Preparing First Responders to Communicate with Deaf Patients Using ASL

ASL4Responders is a student-led initiative to help first responders and healthcare professionals acquire essential American Sign Language (ASL) for emergency situations.

Get Involved

Emergency Care

Reducing communication gaps during critical moments.

ASL Education

For EMS and Medical Professionals

Patient Focus

Helping patients feel safe, heard, and understood.

Inclusive Care

Creating a more accessible healthcare system for the deaf.

About Me

My name is Samika Agarwal

I am a high school senior at Woodbridge Academy Magnet School, NJ with a passion for healthcare, emergency medicine, and improving patient experiences. Through my work as a hospital volunteer, EMT Rescue Squad Cadet, researcher, and ASL learner, I have seen how communication can directly impact the quality of care patients receive.

My goal is to combine healthcare, education, and technology to help create more accessible emergency care for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals.

Mission

My mission is to help first responders and medical professionals develop basic ASL communication skills so Deaf patients can feel understood, informed, and supported during medical emergencies.

Leadership

President, National Honor Society

President, Culture & Diversity Club

Girl Scouts Senior

SEWA Youth Lead

Vice President, Biocomputational Research Club

Senior Editor, School Newspaper

Vice President, Biocomputational Research Club

Treasurer-Elect, Spanish Honor Society

Honors and Awards

HOSA

Dental Science — 1st Place, Dental Terminology — 4th Place, Parliamentary Procedure — 4th Place

Scholastic Art & Writing Award

Honorable Mention

Model UN

Honorable Delegate - Princeton & Global Citizens

SEWA

Service Award (100+ Hours)

Diamond Challenge

Semi-finalist

OSHA

10-Hour Healthcare Certification

Silicon Valley Coding Challenge

Top 5%

American Heart Association

BLS Provider

My Research

01

Telomere Biology Disorders Research

Conducted research on how TERT and TERC mutations in telomeres contribute to diseases such as Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Dyskeratosis Congenita. Using RNA structure prediction and public variant databases such as ClinVar, I found that certain TERC mutations may reduce RNA structural stability, while several TERT mutations were linked to changes in telomerase protein function.

03

Cancer Vaccines Research

Researching how cancer vaccines work and why combining them with checkpoint inhibitors may improve treatment effectiveness.

02

Biomedical Research in Oncology

Studying key concepts in cancer biology, tumor development, and current approaches in oncology research.

04

Genetics Research with Cornell Professor

Conducting genetics research using tools such as BLAST, KEGG, and NCBI to analyze biological pathways, gene function, and disease connections.

Medical Exprience

1 / Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (120+ hours)

Volunteered alongside nursing staff, observed patient care workflows, and gained exposure to clinical operations and patient-centered care.

2 / Medical Shadowing

Shadowed healthcare professionals across multiple specialties, including a General Physician, Pediatrician, and Dentist, gaining insight into patient diagnosis, treatment, and clinical decision-making.

3 / Scotch Plains Rescue Squad Cadet

Completed EMT training and participated in emergency response activities, developing an understanding of pre-hospital care, patient assessment, and emergency communication.