Brandon Carlson-Clarke and Chuc Le

To be accepted into the Neurological Surgery Summer Student Program at the University of Washington Medical School is a great honor."

TCC students Brandon Carlson-Clarke and Chuc Le have big goals – and they are getting closer to achieving them, as they recently have been accepted into the competitive Neurological Surgery Summer Student Program at the University of Washington Medical School.

“To be accepted into the Neurological Surgery Summer Student Program at the University of Washington Medical School is a great honor,” notes Brandon. “It compliments my hard work and provides me the opportunity to indulge myself in my passion. It also provides me with an exhilarating opportunity to advance myself educationally and form strong bonds among faculty and peers.”

The summer internship offers just 12 available spots annually among 300 national applicants and seeks high-performing college freshmen and sophomores interested in pursuing careers in Neurobiology and Medicine. Brandon and Chuc, both of whom graduate from TCC in the spring of 2018 with Associate of Science degrees, will begin their two and half month internships after graduation. They will spend the summer engaging in the highly structured and focused work of the program.

The program regimen includes lab research with UW science faculty, surgery observations, patient visits with medical students, and weekly luncheons with faculty. The internship culminates in a presentation in which students highlight their internship work, their research findings, and overall experience with the program.

Brandon and Chuc are both dedicated students. They are active members of TCC’s medical, dental, pharmacy and research clubs on campus. Their commitment and hard work earned them spots in this prestigious program.

Each come from diverse backgrounds that reflect the TCC student body.

Brandon moved to Tacoma to attend TCC from Minnesota. He wanted an affordable education that was close to the UW School of Medicine in Seattle, which he hopes to attend one day. He owns a landscaping business and works to put himself through college, all with a full load of classes at TCC and volunteering at a local health care clinic. He plans to transfer to UW Seattle and major in Neurobiology. His ultimate career goal is to become a sports medicine physician.

Chuc came to the U.S. from Vietnam two years ago. She graduated from Foss High School in June 2017. As a Running Start senior at Foss, she completed one year of college classes and will now graduate with her associate’s degree from TCC only one year later. In her spare time, Chuc works as a math and science tutor at the Writing and Tutoring Center, as well as volunteers for a local health care clinic. Her goals are to transfer to UW Seattle and major in Neurobiology. She’d like to attend the UW School of Medicine, as well, and specialize in Neurosurgery.

Both Brandon and Chuc voice strong affection for the TCC faculty, specifically for the faculty’s passion and dedication to help students.

“One of the decisions that I have made since I came to the United States that makes me greatly appreciative is that I chose to do Running Start at TCC. That gave me a chance to meet the very supportive faculty and peers that have been assisting me every step towards my career goal of becoming a doctor. I would say that without the advice, suggestions, and the help from the faculty, and my supportive and encouraging peers, I might not have made it this far for three years in the United States.”