Transition is a given part of the human life. We are constantly transitioning to the new; that can be a new developmental stage, a new school, new friends, a new home, a new job, etc. At Children’s Hospital, one of the most significant transitions that the patients and families go through is the transition from the pediatric to the adult healthcare system. The problem with this transition is that if not done effectively, it can lead to many long-term and life-threatening outcomes.
The Center for Healthy Adolescent Transition is a new center at Children’s Hospital that focuses on supporting patients’ transition to the adult care system. In my role on the team, I have the great opportunity to use patient data to provide evidence-based solutions to the issues of transition and transfer of care. This data is being collected through interviews, focus groups, and quantitative studies using validated and newly designed surveys.
Aside from designing and implementing potentially one of the largest longitudinal studies relevant to pediatric patients’ transition to the adult healthcare system. My collected data is being used to build a large repository for other researchers to use. Thus far, we have used our internal studies to improve our patient transition support, create a peer mentorship program, build parent and patient-focused workshops, and much more, and our follow-up studies have shown significant improvement in patients’ short and long-term outcomes.
As a researcher, I derive immense satisfaction from my role, but what truly ignites my passion is acting as a liaison between our team and other hospital departments. By working closely with them, we strive to understand the unique requirements of their clinics and patients, ensuring that our proposed solutions are effective for all parties involved. I am also privileged to collaborate with both internal and external researchers, supporting them in their efforts to design and execute their studies. Moreover, I have had the pleasure of training and supervising other research associates and graduate student interns, all of whom have excelled in their internships and capstone projects, securing future opportunities with governmental and non-profit agencies. I accomplish all of this efficiently and intentionally, fostering a culture of teamwork and excellence.
Mirinjian, A., Porter, C., Cuevas, R., Baird, J., Iverson, E. (2022, July). The CHAT Research Cohort; A Longitudinal Study. Presented at Clinical Services Research and Education Research Day, Los Angeles, CA.
