Description:

I participated in three medical assisting internships, two at a local hospital (with a cardiology outpatient unit and respiratory therapy team) and a one with a pediatric office while in high school. During these internships I was responsible for conducting simple tests (urinalyses, streptococcus assays, etc.), assembling nebulizers and administering breathing treatments, taking patient histories, explaining procedures and inherent risks to patients, running EKGs, and handling patient records. Through these internships (along with two courses in my high school and a series of examinations) I became a certified medical assistant. This experience makes me more employable and helped me establish lasting relationships with physicians and office managers. As a student who was planning on going to medical school, these internships were a wise investment. They have provided valuable material for my medical school interviews because I have experience in the field. From other certified medical assistants that I have talked with, private training can cost anywhere from $7000 - $10,000.

How I got the idea / found the employment:

My involvement with these internships was initiated in a class I took my sophomore year. My physiology professor introduced our class to the state’s certification program. I had to take one more class and participate in 180 hours of internships. An internship coordinator at the school helped set up these particular internships. If your school has an internship office, discuss options you’re your coordinator. Information about state-specific requirement and school programs can also be found through your particular state’s Office of Education website.

Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:

There are a lot of challenges that face those working in healthcare. Probably the biggest challenge is the emotional involvement that the field demands. Seeing people, especially children, suffer because of disease is difficult. However, through constructive conversation with coworkers, family, and friends, much can be learned about compassion and providing a support. My internship hours were difficult; I often had to be up by 5:00 am to be able to get to the hospital on time. I handled this by scheduling my time better and by spacing out the days of my internship (three times a week instead of every day). Not being paid for my time was also a challenge. This, however, was readily manageable when I realized the opportunities economic and character-building opportunities I would gain through my time and effort. As stated, I now have a great backup job that pays about well and will continue to provide me with resume-building experiences.

What I learned:

This has been one of my favorite medical school interview questions. I learned a ton from these experiences. First off, I saw what the medical field is truly like: overly unappreciated, repetitious, and demanding of time and energy, as well as rewarding, consistently educational, and engaging. There are many people who do not see these aspects of medicine until they have started medical school, some drop out. By being informed, I potentially saved myself tens of thousands of dollars and a number of years of study. I also learned a lot about the need for compassion, sympathy, and empathy, the need to be able to communicate at a scientific and a lay-level, and the joy that comes from finding insights about life through serving others while working. I learned about a few of the strengths I could bring to medicine as well as some of the weakness that I needed to work on. Those internships refined my vision about my career goals and how I could best achieve them.

This has been one of my favorite medical school interview questions. I learned a ton from these experiences. First off, I saw what the medical field is truly like: overly unappreciated, repetitious, and demanding of time and energy, as well as rewarding, consistently educational, and engaging. There are many people who do not see these aspects of medicine until they have started medical school, some drop out. By being informed, I potentially saved myself tens of thousands of dollars and a number of years of study. I also learned a lot about the need for compassion, sympathy, and empathy, the need to be able to communicate at a scientific and a lay-level, and the joy that comes from finding insights about life through serving others while working. I learned about a few of the strengths I could bring to medicine as well as some of the weakness that I needed to work on. Those internships refined my vision about my career goals and how I could best achieve them.