Easley resident and Wren High graduate Tyler Polomski recently landed an internship that he hopes will spark his medical career forward.

Polomski, an exercise science major in the Department of Physical Education, Sport, and Human Performance at Winthrop University, will spend the summer in the Duke Center for Living Integrated Health Sciences internship in Durham, NC.

The Duke Center for Living allows interns to gain experience working with clinical trials investigating the effects of exercise and/or dietary interventions on cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes.

“It’s a cardiology center very close to Duke University,” said Polomski. “I will be working on a research team with Dr. William Kraus. I know I will be conducting exercise stress tests, and blood glucose levels, and just learning how to conduct medical research.”

Polomski says he was fortunate to have found this kind of opportunity at this point in his college career.

“I was looking for internships on the southeastern chapter of the American college of sports medicine (SEACSM) website,” said Polomski. “This was listed and it gave me some contact information so I sent a resume and some references. They called me back in February and I was selected. There were only five interns selected.”

Polomski will work on the research team for Dr. William Kraus, who is investigating the role of exercise in reducing mortality and improving the quality of life of patients with various stages of heart failure.

“Dr. William Kraus was working on improving the quality of life in patients who had various stages of heart failure,” said Polomski. “Quality of life is a really big thing. To be able to improve the quality of years instead of the quantity is a very rewarding experience to be a part of.”

The internship will last from May, 21 until Aug, 17, and Polomski says he hopes the experience will enlighten him on his future goals.

“I am hoping this internship is going to really open my eyes to help how I feel,” said Polomski. “Right now I have a plan for pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy after my undergraduate, but I hope this internship will show me other facets of the medical field that might interest me.”

Polomski says it will also be a way to stay on top of his studies at Winthrop.

“(I hope to learn) how to conduct research in the medical field,” said Polomski. “This will also help me next year at Winthrop when I take advanced classes. I will have a head start because of this internship.”