"My thesis -- which looked at cellular reactions to high glucose levels seen in diabetes, and at some potential interventions -- was exciting to me because it was the first project I'd worked on that has the chance for short-term translational impact. That is, the work that I do on the lab bench has the potential to make a difference in the shorter term in clinical applications. I loved the chance to collaborate directly with physicians at the Phoenix Veteran's Affairs hospital as we explored together the questions we had about these cells and how they respond."