Learning Goal #1: Gain a deeper understanding of the healthcare system
What tasks, responsibilities, projects, or activities will you do to meet this goal?
1. Shadowing experience within the pediatric hematology oncology clinic
2. Participating in literature review
3. Participating in semi-structured interviews
Learning Goal #2: Understand the experience of children with cancer and their caregivers as they navigate the healthcare experience
What tasks, responsibilities, projects, or activities will you do to meet this goal?
1. Semi-structured interviews with caregivers of children with cancer- symptom management
2. Participating in recruitment of caregivers
3. Helping with analysis
Learning Goal #3: Gain communication skills within the healthcare/professional setting
What tasks, responsibilities, projects, or activities will you do to meet this goal?
1. Recruitment
2. enrollment on a randomized controlled trial of an app to support caregivers in the medical management of their child with cancer
My current academic goal is to go to medical school. I have always felt drawn to science and medicine. Based off of my experiences, I believe it would be a good fit for me. In my internship, I have been able to explore various health care careers. I have discussed my favorite classes with my supervisor and been able to base my work off of these preferences while also gaining connections with different departments. I feel even more confident in my ability to make career choices based on my knowledge of both what options I have and my own preferences and tendencies.
To continue researching my career and academic goals, I will shadow in multiple other specialties. This will help me explore multiple career options after medical school and the pro and cons of each. This school year, I have a current medical school student mentor. I will ask them more questions about medical school. This will help give me some insight on what medical school might be like.
During my time in college, I will take steps to reach my career goals. Ultimately, I will need to apply to medical schools in order to succeed. Before that, I will begin researching the differences between MD and DO medical schools and degrees this winter. I will make a list and at least 5 pros and cons for each. This spring, I will update and improve my resume and my LinkedIn account. This time next year, I will research both general and school-specific requirement for medical school applications. I will make a list of requirements I still need to accomplish and make a plan as to how to accomplish them.
As a short-term way to achieve my goals, I have applied for a summer internship and started to think about my future endevours here at IUPUI. The internship program I have applied for is the Gregory Ferhibach program. This program matches interns to a site based off of their major and interests. I have been told that I will likely be working at an Eskenazi primary care center. Beyond that, I hope to be a lab TA in the Biology K101 course in a future semester.