Aside from school, I try to enrich my experience in the medical field outside of school. So, to make sure I stay busy for the summer (the last one before college) and continue to indulge in the medical field, I applied and was accepted into the teen summer volunteering program at St. David's North Austin Medical Center as well as the MEDScience internship program at Harvard Medical School. This page will explore my experiences with each of these opportunities as well as some other things I am doing outside of school!
Over the upcoming 23' summer, especially since this is the last one before college, I wanted to make sure I could get some experience in. So, I decided to apply for the teen summer volunteering program at the St. Davids North Austin Medical Center. I went through an application and interview process which took a time span of about two weeks. A couple of weeks later, I got an email that congratulated me for getting accepted to what I was told, a very selective process! I am currently going through the background check and will be ready for orientation on May 27, 2023!
Acceptence email!
For this volunteering program, they let me know that older students will get the more "official" roles, whereas the students with a little less experience will be assigned to different centers of the hospital or front desk duties.
"St. David’s North Austin Medical Center combines convenience with leading-edge healthcare services. Located at Parmer Lane and Mopac Expressway, the facility has provided comprehensive medical services since 1995. The campus is home to the St. David’s Women’s Center of Texas (includes a Level III NICU), Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery, Certified Stroke Center and rehabilitation services, and Kidney Transplant Center."
My schedule..
After orientation on March 27, we were given uniforms and finalized our schedules for the duration of the program. I have 8:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m shifts every Monday and Thursday. On Mondays I will be helping out in cardiac rehab and on Thursdays I will be in the ambulatory department. The hospital I will be volunteering at has emotional support animals, I hope to run into them one day! My first day is on June 8th!
When working in the ambulatory surgery department of the hospital, I was able to watch nurses administer IVs and watch as doctors would change languages from medical terminology to "English" when responding to patients. Additionally, I worked alongside the nurses by running labs, helping out with pregnancy tests, updating patient information, and restocking.
In cardiac rehab, my job was to make sure all the equipment was clean for the next use. After patients would use exercise equipment, it was important for both the nurses and volunteers to make sure it was wiped down and clean for the next patient. During my time in this department, I was able to watch nurses check for blood pressure and heart rate as well as interact with different patients.
Among other internships that I was waitlisted from, like HSRA at UT Austin and a cancer research program at UT Health, I was luckily accepted into the MEDScience internship program at Harvard Medical School. I had to go through the application process as well as submit a couple of recommendation letters. And after a three month wait, on April 14, 2023 an email for the program decision was sent out to all applicants.
Program acceptance email!
Through the program, students will be able to meet nurses, physicians, researchers, and other healthcare professionals and explore various medical career pathways during MEDchats and be inspired to find my passion!
"HMS MEDscience Summer Programs offer innovative, immersive medical science programs for high school students curious and passionate about science, healthcare, and related STEM fields. MEDscience uses realistic medical emergencies to bring science to life! Learn by practicing for a transformative experience."
Day One: July 31, 2023
On day one, after introductions we were given two patient cases: constipation and asthma. Additionally, we got to learn how to correctly and at what circumstances intubation was needed. We also went over all the body systems.
Day Two: August 1, 2023
On day two, we learned and practiced how to use a turning kit as well as securly wrap a bleeding arm (through this we earned our stop the bleed certifications). We also learned how to insert an IV, how to drill into a long bone in case of blood. Additionally we were given to patient cases: a heart attack and a collaped lung, in which we were supposed to pretend we were in a ER setting. We also learned a lot about the circulatory system.
Day Three: August 2, 2023
On day three, we spent half of the day attending a lecture as well as performing hands on tasks with dummies to get our CPR and AED certification. The other half we spent trying to figure out a case that was given to one of our patients: diabetes.
Day Four: August 3, 2023
One day four, we did an array of different activities! First, we were given a patient case: gallstones. We were able to see how gallstones looked in an x-ray as well as the symptoms assosiated with it (as we did with all the patient cases). Additionally, we got to test our surgical skills through activities that were supposed to depict a laparoscopic surgeory. Additionally, we were able to simulate what it would be like to deliver a baby with dummies.
Day Five: August 4, 2023
On day five, the last day we were given a case about an overdose and the external symptoms that come with it. We also learned about how different drugs mess with the body's supply of dopamine and its overall effect on the body's receptors. After that, we had a short "graduation," where we all got our MEDscience completion certificates as well as our CPR and stop the bleed certifications. After that, the organizers of the program set up an open house in which all the parents could come in and experience what a day in the life of a MEDscience student looked like. Overall, the program was an amazing experience and I learned so much as well as made amazing connections with extraordinary people!
Episode Release dates:
Episode #1: June 16, 2023 (Trailer)
Episode #2: July 6, 2023
Episode #3: August 8, 2023
Instagram: @themedicalmaps
Apart from this website, I created a podcast, also titled: Medical Maps.
Podcast Description: Are you interested in medicine but don't know where to start? Well, you're in the right place. Welcome to Medical Maps! Here, we will discuss the do’s and dont’s of starting off your medical career in and after high school. By talking with educators, health care professionals, and professors, we will deep dive into the world of your medical career in high school and beyond.
To spice it up, we will also highlight different illnesses and arising treatments with modern advances by asking questions while digging deep into the world of medical innovations alongside their innovators. So, join us for an episode of Medical Maps, where we map out the way!
Stay tuned for more episodes and make sure to subscribe!
Find us on Spotify! Search for Medical Maps: The Podcast
The Perry Initiative is a company that offers one-day virtual and in-person career exploration programs for young women in high school who are interested in careers in orthopedic surgery and engineering. Based on current statistics, this field in STEM has a minority of women. And they made it their goal to host programs such as the one I attended to educate and give advice to young girls, whether that be taking an interest or just learning something new.
My goal for this experience was to both learn something new and explore different fields in medicine to keep my options for the future open.
As someone who loves all aspects of science, educating and teaching someone about the subject makes me very happy. And when Lahari told me about this opportunity, I could not say no. On Saturday, October 22, me and Lahari went to Leander Middle School and signed ourselves us for the Elephant Toothpaste booth. We had about 50+ kids show up in the span of about 2.5 hours. It was an amazing experience because I was able to collaborate and teach kids about the cool and interesting aspects of science.
My goal for this experience was to learn something new and get over my fear of talking publicly. Which is exactly what I did. I was able to talk to so many different people, and even though I was a little nervous at first, I was able to get over it quickly because of their warm and welcoming smiles. I was also able to learn how to safely conduct an elephant toothpaste activity and it will definitely be something I will do with my family in the future.
Medical Mirrors is an exciting and informative medical magazine exclusively designed for the students of Leander High School. Our mission is to enlighten and inspire young minds who are interested in the field of medicine by showcasing the amazing opportunities available to them.
Whether you are interested in medicine as a potential career path or simply wish to learn more about the fascinating world of healthcare, Medical Mirrors is your ultimate guide. Get ready to be inspired, informed, and empowered on your path to a rewarding career in healthcare!