Description: I had the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant for a graduate epidemiology course, first as a volunteer and then in a paid position. It was an enriching experience, and I was able to do more than simply help facilitate the course. I increased my own understanding of the subject by leading recitation periods, tutoring students, and working with an accomplished faculty member. Teaching also helped improve my communication skills, which include the ability to speak clearly and listen carefully. Both of these skills will help me to be a better physician.
Description: Prior to shadowing a physician at a community health clinic, I had the chance to observe one of the clinic’s physician’s assistants for a day. Victoria, the PA, met with both existing and new patients, which helped expose me to different aspects of her practice. Her appointments included assessing a chronic thyroid condition, following up on previous treatments, and a full physical. I also had the chance to attend the clinic’s monthly staff meeting where a representative from the health department gave a presentation on a smoking cessation program. It was a great example of how medicine and public health can be integrated in order to improve the quality of patient care.
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The clinic primarily served low-income patients, which was especially interesting in light of my public health studies and earlier experiences at a dental clinic serving a similar patient population. During my observations, I noticed a high prevalence of smoking, comorbidities, and other conditions often associated with socioeconomic status. Dr. Sundwall routinely inquired about these conditions during the appointments, demonstrating his skills in medicine and public health. It was a valuable lesson to me as an aspiring physician on how I could use my background in public health to improve patient
In those hospital visits I had become accustomed to the sights and smells of a doctor’s office that instead of reminding me of pain, comforted me. I knew from then on, that the medical field was where I was called to serve.
One of the barriers mentioned in Healthy Americans is educating providers about the new change and working with them to develop referral relationships with new providers/programs. I believe this is a barrier due to there not being a structured process to ensure that referrals to community based prevention services have been deliver and the outcomes of those services. This was also something mentioned within the article. The providers may also need a continuing education crash course on what population health is and how it can provide assistance and be implemented within the medical model. This will create awareness and streamline issues of referring for the wrong program or not knowing what is out there.
My initial impetus and foundation for becoming a preventive medicine physician began as a behavior analyst, serving children and teens with various developmental disorders in NY and MA. Working closely with individuals and groups as a case manager motivated me to become a medical assistant, exposing me to complex cases and clarifying my desire to reduce rural health disparities - ultimately leading me to become a physician. A multidisciplinary approach and comprehensive continuity of care is at the core of what I believe preventative medicine offers; utilizing my extensive knowledge of lobbying and rural health disparities, I feel I can make meaningful impacts on patient outcomes within outpatient-centric, rural underserved areas. I am committed
First, we are clinicians to which these patients seek for our expertise to address their health problems. Secondly, we are diagnosticians whereby we seek the underlying causes of our patient’s health issues. Third, we are educators to which we help our patients cope and understand their health conditions. And lastly, we aspire to be the catalyst for a positive change in our patient’s concept of wellness and health. And truly, when we achieve our roles as catalysts for change for our patients we exude the transformative power of physical
Healthcare organizations (HCOs) face a number of difficulties within its organization each day, including patient acquisition and patient retention. It is commonly believed that getting individuals to their healthcare facility is the most challenging aspect that HCOs face. Of course, new patient acquisition could be a challenge without an efficient marketing strategy, but the challenge does not stop there. One of the biggest challenges for many practices today is maintaining a high patient retention rate. Pushing a patient from a one-time-visitor to becoming a frequent visitor of a specific healthcare organization involves much more effort than expected.
The level of care that the varying healthcare professionals provided to these patients was fascinating and became intrigued to a career path in the medical field. Over the next couple of years, I narrowed the possibility
A rising number of hospitals throughout the U.S. are applying a service model known as integrated health care (Kathol, Perez, Cohen 2010). The need for this is center around this area: Integration has made its approach into the health care settings gradually. This can assist in treating one’s medical and behavioral health needs within patient’s primary care provider’s office, recommending a proper evaluation as a whole person (Blout, 2003). Medical clinics have been used for a many years but its recognition is growing nationwide because of its effectiveness. Impact all parties involved, including but not limited to, patients, providers and insurance companies can be very effective.
Through my studies of human expression and its reflection of how people deal with world events in different ways, I developed sensitivity to other worldviews that continues to prove useful through my daily interactions with people of different backgrounds. I have learned that just like art, medicine involves pattern recognition and derives insight from experiences. Similarly, what I especially enjoy about being a medical assistant is interacting with patients on a daily basis and getting to be a part of their medical experiences, even if it is just by lending an ear. The experiences on my path to a career in medicine have made me want to make a real, tangible difference in the lives of those around me – a difference that leaves my patients in a better condition than they were in before I met them.
One of the first discussed was the number of patients that a physician at a community clinic was expected to see daily. The physician in the film maintains that she is constantly scrutinized by administration to increase her productivity. The physician however does not feel that increasing the number of patients she sees allows her to properly care for her patients. She is more concerned about the quality of care she provides versus the quantity of patients she sees. She gives this as a reason for her quitting this job.
As an aspiring physician in Emergency Medicine, it is hard to describe typical physician workday activities. Every day is unique and filled with many opportunities to learn and develop clinical, interpersonal communication, leadership and critical thinking skills. Despite this, there are certain routine activities which I had the opportunity to observe through my shadowing experience in the Emergency and Operating rooms at California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles. One day, a two year old patient came into the ER after falling and cutting her head. The patient’s mother told the physician that her daughter is nervous and scared.
My Reflection of Real Talk for Real Teachers Real Talk for Real Teachers written by Rafe Esquith has been thought provoking as well as entertaining to read. I have learned a great deal from reading this book and I hope to implement a few of his ways in my future classroom. I can relate too many of the stories that have been told in this book because this is real life in a school environment. I would like to break my summary down chapter by chapter.
My first comprehensive exposure to the health care field was six years ago as a senior, during which time I participated in hospital-based schooling. This program allowed me to observe a multitude of different medical disciplines, with rotations in surgery, orthopedics, nutrition, dermatology, gastroenterology, neurology, administrative services, and many more. Three out of the five school days were dedicated solely to shadowing, and the other two were spent in the classroom learning various medical-centric studies. Once in college, I continued to shadow physicians whenever my class scheduled permitted. I participated in the 4-U Mentorship program, which paired me with a fourth-year medical student who was preparing to do his residency in general
One of the unique aspects of the Department of Child Development and Family Relations is that many of the department’s large core courses offer teaching assistant opportunities to undergraduate students. Teaching assistant opportunities are valuable for undergraduate students to decide whether to apply as a graduate teaching position, great addition to a resume, and for a letter of recommendation. From my teaching assistant experience, I was able to fully grasp the concepts of middle childhood development, form a new appreciation for professors and teaching assistants, and reflect on myself as a student. In addition, I had the opportunity to strengthen several essential skills such as organizational skills, leadership skills, and communication
Being a teacher is a journey that has much to do with learning about yourself and being aware that what happens in your classroom reflects only on how are you with yourself. Teachers are not conscious that they project into students, and that affects how things go in the classroom. I believe the first characteristic of a good teacher is that he/ she is always willing to analyze his/her teaching performance. Second the teacher is humble enough to receive input about the development and application of techniques, learning from it and improving.
Professional reflection As I began my field experience journey, I learned many roles and responsibilities as elementary teacher. My duration in the field was nine weeks. I began training at E. R. Dickson. I developed a great working relationship with the staff and parents in the community. I always knew teaching is my passion.