Category: Uncategorized

Name: Cory Smith

Major: Human Biology

HCMP Role: Preceptor Coordinator

Classification: Senior

Associations: Volunteer at University Medical Center Brackenridge and the Volunteer Healthcare Clinic; Member of Texas Hammocking

Describe a shadowing experience that has impacted you the most.

One shadowing experience which had a great deal of impact on me was shadowing Dr. George, a Pediatric Neurosurgeon in Austin, TX. Dr. George spent time with me one-on-one to discuss my goals in medicine (something many other physicians did not have the time to do). During our discussion, I listened to Dr. George’s perspective on the equality in his healthcare team and the importance of each member. I directly observed his respect for his coworkers be reflected back to him while he worked in the OR. This mutual respect bred cooperation which in-turn improved the health outcome of the patient. That day, I learned more about myself as an aspiring physician by seeing the importance of respect and cooperation within a health care team. In addition, through our lengthy discussion, I was able to paint a more accurate picture of the role of a physician in healthcare.

How has HCMP benefited your professional or individual goals?

HCMP has helped me develop a level of introspection and self improvement which I lacked prior to joining. By structuring our meeting in a way to promote reflection, as well as maintaining an environment where I felt comfortable exploring my experiences, I was able to more accurately hone in on my aspirations, strengths, and weaknesses. This has helped me tremendously while preparing for interviews because I now am able to articulate exactly why I am pursuing a career as a physician.

What has been your favorite aspect of HCMP?

My favorite aspect of HCMP is the friendships developed between members. Catalyzed by abundant social events and its relatively small size, members of HCMP are able to get to know each other very well. I have found a set of friends who are exceedingly motivated and intelligent, and who act as positive reinforcement to my own goals. This organization has provided me with friends and mentors both, and has fostered my development as a student, physician, and as a well-rounded person.

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time, I enjoy watching TV shows and movies (especially documentaries), playing guitar, hiking, hammocking, and catching up on sleep.

Name: Christine Park
Major: Biology
HCMP Role: Tech Coordinator
Classification: Junior
Other Associations: Lifeway Community

Describe a shadowing experience that has impacted you the most.
During one of the pediatric rounds, I was able to witness a 6-year old girl who was hospitalized for anorexia that has been going on for a few months. After running physical examinations- which turned out normal- the doctors began to discuss the influence of her social environment. Factors like having no friends and instability in the home were severely harming her mentally and physically. As I gazed at her extremely thin limbs and her sad brown eyes, I was heartbroken and frustrated by the fact that although medicine could treat her temporarily, there were no simple cure that could take away the real pain in her life. Through this experience, I realized how complex one’s health really is and gave me a broader prospective on medicine.

How has HCMP benefited your professional or individual goals?
In addition to affirming my desire to go into medicine, HCMP has also taught me to be more initiative. From interacting with new doctors each week to talking in front of classes, I was exposed to many opportunities where I needed to be vocal and outgoing. Through these experiences, I was able to develop more confidence and improve my communication skills.

What has been your favorite aspect of HCMP?
My favorite part of HCMP is that each member has a vital role in the organization and has the ability to envision and shape the program through his/her involvement.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I am a huge lover of music. I love to play the guitar, keyboard and sing! I also enjoy blogging in my free time.

Name: Jacob Anderson
Major: BS Chemistry/BA Spanish
HCMP Role: Technology Coordinator
Classification: Junior
Other Associations: Natural Sciences Council, Longhorn Band, Sanger Learning Center

Describe a shadowing experience that has impacted you the most:
One afternoon, I shadowed an internal medicine rotation at Paul Bass Clinic in Brackenridge, a facility primarily devoted to serving the uninsured, underinsured, and underprivileged.  Dr. Nanja was the attending that day, and it was a fairly slow day because of the flash floods in — until one couple who spoke limited English came in for multiple health issues the wife was suffering from.  No one in the clinic spoke the couple’s native language, Arabic, so Dr. Nanja and the residents had to communicate through a translator. The residents clearly were having trouble, but when Dr. Nanja took command, I was impressed at her ability to empathize, connect, and communicate with the patient despite the language barrier. At one point, the men in the room exited, including myself and the husband, so that Dr. Nanja could check-up on the wife alone. At this point, the husband broke down, crying, trying to explain through limited English to the resident and I how his wife is so sick, has been suffering, and doesn’t deserve any of this. Dr. Nanja later told me that the two were refugees, and had trouble getting on their feet and dealing with their medical issues in the US. I realized how health is so integral to a qualify life, but how difficult it is the underprivileged to maintain their health and even access healthcare at all. I also witnessed how important it was for a physician to be able to work on their feet, and to communicate creatively and maintain empathy and understanding in difficult situations.  I decided that, once I become a physician, I would make it my mission to reach out to individuals who have difficulty accessing healthcare, and give them the level of care and attention Dr. Nanja did  — because everyone deserves their health, and no one deserves to suffer because they or their loved ones have difficulty getting the medical help they need.

How has HCMP benefitted your professional or individual goals?
Through my experiences shadowing, I’ve been exposed to an incredible breadth of knowledge and skills from the physicians I have shadowed, and an incredible breadth of experience, love, and suffering from the patients they have treated. I feel I have a much wider perspective on the types of people I will be working with and treating someday, as well as the issues and problems facing healthcare and the health of individuals and communities.

What has been your favorite aspect of HCMP?
My favorite part of the organization itself has getting to know the incredibly diverse people of HCMP and learn about their unique experiences and interests. I am constantly amazed by the breadth of knowledge and passion that my peers display during the workshops and presentations they offer during our meetings. I am grateful for the friendships I have formed and am excited to be apart of a generation of intelligent, empathetic, talented, enthusiastic and passionate physicians such as my peers in HCMP.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I grew up a band kid (my grandpa was a band director), so music has always been a large part of my life. Though I’m not as amazing as man of my peers in LHB, I do play the trumpet, and it’s a wonderful escape from all the academia and work. I love going to concerts, musicals, recitals, and more to hear talented musicians make music (particularly classical — the amount of classical music on my iPhone is probably silly). Another way I like to express myself is through writing. I am one of those strange people who keeps a journal, writes poems, and often jots down my thoughts in long, overly introspective notes on my phone.  I also like to cook and make hot wings with my boyfriend.