Christina Ellervik MD, PhD, DMSci | Master of Medical Sciences in Clinical Investigation
Dr. Christina Ellervik a recent graduate of the Master of Medical Sciences in Clinical Investigation program, is always looking for new opportunities to continue to advance her knowledge and skills. It is the desire to learn that led her to medical school in her home country of Denmark more than two decades ago to build on her deep interest in math and science and her passion for working with people. Today, she serves as associate director of clinical chemistry for Boston Children’s Hospital, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, and associate professor of laboratory medicine at the University of Copenhagen. In each of these roles, she recognizes the value of continuing education and the power it holds to advance her career in exciting directions. That’s why, back in 2016 when Ellervik received an email inviting her to apply to Harvard Medical School’s Master of Medical Sciences in Clinical Investigation program, she jumped at the opportunity.
Exploring New Opportunities
“At the time I learned about the program, I had been in the United States for two years, serving as a visiting scientist at Boston Children’s before taking on my current, permanent role. I had been interested in doing a master’s program at some point, but I hadn’t known what was involved. But this program seemed like a perfect fit,” Ellervik explains. She knew the program’s focus on data and statistical analysis would complement her work. In addition, she felt the international aspect of the program would be helpful to broaden her network. “I also thought this was a really good chance to learn more about the medical system and connect with experts in the field,” she explains.
While she knew managing work and family while attending the two-year master’s degree program would be challenging, she says that she discussed it with her husband and professor and felt confident she could make it work. She also felt that the effort she invested would pay off in the new knowledge and connections she would gain in return. “After completing medical school, over time you become self-taught as you learn to navigate different situations on the job; I thought it would be great to go back and learn more and get a little more background knowledge and skills in areas I felt competent in but had not trained in a long time, so I could adjust my approach,” she says.
Exceeding Expectations
She began the program in 2016 while juggling her career and her young family. The program experience lived up to Ellervik’s high hopes and even exceeded them. “Everything fell into place,” she stresses.
“It’s really a high-level master’s program. All the teachers were so well prepared, and it was such a joy to come to class,” she says. The student cohort was a nice mix, of scholars of all ages, supporting each other and coming together around common goals.
She appreciated that the mentor assigned to her by the program supported her and helped her grow. In addition, the topics she selected for her program projects and thesis were tightly tied to the work she was doing on the job, therefore much of her homework was done on the job. This symmetry was ideal for helping it all come together seamlessly.
“My projects were focused on thyroid disease and the genetic and biochemical basis, and I was able to publish two papers based on this research,” she says. She participated in a group project to conduct a meta-analysis, which was published.
Building Advanced Statistical and Data Skills
“All of the participants found the statistical part of the program to be really good. It was very hands-on, with time to reflect and make errors so we could learn from them,” she says. For instance, the scholars were given data sets and had to delve into them to understand what is really behind the data and how it all connects.
“The exercises we did really helped me understand the field a lot better,” Ellervik says, adding that the writing instruction was also excellent. She now understands her writing process better and finds it easier to develop her articles effectively. A lot of the approaches used in the program now guide Ellervik’s work with her students.
Though, the benefits she experienced went beyond the coursework. “I had never been in an international class before, so I found this very interesting to learn about different cultures and approaches and learn how to apply these findings effectively.”
One of her unexpected takeaways was how to have more nuanced communication with people from other cultures. For instance, Ellervik says she is used to speaking more directly to convey what she means, while some of the students from different countries tend to be more tactful, wrapping their words in niceties that obscure the point from her perspective. Learning to understand what one another meant, and how not to offend others while still getting their point across, was a valuable lesson, she says.
Ellervik points out that one of the biggest takeaways from the experience is that she has increased her confidence overall, including in statistics, research, and writing. “I definitely publish more since graduating, and I find the writing much easier,” she says.
Looking at the Same Project through Different Lenses
One of the most notable details she mentions is that all the classwork was tightly coordinated, so students could delve into different areas of the same project by looking through different lenses.
Since graduating, she has kept in touch with many of her classmates, as well as her mentor. “In fact, my mentor and I are doing a project together now,” she adds.
Advice for Others
For other people considering enrolling in the Master of Medical Sciences in Clinical Investigation program, she highly recommends the experience and offers some advice. “It’s a lot of work but very rewarding.” She points out that it is essential to make sure your research project falls within your interests.
“Taking on a project while working can be very stressful, so it’s important that your research for the program is aligned with something you like, something you’ve done before, or something that should be the next step in what you are doing,” she says. “By integrating your homework with what you do on the job, you will find it less overwhelming, while at the same time providing you with a broader perspective and more time to go deeper into the topic you are exploring,” she adds.
Written by Lisa D. Ellis
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