Week 4:
The First Cut is so Fun

July 7, 2018

As week four comes to an end this puts me close to the halfway mark of my time here at Children’s Hospital. Every week is a new adventure and this one did not disappoint.

To start my week, I finished the data collection which put me three weeks ahead of schedule. This means I will be writing the manuscript for this project while starting on a new project for the next six weeks. Cornell’s block plan certainly helped me get ahead on my project doing quality data collection as well as setting daily goals for myself to achieve. I approached this project like I would a block at Cornell which kept me focused and ultimately helped me finish my project in 18 days (give or take a day).  I will be writing the background, methods, and a portion of the introduction for our paper which means two things: I have to learn how to write AMA style, and I will hopefully be a published author this year!

I will also be collaborating on a new project in the upcoming weeks to keep me busy. I will start working on a project with a new RA who works with providers at the University of Iowa. My networking net is cast far and wide this summer! With the networking help I have received from working as a Career Assistant in the Berry Career Institute every chance to network is a new but familiar adventure for me.

Every week I talk about the research side of my internship, which is amazing, but this week I got another step into the experience; SHADOWING. I have known for years being a doctor, specifically a surgeon, is my dream and this week I got to experience what it is like first hand. I was able to shadow the amazing Dr. Nancy Miller in the trauma room on Thursday. Dr. Miller is not only an orthopedic surgeon but also the head of the Musculoskeletal Research Center (hint that’s where I work). While the surgeries I saw were amazing what I learned from the people in the surgeries is what really made this experience worthwhile. Dr. Miller was so considerate and patient with me making sure I knew exactly what was going on always and that I could see the surgery, so I got the most out of the experience. While she didn’t scrub in she was very helpful throughout our three cases. Children’s Hospital is a teaching hospital meaning medical students, residents, and fellows are constantly in and out as they take the next steps in their careers as doctors. For my shadowing there was a second-year resident(R2) and a fellow performing the surgeries. It was encouraging to see the level of trust Dr. Miller had for them and the support the entire OR staff had for each other was amazing.

While I learned that surgery is definitely the route I want to go, I also learned the type of work environment I want to be apart of. The staff at Children’s is so helpful and supportive of each other, just like Cornell, and that is what I want from a career. I have always loved Colorado and the more I am here the more I hope to stay. With the help of Cornell’s Health Profession Committee (HPC), I know when I am ready to apply to medical school Colorado will be a possibility for me!

Next week will consist of manuscript writing and the start of a new project, I cannot wait to report back with new experiences and revelations!