Rubi Thomson

Clinical rotations :

• Obstetrics/Gynecology at Saint Agnes Hospital
• Surgery at Saint Agnes Hospital
• Internal Medicine at Mercy Medical Center
• Emergency Medicine at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center
• Critical Care Medicine at Baltimore Washington Hospital Center
• Community Medicine at Baltimore City health department
• Family Medicine at Private practice
• Pediatrics at Private practice

Experience/Skills gained as a student during the clinical year:

Performed comprehensive history and physical examination on adult and pediatric patients, proficient at pelvic examinations, PAP smear preparations, male and female STD testing/screening, skilled at administration of vaccines, splinting, laceration repair, abscess incision and drainage, first and second assisted during c-section and vaginal deliveries, general surgery, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, assisted with endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy, performed femoral arterial line insertion, arterial blood gases, central line placement with ultrasound guidance.

• Screened diverse chemical compound library to identify novel antibacterial compounds that are effective against a wide variety of clinically relevant bacteria including Burkholderia cepacia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, B. thailandensis, Streptococcus pneumonia, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Acinetobacter baumannii, Francisella tularensis LVS, S. aureus and Yersinia pestis (avirulent strain). Assisted with designing and optimizing a cell-based bioluminescence assay and screened for inhibitors to the SOS response in Burkholderia thailandensis used as a model for biothreat agents, Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei.
• Maintained tissue culture, performed bacterial cloning, plasmid, genomic DNA and RNA extractions, gel electrophoresis, PCR, RT-PCR, tissue culture infections, MTT assays, handled mice for bone marrow extraction, performed antibody staining of experimental plates to prepare them for analysis by high-content imaging systems, assisted with data and image analysis.

• Fully trained and competent to work in Bacteriology and TB laboratory
• Performed patients' specimen processing and inoculation to appropriate media, interpreted gram stains, read and interpreted diagnostic plates and antibiotic susceptibilities for bacterial isolates, set up isolates for susceptibility testing on the BD Phoenix AP system, skilled in TB specimen processing and handling at BSL level 3, performed DNA probe testing for identification of M. tuberculosis, M. avium and M. kansasii, handled and processed parasitology specimens and conducted C.difficile testing
• Was in charge of streamlining process for ordering and maintenance of laboratory supplies for microbiology department
• Participated in infectious disease topic presentations, taught and trained students and new employees

• Properly handled and cultured specimen, interpreted gram stains, assisted technologists in reading diagnostic plates and reporting the results to physicians
• Performed point-of-care testing for H.pylori, Rotavirus and serology testing for Varicella and Rubeola
• Delivered patient specimen among the Inova hospitals and outpatient clinics as a laboratory courier, drove a company car for this position, with excellent driving record