Leah, Final Thoughts

My experience was immediately started by greeting a very kind woman, Kim, who worked in a similar position as Maryann, whom I had been corresponding with prior to my arrival. After I was all set up with an ID and the matter of my OR clearance was figured out I waited to meet Dr. Denoya. Upon meeting her I found that she was a very warm and welcoming person that was open to the idea of providing me with knowledge that I did not have before. She also gave me a textbook that I could refer to for a deeper understanding of some of the terms, treatments and surgical procedures that she would use but made it clear that I could ask questions about anything.

We moved forward into two weeks filled with hospital rounds in the morning, clinical days at several locations, surgeries and other procedures that I had never seen before. I was able to witness an open surgery that involved the dissection of a part of the colon. I was also able to see Dr. Denoya treat her patients during her clinical days. This meant that I was able to see patients that were recovering from surgeries like the one that I had observed, some that only needed in office care and others that were considering or better understanding the surgical procedures that they would undergo. There was always so much to see and this meant that I was constantly learning about the human body in ways that I had never been able to before. 

In addition, I was at the hospital during their Research day. This day long event allows residents, attending physicians and a variety of other medical staff at Stony Brook to gather and discuss research taking place at the hospital. The residents had prepared posters on a variety of topics within medicine in which each were aimed at making improvements to current procedures and ways to access knowledge about what doctors need to know to effectively help patients. This was a very informative but also somewhat surprising experience. Many of the residents and doctors alike were discussing new treatment protocols but some were also discussing protocols that had never existed. My understanding of medicine prior to being part of the Brandeis Summer Shadowing Program was that doctors had all the knowledge they needed to treat patients when in fact, they do have the knowledge but they too are still learning and looking for ways to alter treatment plans to better serve their patients. This reminded me of one of the things that I love about science and medicine, it’s always going to be a growing field and there will be new things to learn as we continue to learn more. Research day in particular gave me insight on how medicine is continuing to develop and it exposed me to differing perspectives in medicine I had not known existed. 

Prior to arriving at Stony Brook I intended to also use this experience to explore how a medical school and a hospital work together as well as Stony Brook’s medical school. While I did not have a chance to tour the medical school or ask detailed questions about it, due to time, I was able to see how medical students, residents and doctors work together within the hospital to treat patients and communicate with each other. Through sharing ideas, asking questions and exchanging knowledge they were able to successfully treat patients in the colorectal unit. Being privy to these types of interactions allowed me a better understanding of the field that I plan to go into and caused me to consider a specialty that I had never previously considered. 

I was excited and intrigued prior to having this experience and my expectations were exceeded. Dr. Denoya was an absolute pleasure to work with and learn from along with all of the other members of the colorectal unit that I was able to meet. A special thanks to Maryann, she was very diligent about all of the paperwork involved in the process and for that I’m deeply grateful. Altogether, this experience helped me gain insight into a field that I am interested in and also exposed me to a truly amazing group of professionals. I look forward to the connections and experiences that will grow from this one and I thank Brandeis for providing me with access to this opportunity. 

Leah, Pre-Departure

I have the pleasure of shadowing Dr. Denoya for a short time this summer and I’m very excited to do so. My experience with the medical field through other programs/internships that I have completed has provided me with a great foundation and some initial insight on what I am anticipating that I will encounter as part of my shadowing experience. With that said, I have never shadowed a doctor before and I’m sure that this experience will be unlike anything I’ve done before and I’m looking forward to that!

As part of this, I’m looking forward to learning about the surgical and clinical procedures that Dr. Denoya takes part in as I have never had access to the knowledge that I am sure I will gain from this. Outside of this, Dr. Denoya is part of the medical school’s system at Stony Brook and I haven’t yet started exploring options for medical school. I also see this as a great way to start considering different medical schools and what they each have to offer. Grasping a deeper understanding of all parts of the system that exist at Stony Brook will be beneficial to starting that search from a unique perspective.

I know that I want to enter the medical field, specifically that I want to be a doctor, and when posed with the question of what kind I find that my answer is not the same as Dr. Denoya’s speciality. Being provided this opportunity, I’m curious about her speciality because it is not one that I have considered before. This means that I will broaden my knowledge of the many different kinds of doctors’ patients rely on each day which adds value to my experience.

Although I have not yet been to Stony Brook, I have had great interactions with the senior administrative assistant and this makes me hopeful about how wonderful the experience will be. Such a great initial interaction has made me feel comfortable going to Stony Brook and surrounding myself with all that it has to offer. I’m confident that I will be able to ask questions, grow professionally, make great connections, learn and also contribute in any way that I can. I want those around me to gain something from me in some way. Shadowing Dr. Denoya will be a new learning experience which will challenge me but I know that I will expand my knowledge of my prospective career through this and I can’t wait!  

 

Jen – Final Thoughts

When I first arrived at Stony Brook Hospital, I was taken to get my ID. Dr. Denoya was in the OR for her first case of the day. I was then told I would be joining her in the OR for the second case of the day, which started around noon. On my first day at SBH, I was able to observe an open colon resection. My second day consisted of following Dr. Denoya to a full day of clinic. On clinic days, I found myself learning the most. I was exposed to a variety of patient complaints – from a simple post-operation follow-up to a new patient consult. From my time with Dr. Denoya, my knowledge on colorectal surgery has expanded tremendously.

The unimaginable things that could happen to your body were plentiful. I never knew that your rectum could prolapse, as a result of weak pelvic floor muscles. I never knew that hemorrhoids were classified by grade I-IV, and that there were internal vs. external hemorrhoids. I never knew that sitting on the toilet for too long could lead to hemorrhoid problems. Valuable lesson to be learned – Eat your fiber! A popular treatment for some problems that Dr. Denoya sees in the clinic seems to be to increase fiber intake.

I have decided that I want to attend medical school and become a physician. This was not always the case. When I first went into this experience, I was leaning towards PA school. I knew I wanted to work in healthcare but I was not sure whether medical school was right for me. After learning more about medical school and residency from Dr. Denoya and her residents, I realized that becoming a physician was a dream I wanted to make a reality. Although the application process for medical school, residency, and fellowship will be time-consuming and challenging, I have gained the motivation and confidence to start the process of becoming a physician.

My experience shadowing Dr. Denoya has definitely changed my plans for after graduation. Per her suggestion, I will try to get more involved in the field of research before applying to medical school. I would also like to get more clinical experience by working in a hospital as a scribe or a CNA. I’m not 100% sure how my day-to-day would look like after graduation. But it’s okay. I realized that everyone’s journey to medical school is different. I’m thinking about taking some time off to work before I apply to medical school.

I would like to end this blog post by saying thanks. Thank you to Dr. Denoya for your hospitality. Thank you to the pre-health department for allowing me to have this opportunity. This experience was truly eye-opening.

Jen – Pre Departure

When I was a first year student at Brandeis University, I had slight idea that I wanted to go into the medical field. After three full years filled with its own hardships and rewards, I began to solidify my desire to have a career working with patients in a hospital setting. I am still unsure if I want to attend medical school or physician assistant school. I enjoy the social aspect of interacting with patients and I would like to incorporate my academic knowledge in my future career. Since I have never shadowed a physician before, I only have a vague idea of what their day to day life is like.

While volunteering at Massachusetts General Hospital in the Emergency Department, I have overheard many physician-patient, PA-patient, as well as nurse-patient interactions. I noticed a familiar trend with most physicians and other medical professionals. Physicians know how to interact with a wide variety of people, while being able to apply their medical knowledge and skills to treat their patients. I view physicians as being excellent leaders and care-givers. Perhaps my view of what a physician is may not yet be entirely reflective of the entire profession. However, after my shadowing experience with Dr. Denoya, I hope to have developed a clearer idea of what being a physician means.

For three weeks in the month of July, I will be shadowing Dr. Paula Denoya, a colorectal surgeon at Stony Brook Medicine. When considering possible medical specialties, I have contemplated fields such as dermatology, neurology, surgery, and emergency medicine. I am not entirely sure what the profession of a colorectal surgeon specifically entails; however, I am excited to begin my shadowing experience. I hope to observe how physicians interact with other medical professions and their patients. I aim to learn key communication skills from observing Dr. Denoya consult her patients. I believe this shadowing experience is a wonderful opportunity to learn and meet new people that can mold my mindset on the medical field.

I believe it would be extremely rewarding and fascinating to observe Dr. Denoya in the operating room and her interactions with her patients. Since I am still unsure if medical school and being a physician is the right path for me, I hope to leave Stony Brook Medicine with a sense of clarity. The shadowing experience will either confirm my desire in attending medical school or reveal an unexpected thought – that a physician’s career is not the right fit for me. Either way, I hope to end up with a solid decision to attend medical school or PA school.

The first couple of days shadowing Dr. Denoya was truly inspiration. On the first day I arrived at Stony Brook Medicine, I was able to go into the OR and observe a laparotomy performed by Dr. Denoya and a fellow. Not only was I able to see Dr. Denoya perform her duty as a colorectal surgeon, but I was also able to see how she interacts with the anesthesiologist, and nurses. The second day of shadowing Dr. Denoya consisted of something a little different. We were in a clinical setting and I observed Dr. Denoya’s interactions with patients in an outpatient environment. I have learned a copious amount in these two days and Dr. Denoya plays a key role role in expanding my knowledge of colorectal surgery. I never really knew what a colorectal surgeon was until I began my shadowing; hopefully, I will develop a more complete understanding for the profession by the end of my stay at Stony Brook Medicine with Dr. Denoya. I am excited to see what the remaining few weeks will entail.

Myles – Final Thoughts

Reflecting on my shadowing experience with Dr. Denoya at Stony Brook University Hospital, I genuinely believe that I will not have another experience quite like this one. Shadowing Dr. Denoya gave me the opportunity to witness what I am interested in being part of as a future Pediatric Surgeon. Going into my experience at Stony Brook, I had three main goals:

• To better understand the medical jargon specific to colorectal surgery.
• To gain a better understanding of what it looks like to be a surgeon.
• To challenge myself to apply what I already know and expand my knowledge.

I am happy to say that I have met each of these goals through asking Dr. Denoya and her colleague, Dr. Smithy, questions. I also reached these goals through shadowing in several surgeries from hemorrhoidectomies to colon resections, all of which helped me to better visualize the true anatomy and planes of dissection in relation to the diagrams of the body we see in textbooks.

Ultimately, there were two things that stood out to me during my shadowing experience:

The first thing being my attendance at the Department of Surgery’s Research Day. At Research Day, I listened to residents and an undergraduate student present their findings on different projects they worked on throughout the year. My favorite part of Research Day 2018 was listening to Dr. Jeffrey Matthews on “Truth and Truthiness of Surgery”. He spoke about the flaws of Evidence Based Medicine and the importance of how medical education equips you with the decision making skills and experience to rely on your individual clinical judgment. This one-day conference exposed me to the benefits of partaking in different fields of research from sociological research to clinical research. In addition to the amazing presentations, I was also able to network with current medical students at SBU and other physicians in the SBUH network.

The second thing that stood out to me was the accurate representation of an Inter-Professional Model for delivering patient care. An Inter-Professional Model shows that all health care professionals/providers must work together in order to deliver the best care to a patient. At SBUH, you could see how everyone from nurses to anesthesiologists worked very closely together to ensure they could deliver care to the best of each of their abilities.

Because of my experience at Stony Brook, I feel that I have more of an accurate perception as to what the life of a surgeon is like. Dr. Denoya was extremely helpful in explaining to me that there is not one path to medicine because everyone’s journey is special. She spoke with me about her experience from being a medical student to becoming an attending and how those experiences have shaped who she is as a physician today.

Thank you to Brandeis Pre-Health Advising, Maryann Reiss, and Dr. Paula Denoya for making this opportunity possible and for allowing me to further engage with my passion for medicine. This experience has been so integral for me in figuring out my next steps before medical school, and words cannot explain how grateful I am.

Myles – Pre Departure

This summer, I will be shadowing at Stony Brook University Hospital under Dr. Paula Denoya, Colorectal Surgeon. I do not necessarily know what to expect. I have shadowed here and there, but never have I done it for more than a couple of days or even all day. I have previously had the opportunity to shadow Haitian doctors and nurses the rural clinics of Léogâne, Haiti with Brandeis’s YourStory International Chapter.

Getting on the plane to come here, I tried to think of some of the things that I would be observing, but I could only seem to think about the many episodes of Grey’s Anatomy that I’d watched which is not necessarily an accurate representation of what it means to be a surgeon. I’m not necessarily sure what to expect because I have never shadowed in a hospital setting, but I am interested to see all of the working parts of a hospital in action.

I am most excited about being able to watch surgeries because I am interested in pursuing a career as a Pediatric Surgeon. I’ve visited the cadaver labs at Tufts School of Medicine, but I am excited to finally see surgeries being done on someone who is alive. I am interested to see what I may know a lot about or what I know absolutely nothing about regarding surgeries and clinic. I am interested to be able to see what a surgeon’s role is outside of surgery because I think preconceived notions about what it looks like to be a physician in general is typically misinformed and over exaggerated. I am glad that I have the opportunity to see what the day by day is for a Colorectal Surgeon.

There’s not too much that I am nervous about because I am really excited to learn so much. In emailing back and forth with both Dr. Denoya and her senior administrator, they have gone the extra mile to help accommodate me throughout the duration of my experience. I truly believe that this experience is going to inspire and strengthen my current passion for medicine.

A few of my expectations going in are to be able to shadow on a wide array of surgeries. I hope that the shadowing environment cultivates a space for me to learn and ask questions seeing that I am not quite yet well-versed in the field of medicine. While being able to learn about medical practices is important to me, I also hope to gain more insight on the process of entering a career in medicine.

Some of my goals:

• To better understand the medical jargon specific to colorectal surgery.
• To gain a better understanding of what it looks like to be a surgeon.
• To challenge myself to apply what I already know and expand my knowledge.