Yifu Zhang, Final Thoughts

The summer ended too quickly. Brandeis Shadowing Program gave me a great opportunity to interact with patients and to learn about the life of a doctor or a nurse practitioner(NP). I enjoyed seeing the processes and difficulties that they faced on a daily basis. I learned a lot by shadowing physicians and NP on a daily basis over the summer, and I was able to really experience the general surgery departments in the hospital.

Jenna Ye, Final Thoughts

On the last day of my shadowing experience with Dr. Sher and his PA’s, I had the opportunity to visit the OR personally to experience two types of surgeries, open inguinal hernia repairs and cholecystectomies (which is otherwise known as gallbladder removal surgery). It was an eye opening experience that had also clued into the extensive administrative work associated with the medical field. 

Hernia repairs generally fall under the two categories of open repair and minimally invasive (laparoscopic). In open repair, the surgeon cuts open the area, pushes the bulge back in, and sews up the weakened muscle, sometimes with synthetic mesh for reinforcement (which is known as hernioplasty). Minimally invasive repair, on the other hand, is usually done with a laparoscope where one incision is made. Seeing an open repair in person, along with shadowing the doctor through pre and post consultations really clarified the entire process that a patient goes through! It was also fascinating to learn about the different types of hernias, the reasoning behind causation and why it could be dangerous to leave it alone. 

For the second procedure, I noted that patients that had cholecystectomies were mostly pushed under the circumstances caused by gallstones, which are these stone and sediment like deposits that form from bile. It was quite interesting to see the removal in person and to feel the gallbladder full of stones, which in the two procedures I got to witness, ranged from tiny granules to one the size of a quail egg. I remembered how amazed I was to see the doctors differentiate the different areas of muscles, ducts, and arteries so quickly in order to ensure that they do not incise the wrong area during removal. 

One particular administrative event that I noted was the first few minutes before surgery in which the RN would hold up the color-coded sign to the security camera in the room whilst reading out the associated information of the patient, the legality/oath, and procedure that was to be completed. Which made me wonder if this was to ensure that the correct procedure was performed on the correct patient.

Overall, the entire experience had definitely solidified my goal of heading into the medical field, and opened up the specialization of surgery, which is something I had never really considered to be something that I would enjoy. The shadowing experience has also taught me alot of life lessons in planning preparation and decision making which I will definitely hold onto moving forward.

Kate Wetzel, Final Thoughts

The second half of my shadowing internship was just as rewarding and inspiring as the first. During the second half of my shadowing, I spent more time in the surgery group’s office than I did in the operating room. While the operating room can be more thrilling, I still learn a lot in the office as I get to see more cases and more patients. Most days, I was in the office 9:00am – 5:00pm shadowing all of the doctors throughout the day as patient after patient came in with their various concerns, pre-op appointments or post-op appointments. As stated in my previous reflection, there are a variety of surgeons and surgical oncologists who work in the office, so I was able to see things from anal fissures to breast cancer to skin cancer to hernias. I have learned a lot through this experience, and I was able to make many connections between the anatomy course that I took last semester. 

I spent a good amount of my time shadowing a doctor that had not been around the office during the first half of my internship. Dr. Ellenhorn is a general surgeon and surgical oncologist. I was able to observe him in the operating room as he repaired hernias and I also was able to see many different cases in the office, as he is a general surgeon. It was interesting being able to shadow him alongside the other doctors because he is relatively older. This means that he had different perspectives on not only medicine but on his journey to become a surgeon. 

My favorite aspects of this internship were my ability to connect with the doctors, their willingness to teach and share information, and most of all the advice that I received about the long road that I have ahead of me as a premedical student. Hearing their stories gave me a better perspective on how I should approach my future including medical school and every step that lies beyond that. This was the most valuable information that I got out of the internship as earlier in the summer I was feeling overwhelmed by everything that was coming my way. The only aspect that could have been improved was that I wish I was given more tasks. For the most part, I was always on my feet observing the doctors and absorbing knowledge but every once in a while, in between patients I would have some downtime and I wish that I could have at least been given some small tasks so that I could help out in any way possible. 

I am extremely grateful that I was able to achieve the three goals that I set for myself at the beginning of the internship in my first reflection. I have definitely come out of my shell and learned not to be scared to talk to the surgeons in the office, I learned more than I ever expected I would, and I believe I made connections with healthcare professionals that could help me in the future. Through this experience I not only grew as a student, but I grew as an individual. I gained so much insight on the responsibilities, difficulties, advantages, and lives that doctors experience every day. Throughout my first two years of college, my determination to become a doctor dwindled slightly as I was not able to experience healthcare first-hand through opportunities such as this one due to COVID-19. However, this experience truly renewed my passion for the field and while I am very aware of the work I have ahead of me, I am ready for it.  

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.

Chase, Midway-Final

It has been an amazing experience so far at Thomas Jefferson Hospital. So far, I have gotten to witness cool procedures in the operating room, colonoscopies, and office hours. Observing Dr. Isenberg has been such a cool opportunity as he makes difficult procedures look so seamless. My first day I observed Dr. Isenberg perform 10 colonoscopies back to back as he spotted hidden polyps in the colon with such ease. At first it was hard for me to follow, but as he explained certain landmarks, he looks for in the colon I started to be able to kind of keep track of where he was. For example, he explained to me that the transverse colon has more of a triangular shape compared to the ascending and descending colon. I also got to observe a couple of other doctors perform endoscopies, which was also very exciting as I got to see the inside of the esophagus and stomach all the way down to the pyloric sphincter. 

In the operating room I have gotten to witness routine quick procedures like hemorrhoidectomies and also a longer surgery called an abdominoperineal resection, more commonly called an APR. The APR is often a last resort for patients who have rectal cancer or Crohn’s disease. It involves the complete resection of the patient’s anus and rectum and ultimately results in a colostomy. It was especially cool watching the surgeons interact during the surgery and decide which planes to dissect on the patient. Also, watching different type of surgeons collaborate during a single surgeon has been really amazing. Within a single surgeon I got to witness Dr. Isenberg, a colorectal surgeon, a plastic surgeon, and a urologist all discuss the best course of treatment for a single patient. In my remaining few weeks I hope to be able to witness more surgeries and try to learn as much about the hospital environment as possible. 

I would to thank Dr. Isenberg, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and the Brandeis Pre-health department especially Erika Tai for arranging this opportunity. Overall it was an amazing and eye-opening experience. My favorite and the most interesting part of the experience was definitely the opportunity to experience clinic with Dr. Isenberg just because of the number of different patients and cases I got to witness. Even though some of the cases I saw were extremely sad, watching Dr. Isenberg listen to the symptoms of the patients and then examine the affected area followed by a seemingly instant diagnosis of the problem was truly astounding. I also had the opportunity to hear a lot of personal stories from the Medical students and residents about their experiences in medical school and residency that were very informative and helped me decide my future in pursuing medicine. Although clinic was the most interesting part of my experience, watching surgeries and being in the operating room was definitely the coolest part of the experience. It was amazing watching the scrub nurses, anesthesiologist, and surgeons work in unison to accomplish a common goal. 

Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Isenberg again and also wish good luck to the fourth-year medical students who I shadowed with as they apply to their residency programs. This site was truly amazing experience and I will be returning to Thomas Jefferson University hospital over winter break to shadow Dr. Isenberg again. 

Justin, Final Thoughts

The Brandeis Summer Shadowing Program was a great experience and I am so glad that I was able to participate in it. I made many lasting memories and learned even more valuable lessons about the medical field. Dr. Sher was an amazing mentor and I cannot thank him enough for all of his help and support.

One of my biggest takeaways is that medicine is really team oriented. Even though the surgeon will be the one making the cuts, it is the entire surgical team that must work together to ensure a successful operation. One example is I never realized how important surgical counts were until I observed an operation. The scrub nurses are responsible for keeping track of the surgical counts and if even one sponge is left unaccounted for the operation cannot be declared finished. They also make sure the surgeon has all of the equipment to perform the operation. I have learned this can be become very challenging in more complex operations. I really like the team atmosphere involved in surgery and it suits me well as I enjoy working with others towards a common goal.

The summer shadowing program has also shown me the high intensity of surgery. The very first day I shadowed Dr. Sher I asked him if he felt it was difficult to maintain a healthy work life and balance. He said that it was difficult, but definitely possible. The next thing he said really stuck with me, “In life if you want to be excellent at something you have to put a lot of time into it, surgery is no different.” Surgery itself is a balancing act where the patient’s life may lie in the balance. Excellence is a requirement not a goal, which is why being a surgeon is a difficult lifestyle. It is a definitely a lifestyle I would consider and my experiences during this program have offered great insight into being a surgeon.

Once again, I would like to thank Dr. Sher and his team for all of their help during this program. I would also like to thank the volunteer department for helping me through the tedious clearance process. This program has been unforgettable, and it has helped me learn many great lessons.

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.

Jigme, Final Thoughts

I just completed my program at Long Island Jewish Medical center with Dr. Sher and I must say that it was one of my best experiences. This experience exceeded my expectations. Not only did I get to watch Dr. Sher but he allowed to me get hands on experience by teaching me to use the colonoscopy and making me watch minor operations.

Overall, this experience made me feel that medicine is the right career path for me. Watching Dr. Sher interact with patients and help them get better is what I want to see myself doing everyday in the future. From my workplace this summer, I have learned that I love interacting with people. When I was shadowing Dr. Sher, I enjoyed talking to staff, patients and other people I meet.

Lastly, advice I would give to a student interested in Brandeis shadowing program would be to not be shy and talk to your supervisor and staff. I have learned a lot about the medicine field and different career opportunities after connecting with different medical professionals at my workplace. Moreover, another advice for a student interested in medicine field is to never give up. Don’t worry about what others think. Focus on yourself and do what you want. The path may seem like a long run but if that is what you want, you should always be determined and you will get there. From this summer something that I am most proud of is taking on a case report project. Dr. Sher is guiding me and we are currently researching on a rare disease to write an article about it. I am very proud that I took on this research.

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.

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.