Serena Lau spent up to four hours a day for eight weeks this summer traveling between her Sunnyvale home and San Francisco to participate in a UCSF science internship program.

For this 17-year-old, whos heading off to Yale University in the fall, the long commute was worth it.

This program is really awesome, Serena said at the conclusion of the program earlier this month.

UCSFs Biomedical and Health Sciences Internship for High School Students (BHSI) aims to expose high school students to the professional world of science by matching them up with mentors through the Department of Pediatrics.

BHSI intern Mario Goins II poses for a photo with his poster presentation sum-

marizing his work this summer.

The program, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, has hosted about 165 students over the years. Its one of several educational outreach programs that UCSF offers teens during the summer to give them real-world experiences in science, medicine and health.

Serena, the only senior among this summers 15 BHSI interns, worked closely with her mentor, UCSF orthodontist Snehlata Oberoi, DDS, MDS, an associate professor of orofacial sciences. They developed and administered a survey to see if young patients with retainers would be receptive to a wireless temperature sensor and mobile app that would track and improve wearing time.

Having the chance to shadow her and do this project let me see a multifaceted life, said Serena, who conducted kid-friendly interviews for the survey and watched Oberoi treat youngsters with cleft palates and other deformities.

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Summer Programs Give High School Students a Firsthand Learning Experience