Lydia, Final Thoughts

My experience shadowing at MGH this summer has been a thoroughly rewarding one. Throughout my time observing and doing research, I have gained an appreciation for the field of urogynecology and how it helps improve the quality of life for countless women. Since the midway point, Caylee and I completed our work on the perineal tears database. Our new project, case-control matching for a study involving women with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and urogynecological symptoms, involves going through many medical records. This differs from our last research project in which we went through fewer subjects but examined each in more detail. Both projects have allowed me to become more familiar with EPIC, one of the main goals I had for the summer.

I asked some of the fellows how they decided to go into urogynecology. My inquiries revealed that all of them had done OB GYN residencies and had then decided, based on their experiences, to subspecialize in urogynecology. I better understood the differences between the Urogynecology and Labor and Delivery workplace environments after observing a C-section. The atmosphere of the Labor and Delivery unit was much more frantic and fast-paced. The surgery itself was also more rushed and less meticulous than those I had observed in urogynecology.

In addition to my time in the OR and clinic, I have been attending didactic and journal club sessions roughly once a week. Similar to observing in the OR, a lot of the information goes over my head. It has still been beneficial to attend these sessions, however, and see how the different doctors process the information and ask questions.

I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to observe and do research at MGH this summer. It has been very educational, not just about urogynecology specifically, but also about the daily life of a doctor. Although I knew the importance of continuing education going in, I was surprised by how much the doctors were constantly reading about their field and incorporating it into their practices. This experience has affirmed for me that I wish to go into the medical field.

Jared, Final Thoughts

As my summer internship at Mass General comes to an end, it comes time to look back  on my experiences throughout these past couple of months. Time is a precious commodity that  I have been guilty of taking for granted, as many people often realize once it’s too late.

Throughout my undergraduate experience at Brandeis, I prioritized my academic career almost  to a fault; in other words, I did not fully appreciate the extent of research available right at my  fingertips on campus. Perhaps that was because I was subconsciously avoiding the experience  outright due to its intimidating aura. In any regard, this aside is relevant to my current reflection  because it makes this past summer that much more meaningful in perspective. The immediate research setting and immediate team I worked with were inviting, thereby removing the anxiety
and foreboding stereotype I spoke about regarding research.

Another aspect of research that I found difficult to appreciate was the monotonous nature of counting colonies or the small scale of research over a specific protein in a mechanism. The purpose behind the study is relevant to a wide audience, which intrinsically made my contributing role feel meaningful. Unfortunately, extensive research on air pollution is
required, especially with problematic air quality that will only be worsening further in subsequent  generations. Still, I respect and understand the relevance of the research being conducted on  campus; I personally did not find it inherently fascinating enough to pursue.  I was able to work on public EPA data curation from home or at the hospital campus
itself, which made the process of studying for the MCAT exam a little easier throughout the  summer. However, on days designated for the research project, it was personally difficult to allocate time to both endeavors.

Handling large amounts of data was tedious but eventually  rhythmic and felt like clockwork by the end of that step, despite difficulties that arose with the website sporadically. I saw firsthand how busy a doctor truly is, and I will always respect their dedication and time spent improving the lives of patients. I look forward to being in this position one day,  allowing undergraduate students to shadow or assist in various research tasks to better others and themselves in the process. I am thankful that the Pre-Health advising team granted me this  opportunity and will be in touch with those involved in the program for years to come as I continue the motions through medical school into becoming a practicing physician.

Lev, Final Thoughts

Working for the surgical department at Massachusetts General Hospital has truly been an eye- opening opportunity, and it’s hard to believe that the summer is nearly coming to a close. This internship has made for a wonderful experience, and it has really helped me to move closer to
my academic and career goals. Although I am sad that the summer is almost over, I am nonetheless very excited to say that I will be continuing to work with Lieba Savitt N.P., Dr. Liliana Bordeianou, Dr. Rocco Ricciardi, and others conducting research during the fall semester.

I enjoyed this internship for a wide variety of reasons. As I’ve discussed in prior blog posts, this internship mainly involves conducting research and shadowing colorectal surgeries. Both aspects of the experience have been really fascinating, and I’ve been able to learn so much about medicine and become more passionate about the field as a result. With respect to the research component, I have been able to get more involved with exciting
projects conducted by the department. In addition to continuing to work on the patient quality of life assessments, I have begun a new project, working with Dr. Ricciardi to assess worldwide trends in mortality caused by inflammatory disease of the colon. I have been working to collect data for many countries in the study, and have already even begun to observe some fascinating trends. As I plan ahead for my involvement at MGH in the fall, I anticipate spending a significant portion of my time on this fascinating project.

Additionally, the time I have spent shadowing has continued to become even more enjoyable throughout the summer. This internship has really been my first exposure to working a clinical environment, and, as mentioned in prior posts, it has been truly inspiring. Observing the
physicians who perform such surgeries has been incredible, largely due to the high degree of interaction I have had with the doctors who I have shadowed. When in the operating room, we have been given the opportunity to ask questions or simply just talk with the physician about
what he/she is doing, and such interaction has made the experience so much more meaningful.

Many of these physicians have so many incredible things to say and lessons to teach, and it is really a privilege to be able to learn from them. Additionally, since my last blog post, I have also been given the opportunity to observe several operations I had not previously seen, gaining more exposure to this incredible and complex field of surgery.

Overall, this internship has turned out to be an enjoyable and enlightening opportunity. My excitement for medicine and research has increased exponentially since beginning the program, and as I look ahead to my career, I am sure this summer will serve as a very formative experience, guiding me in the transition from college to the beginning of my professional journey.

Caylee, Midway Point

This summer has flown by and I can’t believe I am already writing my mid-point post. I have had a truly incredible and eye-opening experience at Mass General and have immensely enjoyed the team of physicians I have been working with in the Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery program. Dr. Hudson has been our main liaison as we meet weekly to discuss and plan our schedule for clinic and the OR, and go over any questions that have come up during our shadowing or research. We have also been working closely with the other fellows and attendings of the department, and even sometimes the residents. 

During clinic every Tuesday we often shadow a resident or fellow as they do the initial patient meeting to obtain a history, after which they discuss the case with the attending, develop a plan and then perform an exam together. I have really enjoyed observing this teaching dynamic as it helps me to better understand everything and gives me an opportunity to ask questions during the discussions, but it also has given me a glimpse at my future in these various roles. One thing I have found very interesting by observing this process is how every doctor has their own way to get a patient’s history or perform an exam, but they all make it clear that they want to help the patient discover the best option for themselves. In many of my HSSP classes we have discussed informed consent and a patient’s right to information, but it has been really interesting to see these physicians put this into action as they lay out all the possible options for treatment, discussing the risks and benefits and ask the patient what they want rather than telling them what is best. This is a practice I hope to one day implement as a physician as a way to help each patient obtain their ideal outcome. 

Typically, one day a week we also observe in the operating room for a variety of procedures, vaginally, laparoscopically, and even with the Da Vinci robot. Every surgery is interesting and has its own hurdles and I have really enjoyed watching how the physicians discuss next steps and work together to make sure everything goes right. Additionally, many of the surgeries have been performed by fellows with attending instruction and supervision, which has allowed for great teaching moments for myself. One of my favorite things about the OR has been the combined cases I have been able to attend, one with GI and one with plastics. I have really found the entire idea of collaboration fascinating this summer throughout my experience and it has further driven my desire to pursue medicine. 

When not observing I have also been helping the department build their Obstetric and Anal Sphincter Injury database, by using patients’ medical records to input data about these particular episodes. I have really enjoyed this research because it has been interesting to find trends in the data, and see how this research could be used to potentially prevent or develop better and more standardized treatment for these lacerations. This research has also taught me the value of thorough charting as we often have to leave many fields of the entry blank simply because the information is not there. This lesson is something I plan to take with me into my future to ensure that my chart notes are top notch. 

Ultimately, so far this summer has been incredibly interesting and a very enjoyable experience. Going into this experience, I knew that medicine required collaboration but had no idea the extent to which it was necessary, but this element of collaboration is further driving my desire to pursue medicine. I really enjoy how the physicians bounce ideas off each other and how the attendings take to heart their role as a teacher. I have found that these aspects further enhance the medical field beyond just helping patients, and have peaked my interest in one day pursing academic medicine. I’m not sure exactly what my future holds but so far from my experience this summer I am fairly certain I’m on the right track and happy to be putting in the grueling effort to complete my medical school applications this summer.

Lydia, Midway

I have learned a lot from the past few weeks at Mass General. So far, my time there has been divided up between research and observing in the clinic and OR. The research consists of going through the medical records of several women who suffered third or fourth degree perineal tears during childbirth and adding their information to a database. This project has allowed me to become much more familiar with EPIC, as well as learn more about perineal tears through answering the questions in the database. Although I don’t understand many of the things that happen during surgery, observing in the OR has also been incredibly informative and interesting. It was most exciting to see a case that I had observed in clinic, as I knew more about the patient’s background and could better understand the reasoning behind the procedure.

This experience reinforced the importance of continuity of care, as I saw how things the patient said during the appointment affected various decisions made during surgery. Prior to shadowing in this department, I knew almost nothing about urogynecology, in part because it is a relatively niche field, but largely because people do not talk about women’s health issues, particularly when the affected population is middle-aged or older. It has been extremely inspiring to observe the doctors in this department using their vast knowledge to treat patients non-judgmentally. Because of the embarrassing nature of many of the problems that people come in with, the doctors have to make them feel safe and understood, a difficult task in a society with so many taboos surrounding women’s health. By providing good care, the urogynecologists are able to greatly improve their patients emotional, as well as physical well-being.

During the coming weeks, I would like to ask the doctors in the clinic why they chose to specialize in urogynecology. I am curious at what point in their medical education they decided to go this route and what influenced them to do so. In the coming weeks, I am excited to continue working on the database and learning more about patient care through observation.

Lev, Midway

So far, my experience in the summer shadowing program has already been incredible. It has been a great privilege to be able to work with Dr. Bordeianou, Nurse Practitioner Leiba Savitt, and the team of colorectal surgeons at MGH. As I mentioned in my pre-departure post, I have not yet worked in a hospital environment, so this internship serves a very important purpose as I begin to plan the future direction of my career. Thankfully, my experience has already been eye-opening and inspiring, and for that reason I can confidently say that my interest in medicine has increased enormously since starting the program.

Until now, when I am not shadowing in the operating room, I have been spending my time helping out with clinical research projects conducted by the department. Specifically, I have been working on studies to assess patients’ quality of life after surgery. For me, being able to contribute to these projects has been so interesting for a variety of reasons. First, I am really thrilled to be learning a great deal about the specific operations we are researching as well as the overall process of conducting clinical research. Additionally, it is incredible to contribute to work that has the potential to directly impact the lives of patients. Overall, this component of the internship has both been fascinating and meaningful.

In addition, I have been fortunate enough to shadow surgeons in the operating room and actually watch the procedures which we are helping to research. I have already observed multiple surgeries, and this has been truly eye-opening. These surgeons are incredibly skilled, and it is so inspiring to watch them work so hard to apply their seemingly endless knowledge and tremendous technique towards their passion for helping patients. It is the combination of my interest in medical science with the strong desire to directly help others that has led me to explore medicine, and watching doctors embody these qualities in their work has further peaked my excitement about such a career. Additionally, not only have I been lucky to observe the amazing work these physicians do, but I am also fortunate enough to interact with and learn directly from them. Of the surgeons which I have shadowed, nearly all of them have made an effort to teach me about what they are doing. I was originally surprised that these physicians are so willing to interact with and teach so much to an undergraduate such as myself, but I am so grateful for it. Their efforts have genuinely impacted my experience for the best. 

Overall, I would say that this combination of research and shadowing has really opened my eyes to the wonders of medicine, making me more and more excited about a prospect of such a career. For that reason, this internship is turning out to be such a valuable experience. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer has in store!

Jared, Midway

Halfway through my session at Massachusetts General Hospital, I am excited to see the
research project shaping up nicely for the August deadline our group is working toward. At the beginning of the summer, I was not entirely sure of how my time would be utilized in order to meet the criteria of a peer-reviewed experimental study. I knew the basic timeline and scope of the study, but I did not know specific details and was a little nervous as a result. As mentioned before, not having much research experience in my undergraduate career made this start to the summer a highly-anticipated event. Now, a month into the experience, I feel much more comfortable in the role I have been assigned.

With the help of my research coordinator Dr. Kaitlyn Edelson, I have since been able to create a literature review on the relationship between ambient air pollution and adverse birth outcomes. From this, I have been working on creating a draft of the study’s introduction to provide a solid background on pollutants and how they are measured. In the past, courses like Intro Biology Lab helped me create my first ever introduction, but writing something that is soon to be published is quite surreal. Working at the hospital in Boston has also taught me less obvious lessons, like time awareness for commuting as well as working efficiently during the work day. Further, more recently I have been collaborating with another student to collect the relevant EPA data from a public database for future data analysis by statisticians at MGH.

As I enter the back nine of the summer research program, I expect to continue learning about data analysis while refining my written drafts for the literature before the August deadline. Dr. Edelson has been so understanding and accommodating throughout the process, answering questions about the biology and anatomy of everything associated with the study, as well as the logistical questions about the layout of MGH. Most of the other staff members in obstetrics and gynecology were quite welcoming when I entered the office. One individual was a little bit abrasive to me during my first week of the internship, but I understand that this is not indicative of the personnel at the hospital in general. Of course, this experience will introduce me to all different personalities. Moreover, not having a source of income right out of college has been something that has proven stressful for me, but I am thankful for this opportunity and know that it will lead to success in the future. At the end of the day, I am excited to see what the future truly holds.

Ruchir, Midway

The past few weeks have been very exciting and very eye-opening for me at MGH. The amount that I have seen and the amount I have learned so far have surpassed some of the expectations I had going into this program and I hope to continue this going forward in the summer. More specifically, I have been fortunate enough to get involved with the research going on in the Colorectal Surgery Department as well as shadow some of the doctors from the department in the OR and watch their surgeries. 

The research I have been helping the department with is centered around data collection and analysis regarding mainly the lives of post-operation patients. While the actual operations that patients undergo are very important, it is arguably just as important to track their status days, weeks, months, and even years after their surgeries. Data like this can be collected from both patients as well as clinicians as a way to prioritize the most important post-operation issues so we can know which to tackle first. Under the guidance of Ms. Leiba Savitt, we are trying to put something forward in order to collect this data in the best way and this has encompassed various new and familiar platforms. Additionally, it has exposed me to the different ways in which clinical research can be dealt with. In doing this, I have also engaged myself with the literature in the field in hopes of identifying gaps or points worth pursuing in regard to post-operative patients and hospital readmission rates. 

The other component to my time in the department has been the opportunity to accompany doctors into the operating room. This was an especially new experience for me and I am continuously amazed with each surgery I watch. Moreover, being at a large and renowned hospital such as MGH, I know that I am seeing some of the best in the field doing their jobs. From watching the surgeons work along the digestive tract of patients, to seeing robotic surgeries, and getting an idea of the team effort that is needed between surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists, the experience has been truly inspiring and astonishing every week. Thanks to open arms from some of the surgeons in the department like Dr. Bordeianou, Dr. Ricciardi, and Dr. Kunitake, I have been successfully introduced to the field and have gained much exposure already. Every person in the room has a distinct role and I have been lucky enough to have all my questions answered throughout the surgeries with the help of medical students also observing in the OR. The great sense of community the doctors and nurses have at MGH has also allowed me to shadow some surgeries concerning other departments as well. I have enjoyed my time so far and hope to learn and contribute further to the work of the Colorectal Surgery Department.

Danni, Midway

In the past month and a half, I had been working very closely with Dr. Edelson on some research projects. Because Dr. Edelson’s clinical shift doesn’t start until July, I haven’t had any clinical exposure yet. However, I have learned a lot about medical research and am currently helping Dr. Edelson with two very interesting and relevant projects focused on global health. 

The first project is focused on maternal anemia in low income country. Anemia is currently affecting 35 to 60% of pregnant women in low income countries. Being a part of this project, I was able to learn about the huge health inequality in countries like Uganda. I read over 40 papers and wrote an introduction for the paper that is going to be published in August. Then I helped organize data sets and sort out interesting information needed for our paper. I was able to meet with a professional statistician who works very closely with public health related datasets. Because of my interests in computer science and global health, spending time with the statistician really helped me to see the connection between computer science and medicine. What’s more, I was able to sit in meeting with Dr. Boatin who is an OB/GYN attending to discuss the project as well. So far, the project has had some interesting data and we are in the process of composing all the analyzed data and writing out an abstract for our paper!

The second project focuses on the relationship between income inequality and birth mortality in the United States. From a paper I read, the United States is the only country, out of 16 countries studied, that its population’s health outcome is related to income inequality. We began this project by looking at income inequality in the United States from the county level. The income inequality is measured through the Gini coefficient. The Gini coefficient is 0 if there is no income inequality, where everyone earns the same amount. It is 1, if one person owns all the money. Every year, the U.S. Census Bureau publishes the Gini coefficient of each county. We are tracking the change in the Gini coefficient from 2003 to 2015. We also find the number of birth mortality every year in each county through the CDC data base. Therefore, we can find out if the changes in the Gini coefficient influence birth mortality. 

Although I have not actually shadowed Dr. Edelson yet, I am very lucky to be able to work on these two projects this summer. I am learning so much about global health. Working with a team of doctors who are desperately trying to make a difference and raise attention for global health, I am hopeful that changes will happen. What’s more, I realize that some doctors’ lifestyles are very different from what I imagined. I thought all doctors would work in clinics and constantly be dealing with patients. However, from the several doctors I have met, many of them only go on service for a certain time period of the years. For the rest of the year, they either conduct research or organize special maternal programs. That is great news to me because I am very interested in research and hoping to conduct clinical research in the future as well. Now I see that it is not only possible to do research and see patients at the same time but there are actually a lot of doctors who have that lifestyle. 

It has been a great time working with Dr. Edelson and I cannot wait for our research to continue and see what interesting results we get!

Caylee, Pre-Departure

This summer I will have the incredible opportunity to work with Dr. Patricia Hudson in the Uro-Gynecology department at Mass General Hospital. Many people have asked me what exactly I will be doing this summer, and I usually answer with a slight shrug and say “some sort of combination of clinical and research-based work”. And although I do not really know what to expect this summer, I am beyond excited for the opportunity and can’t wait to embark on this journey tomorrow.

I’ve known I wanted to be a doctor since I was a kid, always listing it as the career choice on my Student of the Week poster or choosing Doctor as my costume for career day. I spent a majority of my elementary years coloring at a desk in my mom’s clinic as she saw patient after patient, and hoping one day I could be a pediatrician just like her. Now 15 years later that is still the path I have my mind set on, and most of my decisions, including applying to the Brandeis Summer Shadowing Program, have been driven by my desire to eventually attend medical school.

My sights have always been set on pediatrics because I love working with kids, so most of my past shadowing experiences have been centered around that path. I’ve shadowed and worked with Neonatologist, Pediatric Oncologist, General Pediatricians, and Pediatric Neurologists, and through each of these experiences I’ve continued to solidify my career choice. Like many others, one of my main reasons for going into medicine is a desire to help others and work with other people, so I really enjoy witnessing the ways different physicians craft their patient interactions in order to help each person to the best of their ability. I am excited to see this summer how Dr. Hudson communicates and works with her patients, especially given the change in demographic from patients I have met in the past.

I am also really excited about the combination of clinical and research that this summer seems to have in store. Most of my experiences over the last few years have been geared toward the more clinical side, but I’ve always wondered if I would enjoy research and trying to help discover advancements in the field of medicine. I’m hoping that in working with Dr. Hudson this summer, I will gain not only a new perspective on adult medicine but also on who I want to be as a physician and the direction I want to follow during these next few years.

I meet with Dr. Hudson for the first time this Monday at 7am, for an orientation to the program and I am faced with so many different emotions about the coming weeks and months. I’m excited for the opportunity to work in a field I love, I’m nervous to meet and work with such accomplished physicians at one of the best hospitals in the country, and I’m slightly terrified to live like an adult and figure out how to cook for myself. But I think I’ll just take it one day at a time, starting tomorrow with my 6am flight back to Boston.