Psychology senior Reymundo Ortiz was one of 10 students from across the nation who attended a conference in June at Syracuse University in New York on how to research the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on veterans.
During an interview, Ortiz spoke about his passion for helping those affected by this disorder.
“I have a passion for working with PTSD because I’m a veteran and I am a sufferer of PTSD and I know a lot of people who suffer with PTSD,” he said.
Ortiz is a former U.S. Army corporal who served in Iraq and Egypt from 1984 to 1994.
He picked psychology as a major because he thought it “was the only way that I could see myself helping other victims of PTSD.”
Asked about his experiences at Syracuse, Ortiz said that he learned a lot.
“Much of the time we were there, they trained us in doing research. Data collection, and morality and research, important things I would need to know to do research on PTSD,” Ortiz said.
He elaborated on the importance of ethics in research.
“It’s important that you have a sense of ethics when doing studies, especially when talking about PTSD and vets,” he said.
Four of the 10 attendees were veterans. The conference was oriented to help them conduct research in PTSD.
“I intend to bring what I learned back home with me,” he said.
Ortiz is researching drug abuse within PTSD, as well as social and emotional support for those with the disorder. He is conducting two studies, which are in the preliminary stages.
Asked when they will be completed, he replied, “It’s hard to say when they will be completed, that’s how it is when you conduct research.”
Since Ortiz is an undergraduate, he will work alongside his mentor, Ruby Charak, an assistant psychology professor and researcher at UTRGV.
Charak is in charge of the Adversities in Childhood and Trauma Studies Lab. She heard about the research opportunity and emailed the lab members.
“It was Reymundo who took the opportunity, he really went for it,” she said. “I think he’s being modest giving me and [Associate Dean of Students for Student Support] Michael [Banegas] all the credit. He was the one that went for it and I give him all the credit for it.”
Ortiz also has concerns regarding his fellow students. At Syracuse University, he felt like the other students had stronger support from their universities.
“My concern is, why are we any different?” Ortiz asked. “We have the same kind of funding, we have the same type of donors, we have the capabilities of being an R1 university. If only things were administered the proper way.”
He said the university has many resources to help students.
“Why put obstacles, why put deadlines, why can’t we just have an open forum? We need a central body to govern the finances to help students get to these internships,” he said.
Banegas, who also mentors Ortiz, said, “Is there always more that we can do as a university? Yes. The university prides itself in helping students. We made partnerships with other organizations, be it federal or local, and these partnerships help us assist students to make sure that they’re successful.”
Asked what can be done to help students find success, Banegas replied, “The first line are the professors in the classrooms. They’re the ones who have access to the students and know what their potential is. As soon as they find an opportunity for a grant, they should come up to the [Office of Student Support] so we can help them and get them to the right people.”
Banegas said Ortiz’s efforts makes it easier for students because “he opened new doors for future students who may want to do what he has done.”
Ortiz credits his success to his mentors, Banegas and Charak, as well as his academic family at the ACT Lab. Asked what other students should do to find success in research, Ortiz said, “You need a CV, a good GPA, and you need to be grounded in statistics and methodology. … Do not just apply to one internship or fellowship; you need to apply to several. Get your feet wet and start looking for these internships.”
