Currently, I am planning on going to medical school after I graduate to go on to be a doctor. I'm not sure what specialty that I'll go into yet so I'm hoping to figure that out once I get to medical school. I want to do this so that I can help people and make a positive difference in the world. I've always been interested by science and the human body so I feel like it's a great fit for me. While I've had my doubts, I ultimately believe that being a doctor is what I really want to do. This year, I am learning about the research side of medicine through my internship at Dr. Yuan's lab. I'm hoping to get some clinical/shadowing experience in the next year and a half to see what it's like on the patient side of the job. I think that by the end of these opportunities, I'll prefer the clinical aspect the most since I thrive with face-to-face interactions.
After working in Dr. Yuan's lab this school year, I have a deeper understanding of the research aspect of the medical field and how it contributes to patient care in a clinical setting. While this was a great experience to have, it confirmed that I would thrive better in settings where I work directly with patients rather than doing behind the scenes work. I still plan on pursuing the medical field but will be sticking to being a doctor instead of a researcher. Although I'm still undecided about which speciality I would want to pursue, I feel more confident in my decision-making skills when it comes to my future, especially after having this research experience.
Over the last year, my LHSI internship has provided me with very valuable insights into my future career in the medical field. While I originally wanted to explore both research and clinical work, I now feel even more confident that clinical is the path I need to take. I'm still interested in emergency medicine and surgery but I am more open now to exploring what other specialties have to offer. I have also strengthened my communication skills, professionalism, and leadership skills, which will be important in my future. Through this experience, I have gained confidence that I have the ability to reach my goals. I plan to start shadowing a doctor at some point next school year and maybe volunteering at hospitals in order to keep gaining relevant experience.
Over the summer, I will begin to focus on preparing for the MCAT. I will research the exam, develop a structured study plan, and take practice tests to make sure I stay on track. Throughout the rest of my time at IU Indianapolis, I will apply to shadow doctors in different specialties, volunteer at hospitals, and continue pursuing leadership roles around campus. This way, I can gain the necessary hands-on experience for my future while also strengthening my communication and leadership skills. After I take the MCAT, the next major step will be researching and applying to medical schools. With the experiences I've had and will continue to have through the university, I feel more prepared than ever to take the next steps toward my medical career.
Learning Goal #1: Master Basic Lab Techniques
This goal will help me with my future career because I will be doing plenty of lab work on my journey to becoming a doctor. Also, depending on the kind of doctor I’ll be, I could also be doing it during my career as well.
Action Plan:
1. Microscopy work
2. Various staining methods
3. IHC work
Progress: Throughout my time with Dr. Yuan, I have significantly improved my microscopy skills and have gained hands-on experience with various staining techniques. I have become more comfortable with handling lab equipment, following protocols, and really immersing myself in the research. While I initially needed lots of help with IHC work, I have since improved my understanding of the process by continuously asking questions. I am now able to perform this stain without looking at the protocol paper.
Learning Goal #2: Develop a Deeper Understanding of the Cancer Project
This will help prepare me for my future career by getting me started in the world of medical research. Since I haven’t had any experience, I could also learn more about what I want to do in the future.
Action Plan:
1. Reading relevant references
2. Helping organize data
3. Generating new data using learned lab techniques
Progress: Since starting my internship, I have read multiple research papers that relate back to our cancer project, which has helped me understand the background and significance of our study. I have helped with gathering the data that's necessary for our progress and am now able to identify and interpret various mouse tissue. I plan to keep advancing my skillset in this area as it will be essential to my career in the medical field.
Learning Goal #3: Improve Time Management Skills to Better Keep up with Responsibilities
This goal will help me in my future by making me determine my priorities, not underestimating tasks, and knowing how to properly manage my time. Punctuality is important in everyday life but especially as a doctor. It will also be very important for meeting deadlines with projects.
Action Plan:
1. Having set deadlines
2. Having simultaneous duties
3. Being expected to arrive on time
Progress: Balancing my internship, coursework, other commitments, and MCAT preparation has definitely put my time management skills to the test. I feel that I have made significant progress in prioritizing the right tasks and meeting deadlines. I have also gotten better at planning ahead and setting aside enough time for each of my responsibilities. With that being said, however, nobody is perfect and there are still times where I struggle. To keep improving this skill, I will continue to utilize my planners and calendars, develop a better sleep schedule, and practice self-discipline.
So far, I am really confident in my teamwork, constructive criticism, and communication skills. In the lab, my internship team and I often have to communicate with our supervisor throughout the day so I've gotten used to being an efficient communicator. I feel very welcomed and valued at this site which makes it easier to communicate and work together effectively. For example, my internship team and I are usually working on tasks together during my shifts and you have to be able to work well with others to do so. Finally, I'm confident in my ability to receive constructive criticism because when you are just starting out, you're going to make a lot of mistakes. This is especially true for when the stakes seem kind of high and the pressure is on. As I was learning the tasks and skills that I would be doing everyday, I often had to be coached through something to make sure it was done correctly. These are some of the skills that I'm the most confident in.
Since the fall, I have become more confident in my teamwork, communication, and ability to receive constructive criticism. In the lab, my internship team and I frequently communicate about the project and update our supervisor if problems arise. Working this closely with my team has also improved my collaboration skills, which has allowed me to effectively contribute to the project. These experiences have strengthened my confidence in a professional setting and will be invaluable as I continue to my future career.
I would like to continue to work on my problem-solving and independence skills. My supervisor wants me to eventually be able to work on my own for projects more advanced than what my team and I are doing now. I also rely on my other coworkers whenever a problem arises or I have questions about something. In order to succeed, I have to be able to do all of this on my own. I will practice these skills by trying to figure things out on my own before I ask questions and by taking more notes on each experiment so I can look back at them in the future.
I would like to continue working on my time management and problem-solving skills since they are arguably the most important. While I have improved in both of these areas, I will create a structured study and work schedule in order to get even better. I plan on working on my problem-solving skills by taking on more complicated tasks in the lab and independtly working out issues before asking for help. After LHSI, I will continue to build these skills through clinicals, leadership positions, and other internships.
This internship has helped me gain a deeper understanding of my major because it's showing me how the skills I've learned in class so far are used and applied in the real world. Since we're doing tissue research with mice, I am also able to apply some of the biology knowledge I've gained through my studies. As I've progressed through the spring semester, I have noticed even more how the content I'm learning in class relates directly to what we're doing in the lab. Learning data analysis and lab procedures has improved my ability to interpret various studies in class, making my academic work feel more relevant and engaging.