Life of an HSA Intern

January 2023 | Kabir Jassar

Medical internships are very beneficial for students in HSA. They provide valuable experience and make students more well-rounded. Recently, I myself applied for an internship at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. Since then, I have not fully been sure about what to expect, as I’m sure many others who are interested in applying for an internship wonder as well. To find out, I interviewed one of my fellow HSA students, Ysabelle Gloriani, about her experiences as a medical intern. She has provided very useful information about what one should expect while working as an intern. This interview was meant to show other students the vast benefits of taking part in a medical internship, and hopefully encourage others who may have not been interested previously to consider joining one.

Q: Which HSA internship were you involved in? 

A: I interned at Axis Chiropractic and Health Center.

Q: How did you find out about this internship opportunity?

A: I found out through the HSA lunch meetings and Mr. Lawhorn coming in and advertising it during HBS.

Q: Why were you interested in this internship?

A: I was interested in gaining work experience and I wanted to add something to my resume.

Q: How would you describe a typical workday?

A: A typical workday varies since there’s always a different amount of patients every day. On days with lots of patients coming in, it’s more stressful and time and patient folders have to be managed nicely in order to make the flow of work as convenient as possible. On the days that aren’t as busy, we’re given more downtime and it’s a lot less stressful.

Q: What are some attributes of a successful intern?

A: Successful interns are ready to do any task at any time, know when to ask for help when they need it, and have great communication skills.

Q: Are there any challenges that you face in this role?

A: A challenge I faced at Axis was language barrier. The doctors and most of the patients there speak Chinese, so a lot of the time I felt confused and I didn’t want to seem rude and ask if they spoke English.

Q: What is your most memorable experience from this internship?

A: The most memorable experience at my internship was learning how to do an ultrasound and electrical muscle stimulation. It was the most professional thing I did there and it was fun. 

Q: What have you learned from this internship that can benefit you in the future?

A: I learned communication skills and how important it can be in any occupation, regardless if you’re in the medical field or not. 

Q: Do you have any advice for those who are interested in applying for a medical internship?

A: Even if you don’t think you’re interested in the specific occupation you’re applying for, it’s good to try. You’re going to learn skills that are helpful in school and in life and you’re definitely going to take away something from it.

I am very glad that I had the opportunity to speak with Ysabelle and learn more about her experiences as a medical intern. This interview allowed me to look into the responsibilities and job aspects of a medical intern and has made me very excited to begin my internship. It has shown me what to expect while working as an intern and the numerous benefits that come with partaking in an internship. This interview with Ysabelle has helped me feel more prepared for my internship, and I hope it will inspire many others to become medical interns as well.

My Internship Experience

November 2022 | Ysabelle Gloriani

At Chino Hills High School, Health Science Academy students are required to have completed 100 medical hours in order to receive a stole and an award. In order to fulfill these hours, many students decide to do internships! They can choose to do them anywhere, like hospitals, optometric offices, dental offices, and other medical organizations, as long as they’re working with a medical professional.

My friend and I are currently doing our internship at Axis Chiropractic and Health Center. We work with two amazing doctors, some part-time students, and patients. One of the doctors, Dr. Chen, showed us around, the general routine, and how to clean chiropractic beds, as well as simple procedures in the first few weeks of our internship. 

We learned how to do electrical muscle stimulation, check patients’ vitals, and do ultrasounds (not the pregnancy ultrasound! This type of ultrasound targets painful areas to reduce inflammation and speeds up the healing process of tissues). We also learned common chiropractic and medical terms and realized a lot of information we were learning there was related to what we are learning in our Human Body Systems class. We realized that if we had any questions about the class, we could ask her.

While observing during our first few weeks, I noticed the doctors almost had no free time during their shifts. The two doctors did a wonderful job taking care of up to six patients at a time, which I found very impressive. While working, they were great at communicating with patients and they seemed to have a close friendship with each individual. The patients also seemed very happy to talk to the doctors and were happy to let my friend and I observe the setting.

An Interview with Chino Valley Science and Engineering Fair Winners

March 2021 | Enrico Hernandez

Two HSA freshman students, Makena Bailey and Kyra Phaychanpheng, have been inseparable science fair partners and best friends since fourth grade. This year, they took first place in the virtual Chino Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) Science Fair with an intriguing microbiology experiment: The Efficacy of Citrus hystrix, Laurus nobilis, and Ocimum basilicum Leaf Extracts against Epidermal Bacteria. Not only did they take first place in the CVUSD Science Fair, but they also qualified for the Regional SIMSEF Science Fair and won the gold medal on March 18th, 2021. 

In addition, Kyra and Makena received the Regeneron ISEF Regional Awards Society for In Vitro Biology Award for their experiment. This reward is only given to the most exemplary Senior Division project that is in the field of plant or animal in vitro biology or tissue. The pair will also be moving on to the California State Science and Engineering Fair, which will take place on April 13th. These accolades will add to their collection of three previous first-place district science fair trophies, three gold medals at the regional level, and one previous participation in the state science fair. This interview with Kyra and Makena goes into their thought process and execution of their experiment, presentation, and journey through the science fair. 

Enrico: “What made you want to choose this topic for your Science Fair presentation?”

Kyra: “We wanted to choose this topic because of our initial interest in Thai lime leaves, bay leaves, and basil. We were familiar with them in Asian cuisine and became interested in the many different health and biological benefits of these leaves. We decided that we wanted to test the antibacterial properties and see the effectiveness of each leaf against skin bacteria. We want to help many people with this project and hopefully increase the knowledge of antibacterial properties in natural plants!”

Enrico: “How long did this project take you?”

Kyra and Makena: “We started brainstorming for a couple of weeks, but had to quickly execute our experiment in a short period of two months. We did encounter a few obstacles regarding COVID-19 and related inconveniences, but that only motivated us to persistently work harder.” 

Enrico: “What were some of the problems you encountered while doing this project?”

Makena: “A problem we encountered in our experiment was that our bacteria did not grow in the expected seven days because the room we grew the bacteria in was colder than the ideal temperature. We also didn’t have an incubator or a lab setting to work in since we did our project at home.”

Enrico: “Were you two considering other types of leaves or plants for your project?”

Kyra: “After researching, we found that all three of these leaves were the best option for a variety of reasons for this experiment. They all contain secondary metabolites, which are natural compounds that help in eliminating bacteria. In the future, we may want to test the different types of basil, since basil was the most successful in eliminating bacteria.”

Enrico: “Could you explain your hypothesis and the thought process behind it?”  

Kyra: “We predicted that if we test the extracts from Thai lime leaves, bay leaves, and basil against epidermal bacteria, then basil will eliminate the most bacteria. We predicted this because of our research that showed how beneficial basil is. Methyl eugenol is one antibacterial compound that is active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Thai lime leaves only contain about 1% of methyl eugenol. Bay leaves eliminated the second most amount of bacteria because of the higher percentage of methyl eugenol, at 9-12%. Basil contains about 39% of methyl eugenol and has so many more beneficial chemical compounds.”

Enrico: “Are there any aspects of your project that you would like to continue investigating in the future?” 

Makena: “In the future, we may want to continue researching the different species of basil and the antibacterial properties. We also want to hopefully test the antiviral properties of basil against weakened or dead viruses when we get the opportunity to work in a lab setting.”

Enrico: “Why do you think the incorporation of these ingredients could make a better, alternative sanitizer compared to an alcohol-based one?”

Makena: “We used glycerin in our leaf extracts instead of alcohol because alcohol can eliminate bacteria on its own, so we didn’t want to mask the antibacterial properties of the leaves. Alcohol can also be harmful, dehydrating, and irritating to the skin, so a glycerin natural extract can be a better substitute compared to an alcohol-based sanitizer.”

With their extremely interesting award-winning project, this dynamic duo will be entering the California State Science and Engineering Fair on April 13th to add another medal to their collection.  

Ms. Sydney Masters: Mindfulness Club Guest Speaker

February 2021 | Connor Gregory

Ms. Masters is a mindfulness coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks, working to help focus and calm the players on the field while playing. During her high school years, while playing on the soccer team, she posed a question to herself, “Why do some coaches get more out of their players than other coaches?” This question would lead her down a career of psychology and how it relates to sports. After finishing her schooling, Ms. Masters first started working in a male prison to start her psychology career. Later, she worked with the U.S military and Special Forces before obtaining her current position as a mindfulness coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

As a mindfulness coach, one must ensure that the players are capable of staying focused and calm while playing, in order to maximize their psychological and physical abilities. Ms. Masters works to do this by talking to her athletes and running calming exercises to help them focus on the current situation. Although these exercises work for many of the players, the experience is different for everyone. Ms. Masters adapts to the players’ specific needs and assists them in remaining calm and focused while playing.

The work of a mindfulness coach is extremely impressive and shows that physical performance relates to the calmness and readiness of the mind as well.

My Summer Internship Experience

November 2020 | Priya Patel

What does it mean to have a passion? Having a passion is when an individual has intense love for someone or something. How do you know what you are passionate about in life and as a career? An internship can help you decide what you would truly love to do for the rest of your life by looking into others' lives. In the summer of 2020, many students in HSA were able to engage and be involved in two astonishing virtual internships that changed their lives.

A medical internship is when a student works in an organization or hospital in order to receive work experience and to explore the numerous professions in the field. On June 8th 2020, these students' views of the medical field was diversified and remodeled. A week into an internship with Mrs. Ziegler, students began to uncover the true beauty of the medical field. When individuals talk about the medical field, the only career people eulogize is a doctor. However, there are various career types that are untouched. From a Nuclear Pharmacist to a Biomedical Engineer, medicine has many arching branches. This internship gave students the opportunity to uncover these branches and dive deeper into their passions and purpose.

While researching different occupations and doing various activities, students had the opportunity to interview medical professionals and ask them questions on how they achieved their level of success. Talking about medicine on travel missions and their worst moments really touched the students and influenced them into getting a tangible perspective of this field. At the end of the day, many students’ imaginations ran wild with the possibilities.

Another internship that assisted with students' shifts of their viewpoints of medicine was the UCR Medical Leaders of Tomorrow program. In this internship, as student Priya Patel stated, “I felt as if adrenaline was rushing through my body the whole week. I was a hero during the entire internship that rescued my patients from death. I met amazing students from UCR that understood where I was, as they just graduated and were about to go to medical school.”

The students did a research community project which taught them about different diseases and how to solve them within the community, as well as the types of disparities faced between different races. These internships shaped their mindset for what was to come in the future.

The importance of experiencing an internship is ineffable. Not only is it a great source of knowledge on the different types of careers and interests you may have, but many employers favor employees with lots of internships. When the time comes for you to decide what area of medicine you want to go into, you will be prepared and know what to anticipate. 

Summer Vacation: A Time for Gloves and Stethoscopes

October 2019 | Ayesha Karim

This summer I participated in a week-long nursing camp at my dream school: UCI. The week started off like any other educational camp with presentations about the career, question and answer sessions, and of course, helping us with our college applications. However, slowly we started migrating from the classroom setting to a hands-on experience. At the end of the first day, we were all given a pig’s foot with many cuts on it, and were taught how to clean, stitch and even suture some of the wounds. This was just the beginning. 

The next day was called the simulation day. This day consisted of IV mannequins where we learnt how to administer IV’s, injection pads where we simulated administering vaccinations, a mannequin where we told to listen to different heart murmurs and identify which type of murmur it was, splinting each other arms, and evaluating different x-rays. The rest of the week was no less exciting. We each did rotations at UCI’s medical center, shadowing nurses doing their daily jobs. We were given CPR and first-aid training. We received Stop the Bleed training. We had a diabetes seminar. We received pediatrics training where we each learned basic pediatrics skills. We were introduced to so many nurses and nurse practitioners that we felt completely at home. 

The best part about this nursing camp was not only the new things we learned, but also all the people we met. We were all so alike, and all understood what we each wanted in life. Camps like these are where you can truly connect with people who are just like you. I would recommend this camp to anyone and everyone who is even considering the rewarding field that is nursing. 

Patience and Patients

October 2019 | Najia Saleem

Academics, athletics and family problems were a piece of cake compared to my first job as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) which is being in direct service to agitated, bed-stricken adults at a healthcare center. My duty is to help patients with their activities of daily living, which is everything from using the restroom to eating breakfast. In a typical eight-hour shift, I care for eight to twelve patients who range in their levels of dependence. Some patients are bedbound and nearly comatose, while others are very alert and independent. Each patient has a routine that I must fit in, and all the while I have to continuously answer call lights, which request my service in a patient’s room. Call lights make me a million times more anxious than taking the SAT or playing a tiebreaker in tennis. I would be helping one patient get dressed into a gown, and two other patients would push the tiny red button to turn on the call light. If I don’t answer quickly, the patients are extremely unhappy even if I was helping another patient. Their dissatisfaction wore on me, and I felt like I was letting them down because I wasn’t fast or good enough.

 After my first shift, I seriously wanted to quit, and when I told my dad he was left dumbfounded. He told me, “Najia, isn’t this what you told me you wanted to do? To help people?” He reminded me that the only way I could get close to achieving this goal was by showing up to work every day. You can’t expect to become better at calculus by not showing up to math class, so how could I have expected to become a better CNA by not going to work. The desire to give up when you’re not excellent right away is strong but I conquered my anxieties by realizing that day by day I become better whether it’s as a CNA or a student in school. 

Wellness Center

March 2019 | Isabella Panagiotou

The stress of a full academic schedule, athletic commitments, and preparing for a higher education are just a few of the aspects of student life that can take a toll on mental health. When everything seems to be too much, there is a place for all students to go to ease the nervousness and stress. The Wellness Center is designed to be a safe space in which students can destress during the hectic hours of the school day. It is one of the many resources on campus that students can utilize to check in on their mental health. As school, extracurriculars, and home life can become overwhelming, students are encouraged to come in this room (located in the counselors’ office) to talk to one of the advisors, practice meditation and stretching, or simply relax. With another resource on hand for the student population, it is hoped that more students will reflect on their mental wellbeing and take charge of their health. It is open every day, with an advisor or counselor available to speak with students during their visit. Students are encouraged to come whenever necessary; there is always a time and place to discuss mental health.  

Mindfulness Club

March 2019 | Isabella Panagiotou and Courtney Price

The Mindfulness Club is a club any student can join that meets every Monday in room 232 during lunch. Here is an interview we conducted with its advisor, Mr. Murphy.  

1.    What is your mission statement? 

“[We] aim to help fellow students learn about mindfulness techniques, to deal with stress in a productive way, and to make their brain more efficient navigating the content of school classes, making life decisions, etc.” 

2.    Who should join this club? 

“A student who gets stressed out easily.” 

3.    What activities do you do? 

“We’re gonna be doing mindfulness techniques, like different yoga positions. We will take a field trip to the wellness center so they know where that’s located in case there’s an emergency that comes up and we can’t address it during lunch, and to also go over the research – so there’s gonna be a PowerPoint presentation showing them research behind mindfulness and how it can actually alter the physiological response of the brain.” 

4.    What impact do you think this club could make? 

“I think it can make a more calming atmosphere on campus. Unfortunately, we’ve had some suicides here the last couple years. There are quite a few students who don’t react to stress too well, but hopefully we can show them techniques where people don’t see a problem as the end... We’ll help them [find] an inner peace... so they can tackle problems in a more thoughtful and clear way.” 

5.    You have always taught us to treat our bodies as temples – did you just mean physically? 

“Yeah, I just meant [healthy] eating. I forgot how powerful emotions are. I forgot that emotions can lead to cancer, heart disease, and other problems.” 

For Chris

December 2018 | Ryan Lo

Chris was one of ours, and as a part of the HSA class of 2021, he would’ve graduated and walked with us into adulthood two years from now. However, he lost that opportunity on October 12, 2018 when he passed away. When the news broke, many of us reacted in different ways. However, we were all aware of the empty seat in the back of the room that would never be filled. Needless to say, we thank the dedicated Chino Hills counselors for being there for us. From now on, graduation, field trips, labs and internships are always going to have one less participant. Chris was quiet, but he didn’t need many words to make his voice heard. He was a diligent student, loved by his teachers and well-liked by his friends. To some of us, he was a hard-working classmate we could count on to help get assignments done. To others, he was always that shoulder we could lean on when times were tough.  

We, at HSA, send our best wishes to his family and pray for their wellness in this trying time. However, we must not lose sight of the bigger picture. We must remind ourselves that we are a family dedicated to helping others and that Chris’s death was not in vain. We will be able to  honor Chris’s memory by helping others in life in a way that he didn’t get to. We lost one life today, we’ll save three tomorrow. We’ll never ever stop loving, caring and striving to be the best we can be. After all, it’s what he would’ve wanted. So, Chris, thank you for being a part of our family. We will miss you a lot.

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a developing nation that borders India and Afghanistan with an overwhelmingly conservative Muslim population. Last summer, I had the opportunity to visit Pakistan and observe Dr. Samira Tariq’s clinic in the bustling city of Karachi. Her clinic deserves our special attention because she provides basic maternal and reproductive healthcare in a society where sex and menstruation are taboos. When I arrived at her clinic, I witnessed a concrete building with curtains, not doors, and people lined up down the street. However, the real spectacle was inside where there were people of all ages from infants to the elderly alongside a few beds, benches and a dispensary for prescription drugs. 

Dr. Tariq Sabir, Dr. Samira’s husband and co-owner of the clinic, was surrounded by staff and patients, speaking rapidly in Urdu. In the very back of the clinic, there was a separate office where Dr. Samira serviced her female patients. When Dr. Samira arrived to begin her shift, there was already a line of four women in black burkas, an outer garment that covers Muslim women’s face and body. Typically, she would call in one patient at a time, ask for their name and their husband’s name, listen to their complaint and provide a diagnosis and treatment promptly. Much of the time, the only equipment she would utilize would be her stethoscope and a blood pressure pump as she runs an outpatient clinic, meaning she does not service patients who require overnight care or a bed. However, the services she provides are rare in Pakistan. Many women come to Dr. Samira to discuss their infertility because they feel comfortable talking to a female physician, and she transforms their life by suggesting and referring to treatments they can undergo. Then, throughout their pregnancy until the 28th week, Dr. Samira offers prenatal care, and she typically charges them 100 rupees, or $1, for her consultation! 

The price does not indicate the lack of disease in her patients as most of her patients suffered from nutritional deficiencies during their pregnancy as the area which Dr. Samira serves is extremely poor. Nutritional deficiencies not only pose harm to the mother but can affect the development of the baby. However, nutritional deficiencies were the least of one patient’s problem who sought help from Dr. Samira. A pregnant woman came into the clinic asking for sleep medication as she had been unable to sleep for the past few days as her husband had died in a motorcycle accident recently. Dr. Samira treated the woman with compassion and offered her a prescription for sleep medication. In my opinion, the patient was only able to be treated in such a fashion because of Dr. Samira’s gender as the patient felt Dr. Samira could empathize with her being a mother and wife as well. In Pakistan, a conservative society where there are few practicing female physicians, Dr. Samira makes a difference by treating taboos. 

The heart is one of the most fascinating organs in the body. Every day your heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood through a system of blood vessels over 60,000 miles long. I had the opportunity to dive deeper into this masterpiece for a week at UCI’s Medical Center from July 30 – August 3. Camp Cardiac, run by medical students on the campus, was made in order to expose high school students into the world of cardiology. 

We were handed surgical instruments on the first day, cutting into the heart of a sheep and being able to see firsthand how our blood flows through our heart in order to provide our bodies with the oxygen and nutrients it needs. The sensation of holding the very object that determines your life was an eye-opener for all of us, sparking our interest into learning more the next 4 days. 

We were heavily exposed to many different medical professionals throughout the week, ranging from Interventional Cardiologists to Vascular Surgeons. In addition to explaining numerous aspects about their career, they tried to relate everything back to us and how we could start working up towards our goals. As Madison Teets, a 16 year-old attendee states, “What stood out to me was the people who talked about themselves and answered questions related to their daily life and path. It helped me understand that people get to where they are through different paths and reassured me in how I’m living my life right now.” 

The camp counselors, who were first year medical students, not only educated us about basic human anatomy but also opened up about their own experiences in high school and college. Providing us with a comfortable and open learning environment, we were able to retrieve all the answers to any questions that have been at the back of our minds since we first entered high school. As Anh Pham, a 16-year old attendee, states, “Everything felt right and I felt so comfortable around everyone…I learned a lot.” They emphasized the fact that school isn’t easy, and it doesn’t get easier. However, with the right mindset you can achieve anything. 

My personal experience at camp was something I’ll never forget. The memories formed and the new connections I have with people will benefit me for the rest of my life. Receiving that reassurance about the path I was on alleviated so much pressure I had put on myself and made me a genuinely happier and goal-oriented person. In addition to becoming CPR certified and knowing how to do proper cardiac and pulmonary exams, I grew as a student, a future medical student to be exact. As one of the medical students said themselves, “If you want to achieve your goals bad enough, no matter what, it’s going to happen one way or another.” You just have to have your mind, and heart, set on it. 

On July 21st, in the middle of the heart of Summer 2018, I embarked on a 168-hour journey that would define my view of the future. I was fortunate enough to be nominated by my biomedical sciences teacher to go to the National Youth Leadership Forum: Medicine, a national nine-day conference about all things medicine. Held in the epicenter of the UCLA campus, NYLF was life-changing experience I will cherish forever. 

Along with 200 other students, I collected knowledge from med students, instructors and doctors from all levels of training. From the intricate inner-workings of surgery to mastering clinical skills, the program guided me through the fabric of healthcare. Some days I spent walking around awestruck while visiting prestigious medical schools. Others were spent with my sleeves rolled up in medical skills sessions. In between the astonishment of being so close with my passion, I enjoyed hanging with like-minded peers also interested in medicine. 

I was blessed with the opportunity to close out the session with a quick three minute speech about my time there. The applause was dizzying. I miss that week with all my heart.