Written by: Natalia Maya
Position, Member Since: Conference Chair, Joined Fall 2022
Major & Track: Health Science, Pre-Med
Current Year: 2nd Year
As a pre-health student, I understand the pressure of ticking off boxes from our checklists for graduate school applications. The research, volunteering, work experience, etc., paired with the rigorous prerequisite courses can feel like an overwhelming maze to navigate. For me, starting my freshman year I began looking through all the opportunities and feeling overwhelmed about everything that I MUST do to be accepted into medical school. When it came to the summer of my freshman year I decided that it was the time to look for meaningful clinical hours and direct patient care experience. I can honestly say that I applied for at least 30 jobs on LinkedIn and random hiring websites. I tried everything and it was extremely difficult to find a position with no previous work experience. After almost a month of applying when I started losing hope, I got a call for an interview and I got the job! This job was working as a Medical Assistant in a Dermatology practice. To be honest, before this experience, I had no large interest in dermatology besides my basic skincare routine. But to my surprise, this experience led to me absolutely falling in love with the field of dermatology and what it has in store.
Benefit #1: Gaining clinical experience (obviously)
Initially, I believed that my job would entail simply taking patient histories but I also learned so many clinical skills and practically got to shadow physicians and PAs every day! I was taught how to remove sutures and inject anesthesia for biopsies and surgeries. I also learned that I am very queasy and I did in fact have to leave a surgical room once because of the blood… but as I gained more surgical exposures I started to fight off this feeling! I saw both the medical and cosmetic sides of dermatology which I now find absolutely fascinating and I now love giving my friends skincare routines. So yes the first benefit of clinical experience is what you would expect which is learning clinical skills and being exposed to healthcare providers and patients.
Benefit #2: Falling in love with healthcare
But what I didn't expect to get out of this experience was a whole other level of interest and drive to pursue medicine. With each of my patients I not only asked about their days but I got to know their life stories and interact in a way which I have never been able to before. I had many patients that came in throughout my time at the clinic and I was able to track their progress which helped me learn that I really like specializations with continuity of care. Of the around 50 patients me and my coworkers juggled throughout the day there are several that stand out to me and resonate with my love for medicine. I also developed amazing connections and friendships with my co-workers and even the physicians/PAs that I worked for. I definitely learned the importance of teamwork and time management through the constant running around, trying to fit in every patient, and trying to catch the Dr. as he was running between rooms. But this truly created a family dynamic that I will forever cherish. I felt so welcomed by the other MAs and was able to hear all of their stories and tea during breaks. And the Physician that I primarily worked under treated me with pure kindness and patience which I will forever be grateful for. Therefore the combination of a great team as well as the amazing patient interactions, left me feeling extremely fulfilled every day after work. No matter how much my feet hurt from standing all day I constantly felt happiness after my shifts and I never resented my job, in fact, I was excited for the next shift!
Benefit #3: Learning about what type of clinician you want to be
The key lesson I took away from this experience is discovering the kind of clinician I aspire to be. Working alongside various PAs and physicians, I observed their different approaches to patient care. It became evident how hectic their schedules are, making it a challenge to offer undivided attention to each patient. Yet, what truly resonated with me was the importance of embodying patience, kindness, and genuine empathy towards every individual. Because at the end of the day, this appointment could be one of the few interactions an elderly patient can get outside of their nursing home or this could be the reassurance a patient needs about a cancer scare. So despite the busy workload, as a future clinician I have learned that I want to prioritize compassion and interactions and quality of patient interactions to the best of my ability.
So, in conclusion, I now really understand why graduate schools want us to gain this experience: not only to see the environment but also to really test if you have a true love for the field. This experience has made me even more excited than ever to continue in the pre-med field and it gives me the motivation to surpass the difficulties of schooling to be able to have amazing patient encounters in the future.
To anyone that may be struggling in school, with finding a job, or balancing a hectic schedule please don't forget to see the bright light at the end of the tunnel. If you have any questions about my experience or how to get involved in anything Pre Health please don't hesitate to reach out!!!
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