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Ella Annest's desire to intern at a hereditary cancer clinic was sparked in a difficult way – she was a patient there first.
 
Since the beginning of high school, Annest has suffered from chronic anemia. Her doctors recommended regular colonoscopies, which led to the discovery of multiple polyps. Given her age, it was a concerning discovery that ultimately led to regular visits at the Hereditary Cancer Clinic at the University of Colorado during her junior and senior years at Colorado Academy.
 
"Outside of my family, very few people knew what was going on," Annest said. "I was very lucky to have the support network that I did with my family because there was no one my age I could relate to about it. The situation forced me to stretch my comfort zone with learning about the field in order to feel a greater sense of security about what was going on."
 
Annest continued playing lacrosse despite her condition. The effects took a toll on her fitness levels, which affected her ability to compete at a high level. Now, through stringent management, she is able to keep her blood levels under control.
 
After initially claiming a spot as a walk-on with the Cal lacrosse team in 2016, Annest later earned a scholarship. She also received recognition from head coach Brooke Eubanks as the "fittest" member of her team and an invaluable starter on defense.
 
Having just completed her junior year for the Bears, the molecular & cell biology major found her career calling as a result of her medical experience. Annest became fascinated with the process and wanted to learn more about how the human body works.
 
After her freshman year in Berkeley, Annest ventured back to the clinic in Colorado, returning this time to assist the doctors with current patients.
 
Her specific duties for the internship consisted of such typical tasks as data organization and prep work for clinical visits. But her time there as a patient also aided the doctors in relating to patients.
 
"As an intern, I felt incredibly honored and grateful to be helping patients currently undergoing cancer treatment and diagnoses," Annest said. "I felt a huge sense of privilege to be let in by the patients in one of the hardest times in their lives. As a former patient of the clinic, I felt incredible empathy for the patients, which is something that I hope to be able to carry over later into my career in medicine."
 
Annest returned to her home state after the end of this past semester, putting forth her efforts at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, helping with research for lung cancer drug therapies by exploring the process in which a particular protein regulates tumor cell growth.
 
Now that her high school health scare is behind her, Annest has found the rainbow after that storm, and she's hoping to help people navigate their way through similar tough times.
 
"I feel as though the experience has given me a different insight that will help me," Annest said. "As a doctor, I hope to be able to have a different kind of empathy and compassion for the patients I care for and their families. While it was a hard experience, I am grateful for the opportunities and passions that have come from it.