As an aspiring medical professional, I had the incredible opportunity to complete my summer internship through the Annie Ruth Foundation, where I was placed in several clinical settings across Jacksonville, Florida. My rotations were with Dr. Renard Rawls, a gastroenterologist; Dr. David Sutton, an endocrinologist at NEFEDA; neurosurgeons, registered nurses, medical assistants, and top tier research fellows, at Baptist Lyerly Neurosurgery. The various clinical environments allowed me to discover different medical specialties, along with multiple healthcare professional work settings that included preventive outpatient care and high-level surgical research.
The internship experience provided me with direct experience in delivering patient care services and learning medical communication skills and clinical operational practices. Through Dr. Rawls, I understood how crucial colonoscopies and early screenings are for cancer prevention and detection of colon cancer. During my time at Dr. Sutton’s clinic, I learned about the medical approach to diabetes and obesity management, which represents fundamental public health problems. Observing Dr. Sutton listen to his patients with deep attention while he explained GLP-1s and GLP-2s and new treatments taught me about the essential role of empathy in medical practice. He showed me that healthcare requires treating the person, not just a diagnosis, which made a deep impact on my understanding of healthcare. The Baptist Lyerly Neurosurgery department granted me the opportunity to observe endovascular neurosurgery while I studied how neurologists and researchers work together for stroke care improvement. I felt utterly astonished during my f irst operating room experience because I had no idea I would encounter such intricate and life-saving medical procedures at such an early age. The healthcare process extends far beyond what patients see in public view because nurses monitor patients’ vital signs and medical assistants prepare treatment spaces while demonstrating the complete connection between healthcare components.
The AnnieRuth Foundation’s summer internship has played an enormous role in preparing me for my future. It included BLS certification, a tour of the Mayo Clinic Simulation Center, and development seminars covering everything you need to know. Although I’m still figuring out where I’ll fit within the medical field, I am deeply thankful because this paid opportunity is a rare experience for high school students, allowing me to dedicate myself to learning and growth. This experience has taught me that healthcare requires equal importance for scientific knowledge, curiosity, compassion, and teamwork. Combined with my previous year’s preparation, this internship helped me move from medical dreams to actual medical work. I am grateful for the mentorship, access, and trust AnnieRuth and Ms. Dee provided us. This program not only prepared me but also inspired me to become a better person.