Carlisle Pediatric Associates

For my third Field Period, I shadowed Dr. Deborah Raubenstine and Dr. Stephanie Waters at Carlisle Pediatric Associates in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. As a result of my experience within The Johns Hopkins Hospital system, I wanted to immerse myself in a pediatric setting to see how well I liked this specialty. Carlisle Pediatric Associates is located in a mid-size town and treats a diverse group of patients. I spent most of my time shadowing Dr. Raubenstine, and I loved interacting with the children and their parents. I learned that interacting with children is different than interacting with adults.

Field Experience Presentation

Field Experience Reflection Paper

I learned how to interact with children of all ages. Because I did not grow up around young children, it was an eye-opening experience for me to be able to interact with children. With supervision, I swabbed patients to test for the flu and strep throat. I was not expecting this hands-on experience, but I was excited to be a part of the diagnosis process. Also with the guidance of Dr. Raubenstine and Dr. Waters, I questioned patients about their illness history. I first asked patients what symptoms they had and when each symptom started. Based on their responses, I continued to ask questions to narrow down their symptoms. When I had finished asking the questions I thought relevant, Dr. Raubenstine or Dr. Waters continued from where I left off. I was nervous when I first started asking patients about their symptoms, but after a few times, I became much more comfortable.

This experience provided me with insight about the medical field and pediatrics. I gained hands-on experience and more skills when interacting with patients. I improved my nonverbal skills and my ability to read body language.