Emma Covey

I spent my summer working with the cardiac imaging department at Yale University. We worked closely with pathology, who provided us with human hearts to analyze using Cone Beam CT scanning. I learned how to mix, inject, and observe contrast in the blood vessels of hearts. Using this scanning, we are working to develop 3D modeling software that can replace traditional autopsy in determining cardiac disease-related deaths. This project aims to design a system that will allow for CT scanning to work in tandem with an invasive traditional autopsy. Traditional autopsy is not as good at detecting certain issues, such as gas within the body, and CT scan “virtopsies” could bring a lot more depth to the death investigation.

I was not expecting to work with so many different departments at Yale. Not only did I work with cardiac imaging, as expected, but I got to work with radiology and pathology as well. I would like to thank Dr. Nadia Solomon and Dr. Albert Sinusas at the Sinusas Laboratory and the Renée Crown Honors Program for contributing greatly to my experience.