Dons' Summer Highlights - Tyler Rolf '26

☀️Dons’ Summer Highlights☀️ Rising sophomore Tyler Rolf ‘26 had the opportunity to be a part of the Rady Children’s Summer Medical Academy for a few weeks this summer. She hopes to pursue a career in the medical field, so this is a great insight into her future career! Tyler shares that her science teacher, Mrs. Lopatka, helped prepare her for this great preview to her future career:

“Mrs. Lopatka, my freshman year Biology Honors teacher helped me with the application process for this program, and she wrote my letter of recommendation. I have learned a lot from her biology class which helped me be more involved during the program. This two-week intensive program allowed me to learn from top healthcare professionals. I participated in different activities, classroom lessons and presentations in various medical fields. I hope to study pre-med after graduating from Cathedral Catholic High School, and in the future, I hope to pursue a career in orthopedics or in ER/Intensive Care. This program helped me learn more about the different areas of medicine, and I was able to learn from Rady’s doctors about their specific fields.”

During the school year, Tyler is involved on campus in clubs such as the Pre-Med Club and the Surfrider Club.

On Emergency Day, the Children's Hospital Emergency Transport team shows Tyler and the other participants the helicopter (photo credit: Rady Children's Summer Medical Academy)

Tyler participates in a simulation of removing a tumor (photo credit: Rady Children's Summer Medical Academy)

Tyler learns how to use tourniquets in a stop the bleed class (photo credit: Rady Children's Summer Medical Academy)

Tyler's group (photo credit: Rady Children's Summer Medical Academy)

Tyler and other participants watch and participate in a human brain dissection at UCSD (photo credit: Rady Children's Summer Medical Academy)

On suture day, Tyler practices different stitches on pig feet (photo credit: Rady Children's Summer Medical Academy)

Tyler receives a certificate on the last day of the program (photo credit: Rady Children's Summer Medical Academy)