Summer Intern - Paige Richter
March 7 2025
Poipoia kākano kia puawai – Nurture the seed and it will bloom
This whakatauki completely epitomises what the Vision Research Foundation summer studentship has done for me. It represents the importance of nurturing, support, and care in order for one’s potential to be realised. It is often used in the context of personal growth and education – highlighting that with guidance and encouragement, individuals can thrive and reach their full potential. In a broader sense, it reflects Māori values of whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga – encouraging people to invest in others so that they may flourish.
Through this incredible summer internship, I have been able to further develop my networking and communication skills while also gaining an insight into my future career pathway. I have been incredibly fortunate to shadow highly esteemed surgeons such as Prof. Helen Danesh-Meyer, Dr. Nick Mantell, and Dr. Sarah Hull during their specialist rotations. Observing a variety of procedures – including paediatric and adult cataract removals, vitrectomies, pterygium removals, and strabismus surgeries – has been both an honour and a privilege. This experience has been a crucial stepping stone in my learning journey, whilst reinforcing my passion for ophthalmology. It’s not every day that a third-year medical student gets to experience eye surgeries, but I did, and it’s hard to fathom the depth of my gratitude to the Vision Research Foundation for allowing me to be a part of it.
My summer research project, A Systematic Review of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and Qualitative Studies to Investigate the Hidden Burden That Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) Has on Quality of Life (QoL) provided me with an incredible opportunity to develop my research skills. As part of this project, I completed a PROSPERO registration and began drafting my first research paper with the support of Prof. Helen Danesh-Meyer and Dr. Benson Chen.
Under their guidance, I wrote the methods section, developed a search strategy, and carefully analysed the articles that appeared in the search results to identify the most relevant and suitable studies. This experience allowed me to gain invaluable research skills in a low-pressure environment – skills I may not have otherwise encountered until much later in my career. Alongside this research internship, having the flexibility to work in both Auckland and Gisborne was invaluable, giving me the chance to recharge before starting medical school again. My time in Gisborne was particularly meaningful, as I had the privilege of engaging with Matai Medical Research Institute, presenting to the current cohort of interns, and connecting with rangatahi from Year 11–13 who aspire to careers in health.
I am deeply grateful to Vision Research Foundation for your belief in me, your continual support, and your recognition of my passion for ophthalmology and my community. Being surrounded by world-leading researchers and surgeons has reinforced my confidence that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. This has truly been the opportunity of a lifetime, and I carry this experience forward with me as I embark on my third year of medical school.
Ngā mihi mahana,
Paige Richter
Paige Richter, an exceptional Māori wahine from Te Tairāwhiti, is embarking on her second year as a medical student. Paige successfully finished her Certificate of Health Science at the University of Auckland and completed her First year of Health Science. She has recently been accepted to pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in 2024. Paige is being supported in her studies by the Bronwen Holdsworth Mātai Scholarship. She is excited about the potential of this Summer internship to connect with senior researchers and individuals who share similar interests and values, as well as to gain valuable experience, personal development, and make a positive impact on healthcare.