This summer, I was given the opportunity to intern at Memorial Hermann Hospital through McGovern Medical School and the Larry C. Gilstrap Center for Perinatal and Women’s Health Research in Houston, Texas. This internship was created by alumnus Dr. Sean Blackwell ’84 who serves as a chair of the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for UT Health and was organized and put together by Dr. Sunbola Ashimi. I would like to thank Dr. Blackwell and Dr. Ashimi for all they did to make this program run along with all of the other UT Health doctors who took time out of their days to teach us college kids anything and everything about how hospitals run and the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Throughout the internship, I spent my time rotating through different specialties within the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology each week. Throughout the seven weeks, I observed doctors working in the specialties of Labor and Delivery (day and night shift), Gynecological Oncology, the Fetal Center, Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery (MIGS), and Private Clinic OB/Gyn. Most of my time was spent observing these doctors in their everyday work. I was able to observe things spanning from vaginal deliveries and Cesarean sections to rare, high risk birth cases where surgery must be performed on the fetus while it is still inside the mother’s uterus. The doctors were great at finding opportunities for us to get involved in whatever they were doing. On special occasions, we were even allowed to scrub in on certain surgeries to get a front row seat and more personal lesson from the doctor.
This internship really taught me about how hospitals are actually run. I learned a lot about how important and relied upon hierarchy is in hospitals. Everyone answers to someone and you earn your way of moving up with time and practice. Being able to understand this gave me a whole new perspective on how hospitals run. More importantly, this internship ignited a desire to pursue a career in medicine. Going into the summer, I was unsure with what I wanted to do with my future. Throughout the internship, I grew more and more excited about each day of work. Every day was an adrenaline rush, and at the end of every day, I couldn’t wait to go to bed, wake up, and do it again the next day. I would suggest to anyone who even has the slightest interest in medicine to apply for this internship.
Thank you again to Dr. Blackwell, Dr. Ashimi, the UT Health doctors, and Wabash College for helping me realize my goals and giving me a great experience.
