to actually observe and interact with rare disease patients and understand the revolutionary impact these gene therapies could have. 


At CIDD, I’ve learned how to score a variety of assessments such as the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS-3), the Developmental Profile Assessment (DP-4), and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). I’ve also gained exposure to diagnosis tools such as the Mullen Scales of Early Learning and the Differential Abilities Scales for autism. Furthermore, I’ve been able to help compile and integrate the findings into case reports that patients and their families will use to understand the patient’s behavioral observation findings, test interpretations, and treatment recommendations. Through my conversations with diverse team members on the team, I’ve learned about the differences and similarities between various diagnostic tools, as well as how each tool contributes to a more accurate and well-rounded assessment of a patient's condition. 


All in all, interning at the CIDD has been an educationally stimulating and personally rewarding experience. I’m very grateful for the mentorship and guidance provided by my mentors and the Gil Internship team. This experience has deepened my understanding of both medicine and other allied health specialties, allowing me to gain a more holistic picture of medicine. I'm particularly excited to attend the TEACCH Autism Conference later this month, made possible by the funding and support from the Gil Internship Program. I’m deeply grateful for having the privilege to partake in an experience that has not only enriched my knowledge and skills but also reaffirmed my passion for pursuing a career that serves others.


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