During my summer internship at UF Health Simulation Center, I was given the opportunity to learn more about the medical environment and possess an educational desire for medicine. During my first three weeks, I was stationed at UF Health Simulation Center where I was able to help set up simulation scenarios for the different specialties of doctors who come in the practice and train for real life situations. This hands-on experience allowed me to see the importance of simulation in medical education, contributing to helping doctors practice procedures and make decisions without risk to real patients. I was also able to do some medical rope edited on mannequins where I learned how to do an IV, work an endoscopy and colonoscopy machine, use the PEG system that surgeons use to test themselves, learned how to incubate, etc. I was able to gain invaluable insights into medicine, teamwork, and the importance of “practice makes better” in healthcare.
After the 3 weeks at the simulation center, I spent a week interning at the Florida Department of Health. This experience allowed me to observe the various stories, situations, and problems that can go on medically. This broadened my understanding of public health because I was able to go in with Dr. Saint Pre to evaluate her patients. She is a pediatrician, so I was able to see from newborn to teenagers during their check-ups. The problems ranged from eczema to psychological problems and being able to see that diversity is fascinating as they all have different treatments. Additionally, I was able to see the system they use for patients and being able to see that gave me a better outlook on the medical system and better familiarity for the future.
Both internships complemented each other by providing a unique perspective of the medical field, from clinical training to family medicine. The hands-on simulations at UF Health emphasized the importance of practical skills and problem-solving, while my time at the Florida Department of Health showed the importance of evaluation. These experiences have not only deepened my interest in medicine but have also equipped me with a diverse skill set and a better understanding of the importance of doctors in the world around us.