Category: Uncategorized

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Name: Priya Gupta
Major: Human Biology with a BDP Certificate in Social Inequality, Health and Policy
HCMP Role: Public Relations Coordinator and Judicial Board Member
Classification: Senior (4th year)
Other Associations: Indian Cultural Association, CNS Student Ambassadors

Describe a shadowing experience that has impacted you the most: I vividly remember the very second day of shadowing during my intern semester. Despite having to wake up at an ungodly hour on a cold February morning, I learned volumes of intangible information about my future as a healthcare professional during my experience shadowing a OB/GYN. Everything I did that day, whether it was having an hour-long conversation about abortion policies in Texas, discussing my future goals as a doctor, watching a removal of endometriosis using surgical robot technology, or seeing a live Caserian section, was a collection of invaluable and unforgettable experiences. Contrary to what people might tend to think, what makes a memorable shadowing experience is not the intensity or variety of surgeries you get to see, but the conversations you have with the physicians themselves and how their journey to becoming a physician aligns with your own.

How has HCMP benefitted your professional or individual goals? As I am finishing up my intern semester, I realize that HCMP benefitted me in many more ways than I had first guessed. Of course, the plethora of shadowing experiences gave me an outlook on my journey into the medical field that I hadn’t seen before, but I was able to ask two physicians for recommendation letters towards my medical school application because of how positive and meaningful the shadowing experience was with them. One of these physicians also gave me the contact information of another physician who could talk to me more about my interest in international medicine, and another contact for the medical school curriculum developer for the new Dell Medical School after hearing my project to introduce changes to the way first-year medical students are taught bedside manners. In terms of individual goals, it reaffirmed my decision to stick with medicine and try to become a doctor. It was inspiring to meet physicians that continue to love their job even after 30 years of becoming fully certified.

What has been your favorite aspect of HCMP? My favorite aspect of HCMP, aside from all the wonderful shadowing experiences, of course, has been getting to know the other members. It is refreshing and comforting to become close friends with other pre-medical students that are stressing out about the same things you are on a daily basis. It is nice to know that you see familiar faces in your class that you can count on for help studying for a test or finishing an assignment. We all also get and give good advice from and to each other because of our similar but personalized experiences struggling in the pre-medical life.

Name: Praveen Satarasinghe
Major: Plan II Honors and Biology
HCMP Role: Co-Preceptor Coordinator, J-board
Classification: Junior
Associations: Senate of College Councils, Research Student Advisory Committee, TIP Mentor, Plan II Pre-Med Society, Pierce-Shimomura Lab

Describe a shadowing experience that has impacted you the most.

Shadowing cardiothoracic surgeons Dr. Felger and Dr. Kirkland during an aortic repair/cardiac bypass open-heart surgery was truly amazing. From the minute I stepped into the cold OR, I was immediately swarmed by 8 white-coats. Everyone had a very specific role. Two anesthesiologists, a doctor in charge of the heart-lung machine, three nurses, and the two surgeons. Instead of having to stand off to the side, Dr. Felger put me next to the anesthesiologists, about one foot away from the heart. The smell of burning flesh, the crunching sound of the saw against the rib-cage, and the flow of large quantities of blood through clear tubes was surreal and scary at the same time. Upon opening up the heart, I got to visualize five large aneurysms and a ruptured aorta. Watching Dr. Felger and Dr. Kirkland trust each other and work as a team to repair the aorta and carefully remove each aneurysm without harming the rest of the sensitive heart was life-changing. Before this surgery, I thought I was a technical individual. I had no idea what I was in for on this day. After getting to ask questions, spending 7 hours staring at the organ that provides us with life, and watching a patient’s heart stop and come back to life at the end of the surgery, I had a revelation. Because of this experience, my desire to become a surgeon is now no question to me.

How has HCMP benefited your professional or individual goals?

Networking with doctors has been one of my favorite parts of HCMP. Roughly half of the physicians I have shadowed, including surgeons, have personally given me their contact information and invited me to shadow them again in the future. In addition, many doctors have invited me to lunch and spent extensive time with me solidifying my interest to enter the medical field, as well as providing me details about applying to medical schools, residency, and establishing a path to enjoy my future life as a physician. These contacts and discussions have allowed me to learn a lot and form personal relationships with doctors who I know will help me out in the future.

What has been your favorite aspect of HCMP?

My favorite part of HCMP is definitely the ability for interns to shadow any physician specialty. I personally have focused on shadowing as many surgeons as possible. Before joining HCMP, I had instilled in my mind that I wanted to be a surgeon. The ability to shadow different surgeons has strengthened my desire to be a surgeon and has, more specifically, influenced my interest in neurosurgery, specifically. Without the ability to pick and choose physicians, I would not have gained first-hand experience with surgery specialties that I would really like to go into in the future.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I really enjoy doing anything outdoors. I enjoy hiking, biking, swimming, camping, and anything that causes me to break a sweat. When I am not studying, I enjoy hanging out with friends, playing any sport, and free-styling on the drums and piano.