Goals and Learning

Goals

There are goals that I have for Life-Health Sciences Internship Program and what can be done to get there

Goal 1: Gain more experience in the medical field by shadowing residents

This helps me prepare for my future because shadowing is not only recommended for applying to medical schools but it is also helpful to help me gain more experience in the medical field and gives me actual responsibilities that I might have in the future. It will give me hands-on experience with patients as well as other professionals in the medical field and help me make a more informed decision about my future career.

Tasks:

Fill out all required paperwork and see all requirements for shadowing
Be attentive while I am shadowing
Shadow different residents in different areas

March Update:

I have not had enough time this semester to shadow, but my supervisor and I coordinated days where I can go in and shadow residents. My supervisor also told me that I could go during the summer, and that is what I am planning on doing during the summer.

Goal 2: Do well-written and professional literature reviews

I will have to do research in the future before and during medical school, so this will help me prepare for it because I will gain more knowledge on how to do a thorough and professional literature review. It will help me gain many skills such as finding experts in a specific field, learning to identify key questions to ask about specific topics, and analyzing and synthesizing theories and findings from a piece of literature.

Tasks:

Preparing for literature reviews by reading articles and picking the best ones
Make sure to set a pace for myself and give each literature attention
See examples of a well-written review and what components made it good

March Update:

I have enjoyed doing literature reviews. Currently, I am doing literature reviews mainly over articles on burnout in female physicians, this includes research articles as well as descriptive articles. I am entering these articles on RedCap. Next, I will print out the list of articles that I did or make a pdf file of it.

Goal 3: Maintain professional skills and discipline, even with limited supervision

In any work environment, it is important to be disciplined enough to get your work done well and on time, it is also important to remain professional in the workplace and have a good relationship with your teammates. This is especially important for my future career in healthcare because there won't be much supervision but there will be tasks and responsibilities, this will help me be disciplined to get tasks done even if there is no one to check them.

Tasks:

Make sure I do my work when working from home as well as keep myself in check
Introduce myself to new people and get to know them so that I know my team better and incorporate myself into the team
Have a schedule of things I need to do work-related and school-related as well as manage my time wisely when there are a lot of tasks to do

March Update:

I have had opportunities to meet with my supervisor's team during a board meeting. In that meeting, I was able to watch how the team came together to ensure that there were enough activities for residents so that they could relax. I saw how different leaders from different areas of expertise came together so that those activities included everyone, residents, medical students, etc. I also gained professional skills just by interacting with my supervisor and making sure that I communicated any issues that I had.

Career Goal: work in the healthcare industry, preferably as a doctor, and go on missionary trips after I graduate

My career goal is to get into a medical school I like and a residency program and become a doctor to help those in need of help in the United States as well as those outside the United States. I want to do this by going on missionary trips and providing aid in regions of the world that may not be as fortunate as me. This is one of my goals because I think many people need help and not many people know and it is kind of like me giving back and making someone's life a little easier.

I am sure that this is what I want to do in the future, however, I am considering going into PA school as it will allow me to graduate earlier and have more time to help others. I am going to figure out if PA or MD is my preference by researching more into PA schools and learning about them since I only know about the path that an MD has to take.

Internship's Impact on Career Goal:

My internship impacted my career goal because it gave me insight into what going through medical school and residency is like. Getting to hear how residents struggled with their work-life balance made it more real to me. I always knew residency was hard, but hearing first-hand experiences made me rethink if I wanted to go through that process or not.

Reflection

My goals have changed a little from a year ago because a year ago I was confident that I wanted to go to medical school. However, gaining more knowledge and more experience of what a medical student or resident goes through has made me hesitant about my decision and I am not sure that's the route I want to take. I have made progress in that I gained more experience from my internship and from other people about the two paths that I am thinking about and will continue this progress by shadowing and gaining clinical experience.

Summer and After:

In the summer, I plan on shadowing doctors as well as PAs to see what a normal day for each person would look like. I think that will help me tremendously in deciding between PA school and medical school. After summer, I will start thinking about the application process for both and possibly taking the MCAT if that's the route I want to take. I will also gain leadership experience by becoming a TA for Organic Chemistry.

Learning

From my internship, there are many skills that I put to use as well as many more that I can develop

Skills

Skills I am confident in: I possess strong problem-solving skills, demonstrated through my experience in designing Canvas courses. I encountered technical challenges during these tasks, prompting me to independently research and find solutions for specific elements without relying on tutorials. In terms of teamwork, I collaborate closely with my supervisor, regularly discussing task progress and strategizing collaborative efforts to achieve our goals, while also identifying areas where I can independently contribute.
- - - Spring Update: I have gotten more confident in my problem-solving skills since the fall. I have needed to figure out solutions to any problem that I encountered. For my literature review, if there was something that was missing, I would look for it myself first and try to figure it out on my own.
Skills I want to grow in: I aim to enhance my communication skills by actively seeking guidance from my supervisor when faced with challenges or in need of assistance, instead of attempting to tackle tasks independently. Moving forward, I plan to proactively communicate with my supervisor, expressing my need for additional work or seeking guidance when struggling with assigned tasks. Additionally, I recognize the importance of effective time management, and I intend to improve this skill by maintaining a comprehensive calendar that encompasses both work-related and school-related tasks. This approach ensures sufficient time allocation for each responsibility, minimizing time constraints and enhancing overall efficiency.
- - - Spring Update: I have grown in my communication. Now, if I am busy or something in my internship conflicts with my school schedule, I am not shy to say or slow to communicate it with my supervisor. I also now ask for clarification if I have questions about a certain task. I have also improved a little with my time management skills, I have become more aware of when my busy weeks are and plan ahead accordingly.
Skills in my internship: In my internship, I actively apply my existing problem-solving skills and focus on strengthening my communication abilities. Additionally, I am committed to further developing my teamwork skills by engaging more with my team and supervisor. I aim to cultivate strong relationships, stepping out of my comfort zone to enhance collaboration and contribute effectively to the team's success.
- - - Spring Update: I have strengthened my communication skills as well as continued to utilize my problem-solving skills if I ran into a problem, for example in my literature review. I would try to solve it on my own if I can't I am not hesitant to communicate it with my supervisor.
My internship has helped me gain a deeper understanding of my major: My internship has been instrumental in my personal and professional growth, providing me with a more profound insight into my major. It has enabled me to explore diverse career paths within the healthcare industry and the medical field. Initially focused on becoming a doctor, I now recognize the breadth of opportunities beyond this role. I've discovered avenues for research, engagement with staff, and various healthcare-related branches, expanding my perspective on potential career trajectories.
- - - Spring Update: Additionally, my internship has offered me a glimpse into the realities of a resident's or medical student's daily life, shedding light on the challenges they encounter. This exposure has prompted me to reevaluate my career aspirations and explore alternative paths within the healthcare industry.

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