As an award recipient of the Annie Ruth Foundation, I was able to take part in an internship experience, allowing me to explore different medical professions. Prior to this experience, I had aspired to be a pediatrician because of my undying love for serving and taking care of others—more specifically those of adolescence and infant age. As of right now, I still would like to be a pediatrician based on what I have seen at the three distinct locations I have interned at. My first location was with the Department of Health at their Women and Children’s clinic. There, I shadowed under Dr. Pope. My second location was with Dr. Price, a nephrologist who jumps from different clinics and settings to serve the Jacksonville community. Currently, I am at Baptist, learning from a variety of different doctors, nurses, and researchers at the neurology unit.
I began my journey interning under Dr. Pope, a woman who not only is a pediatrician, but oversees her whole team. With her, one of the things I learned was the difference between systolic and diastolic heart beats, as well as learning how to document a patient’s medical history. I admired the way she handled children, and it helped me confirm my career path as a pediatrician. I also interned under Dr. Price, an inspiring nephrologist who I considered to be kind and understanding to her patients. Even if this part of my internship confirmed I would not like to work with the elderly, it was fascinating, nonetheless. I met a variety of people in the different clinics I went to, and they were all very polite towards me. I was taught how to check for clear lungs, the various places to check someone’s heart, and how to take blood pressure. Currently, I am working in Baptist Health by learning under the neurology team. With Dr. Salvador and Dr. Octavio, I was able to learn the distinct types of strokes such as ischemic and hemorrhagic, the symptoms, causes, and treatments.
Through my participation in the AnnieRuth Foundation’s summer internship program, I was able to gain so much more than I expected. Unlike other high school students, I gained hands-on experience under the guidance of real professionals. The connections the AnnieRuth Foundations holds, and the fact they are still expanding as a nonprofit organization is incredible. I cannot thank them enough for teaching me skills I will be using for the rest of my life, and for allowing me to widen my mindset as a mere high schooler. I will always recommend this program to anyone willing to listen because it is an experience to remember for the rest of my life.