Starting in Medicine: Research and Clinical Experiences for Undergraduate Students
Natalie Miller is a fourth-year Choose Ohio First (COF) scholar in Innovators for a New STEMM Workforce (INSW) and a Biology major at The Ohio State University. She is an incoming medical student with a strong interest in patient-centered care and accessibility in medicine. She is particularly interested in how thoughtful communication, advocacy, and emerging technologies can improve healthcare experiences and outcomes for diverse patient populations. Throughout her undergraduate career, she has been deeply involved in clinical, research, and service roles that bridge science with compassionate care.
Her experiences include working as a Patient Care Assistant and medical scribe, where she developed strong clinical communication skills and gained firsthand exposure to patient care across a range of medical settings. In addition, she works with Disability Services, where she converts STEM course materials into accessible formats for students with visual impairments, contributing to more equitable learning environments. Natalie is also engaged in research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Institute for Genomic Medicine, where she studies neurodevelopmental mechanisms related to TSC2 and autism. These roles have strengthened her ability to collaborate across teams, adapt in complex environments, and advocate for individuals whose needs may otherwise be overlooked. Through these experiences, she has developed a deeper understanding of how scientific knowledge, empathy, and systems-level thinking can come together to improve both individual patient care and broader healthcare access.
Impact of the Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program
"It pushed me to discover more of what OSU has to offer my freshman year, especially through clubs and volunteering. I have found the CIR chats to also be very informative for my career. One of the best parts was having a mentor my freshman year. I think it can be really hard to transition and find your footing here. I also had little idea of the steps to take as a pre-med since I am the first in my family to pursue this career path, so it was nice to receive guidance.".