Sacramento, CA

1. Evaluation of the LiquidGoldConcept Breastfeeding Research Internship
Anna Sadovnikova, M.P.H., M.A., Ileisha Sanders, M.P.H., Samantha Koehler, M.P.H., M.S.W.,Janeet Dhauna,Jessika Martin,Vanisha Patel,Yinan Zhu, Shadi Aminololama-Shakeri, M.D.
LiquidGoldConcept, LLC
Internship Description
Internship Description:
The goal of the internship is to inspire young
women to pursue research and/or entrepreneurial
careers in the health sciences.The LiquidGoldConcept
Breastfeeding Research Internship is the first
structured mentor/internship program between the
pre-medical and medical American Medical Women’s
Association (AMWA) clubs at UC Davis.
The interns gain an appreciation for and
understanding of breastfeeding research and
entrepreneurship by learning how to translate
research into evidence-based solutions and by
immersing themselves into the breastfeeding
community via lactation consultant shadowing,
conference attendance, and breastfeeding support
group participation. Interns are eligible to receive
academic credit towards their major.
Internship Objectives
• To learn about breastfeeding from research,
clinical, community, and entrepreneurial
perspectives
• To learn to use UC Davis library resources and
online databases (i.e. PubMed, GoogleScholar) to
identify relevant literature
• To learn to develop and answer a research
question
• To learn to write an annotated bibliography, code
qualitative data, and manage notes in Zotero
• To learn about and use the PRISMA method of
literature review
• To learn to use editing/reviewing features in
Microsoft Word and in GoogleDrive
• To learn to use Zotero to organize, save, and
process references
• To learn to use the back-end of the LGC website
and Piktochart to develop a blog post
• To learn to write and deliver professional
presentations in 60 seconds, 5 minutes, and 15
minutes with or without the use of a PowerPoint
presentation
Deliverables:
1. Minimum 12 pages double-spaced (font Times
New Roman, 12 point, not including images, figures,
or references) research article
2.Aesthetically pleasing webpage, blog post, PDF, or
brochure for online consumption by the general
public on the LiquidGoldConcept website
3. Formal presentation at the AMWA-
LiquidGoldConcept Conference
Disclosure: Anna Sadovnikova, Samantha Koehler, and Ileisha Sanders are co-founders and primary shareholders
of LiquidGoldConcept, LLC, a for-profit breastfeeding education and technology limited liability company
incorporated in the state of Michigan.Anna Sadovnikova, a MD/PhD student at UC Davis, received funding from Dr.
Shadi A. Shakeri to pay for the printing of this poster. Dr. Shadi A. Shakeri is not involved in financial, business,
research, or other aspects of LiquidGoldConcept, LLC. She serves as a faculty advisor and mentor for the interns who
participate in the LiquidGoldConcept Breastfeeding Research Internship.
Please contact, liquidgoldconcept@gmail.com, for questions and comments about our research and projects.
February: Introduction to Research Methods
January Objectives
. To learn about breastfeeding and lactation
. To identify a research question
Topics
Week 1 Lactation Anatomy, Physiology, and Common Pathologies
Week 2 Breastfeeding Surveillance in the United States
Week 3 Breastfeeding History and Policy in the United States
Week 4 Global Trends & Breastfeeding Innovation
Deliverable
Research question development and proposal submission
February Objectives
. To learn how to use online databases,
organize citations, and perform a
literature review
. To learn how to evaluate research and
deliver constructive criticism to peers
Topics
Week 1 California Breastfeeding
Coalition Summit Attendance
Week 2 Introduction to online
databases, search strategy development
(PRISMA), Zotero, meeting with a librarian
Week 3 Academic literature search ,
health education research methods, study
designs
Week 4 Governmental and NGO website
and smartphone application search
Deliverable
Comprehensive review of academic,
governmental, media, enterprise, and
other sources related to research question
January: Understanding the Biology, Sociology, Economics, and Status Quo of Breastfeeding in the United States
Results
• We found that the “See one, Do one,Teach one” method is an efficacious strategy to identify strengths, weaknesses, and changes in one’s abilities.
• The “Describing research to lay person” category shows a negative per cent change. At each weekly meeting, the interns are required to state their research
question, describe their methodology, and discuss their final product in under 60 seconds.The interns find this to be challenging.This exercise is the only
example of “Teach one” for any of the categories in Table 2.
• It is possible that until the intern is asked to explain to the group (instead of theorizing about explaining) a particular research methodology topic, the intern
cannot accurately estimate her level of confidence or understanding of a subject.
Limitations and Biases
1. The LiquidGoldConcept interns (n=4) are:
• not representative of all female undergraduates
• highly motivated and resourceful, since they reached out to the CEO after the AMWA medical
student panel in November 2015
2. Self-assessment scores, especially in such a small cohort where anonymity is difficult to
maintain, have inherent limitations.
3. The survey questions may now accurately capture the efficacy of the teaching methods, the
strength of the mentor-mentee relationship, and the true value of such an educational experience.
4. One intern completed the Week 4 February survey on her phone and did not see that the scale
went up to 7. She redid the survey only after the results were discussed in a group meeting.
Next Steps
1. March,April, and May are dedicated to academic writing and translation of research into a blog
post or infographic.
2. Interns have already attended a “Community” event (the Summit).They are required to attend a
lactation research event and shadow a lactation consultant.
3. A LiquidGoldConcept-AMWA Conference designed to showcase the intern’s research projects and
this internship is planned for late-May 2016.
Disclosures and About the Authors
Results
1. Mentorship
• Medical student-mentors are a highly valued by undergraduate students
2. Content and Structure
• A month-long, structured “immersion” course in breastfeeding should contain a range of
topics and opportunities for community/clinical/research involvement.
2. Research Question Development
• The process of identifying a research question should not be micro-managed.An intern
must be given opportunities to think broadly, make mistakes, and “struggle.”
• By providing a buffet of choices, limited written guidelines, and structured 10-15 minute
weekly progress updates, undergraduate students with no-to-minimal research experience
can develop creative and reasonable research questions.
Scale of 1-7
(1= Not
Confident, 7 =
Very Confident)
Make evidence-
based
contributions to
the breastfeeding
field
Define inclusion
and exclusion
criteria for your
search strategy
Do well in future
"research
methodology
heavy" courses,
internships, or
experiences
Explain different
types of research
studies to others
Perform a
literature review
Search for
research articles
using online
databases
Correctly cite
resources
Develop research
questions
Explain the
fundamental
sections of a
research paper to
others
Effectively
describe your
research project to
a lay person
Use the resources
in the library to
answer research
questions
Effectively
describe your
research project to
a breastfeeding
expert
Write an
annotated
bibliography
6 4 5 5 3 5 4 3 6 7 6 5 5
4 5 4 5 5 5 3 5 6 6 5 5 6
2 2 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2
6 4 6 5 6 6 6 6 5 5 6 6 5
AVERAGE 4.5 3.75 4.5 4 4.25 4.75 4 4.25 5 5.25 4.75 4.5 4.5
4 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3
5 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 6 5 6 6 5
5 7 7 7 6 7 7 6 7 6 6 7 5
5 5 5 6 6 5 6 5 4 4 5 5 5
AVERAGE 4.75 5.25 5.25 5.5 5.25 5.25 5.5 5 5 4.5 5 5.25 4.5
% CHANGE 5.56 33.33 16.67 33.33 22.22 11.11 33.33 16.67 0.00 -16.67 5.56 16.67 0.00
WEEK 1
(Anonymous
responses in no
particular order)
WEEK 4
(Anonymous
responses in no
particular order)
Table 2. Intern Self-Assessment of Confidence in Performing or Discussing Research Methodology (Pre and Post Assessment)
Survey Section
Average Score
(n=4)
Notes and Quotes
Confidence in explaining the information
covered during the month of January on
scale of 1-7, (1= Not Confident, 7 = Very
Confident)
5.6
1. I actually did like most of the readings and they generally weren't too long that I really could not
stay interested, but I think the ones I enjoyed least were reading the actual surveys sent to
mothers because the Surgeon General's Call to Action already hinted at what was in the surveys. 2. I think
all the topics covered so far are important and interesting. 3. I think what we have right now is
enough for the first month. (Maybe add a bit more on the role of government on
supporting/overlooking breastfeeding. 4. More about the physiology and health issues of
breastfeeding.The clinical side of health issues. I understood the anatomy really well. 5. I think we
covered a good amount and there were smooth transitions between the topics.
Time spent on internship/week (hours) 8.0 Combined time spent doing the reading and participating in meetings (virtual/in-person)
Satisfaction with structure of internship on
scale of 1-7, (1= Not Satisfied, 7= Very
Satisfied)
6.1 Satisfaction with types of readings, meetings, interactions, and overall learning experience
Number of meetings, interactions,
guidance was ______.
(1= Too Few/Not Enough, 7 = Too
Many/Much)
3.9
Evaluation of frequency of emails, in-person, and virtual interactions and the amount of guidance received
during research question development
Value of time spent with mentor on a
scale of 1-7, (1= Not Valuable, 7= Very
Valuable)
6.1
Desire to have more experienced or more
diverse mentors. (1= No Desire, 7 =
Strong Desire)
3.0
Suggestions/Improvements N/A
1.List of books/readings about how policy changes regarding breastfeeding. 2. Books/readings on
Asian American history. 3. Books/readings on how Asians feed their babies usually in their home
countries. 4. I would have liked to more about what was a plausible scale and method of research
given our time and resources. 5. I think I need a little more background in finding research articles to
make sure there will be enough to look at for my project.
1. Mentors who have more knowledge about how medicine and data that people get from
research help generate health policies in government. ( But since Anna has a MPH degree, I don't
think I need another mentor) 2. I love to meet more medical students and hear their stories because
I am realizing everyone does have such a unique path. I am also very excited to meet Dr. Shakeri and other
very experienced doctors involved in women's health. 3. I think you're a great mentor since you are
so close in age and have so much experience.You're very relatable.
Table 1. Intern Evaluation of and Satisfaction with the Structure and Content of the First Month of the Internship
1. “I think my confidence has definitely increased. Before I was familiar with the concepts,
but didn't necessarily know where to start. Learning how to begin the process and
break it down increased my overall confidence.”
2. “I still stand by my original estimate of my own confidence.After being exposed
to researching and the research process for the past few weeks, my confidence has
boosted as I do not feel as unfamiliar with the subject now. I think with more exposure,
I will become even more confident in my abilities.”
3. “Yes, I would evaluate myself a bit lower if I could go back three weeks ago.
Initially, I rated myself a 5 for research method, but after all the process I went through
for my research, I don't think I was a five. I should be like a 3 or 4.”
4. “There were numerous factors of research I did not understand at the time
including availability of studies and resources.This score seems accurate, I felt confident
in the common ideas I had about research, but I learned how many other factors I need
to improve on.”
LiquidGoldConcept:
• Anna Sadovnikova, MPH, MA, CEO, Co-Founder
• Samantha Koehler, MPH, MSW, CFO, Co-Founder
• Ileisha Sanders, MPH, COO, Co-Founder
Faculty Advisor: Shadi A. Shakeri, MD, Dept. of Radiology at UC Davis
Interns:
• Janeet Dhauna—Sophomore, Undeclared
• Jessika Martin—Junior, Nutrition Science
• Vanisha Patel—Junior, Neurobiology,Tech. Mgmt. Minor
• Yinan “Florrie” Zhu—Sophomore, Biochemistry