This summer, I had the privilege of interning at Memorial Hermann Hospital as a member of the Gilstrap Summer Program in Houston, Texas. The Gilstrap Summer Program was created by Dr. Sean Blackwell (Class of 1989) and Dr. Sunbola Ashimi and hosted by the University of Texas, McGovern Medical School. The Gilstrap Program allows undergraduate students to shadow doctors across many different specialties of Obstetrics and Gynecology in a hospital setting. I want to give a massive thank you to both Dr. Blackwell, who was willing to take time out of his busy schedule to readily answer any questions that my fellow Gilstrap students and I had throughout our time in Texas, as well as Dr. Ashimi, who helped coordinate each one of our rotations and helped us communicate with the many doctors we shadowed over our seven weeks.
During my internship, I saw a new side of medicine that I had never experienced before. My first experience during my internship was witnessing a cesarean section for the first time. Each week, I shadowed a new side of OB/GYN medicine. I shadowed doctors in Minorly Invasive Gynecological Surgeries, Gynecology Oncology, Labor and Delivery (day and night shifts), Private Clinics, and the Fetal Center. I interacted with residents and medical students daily, learning about their experiences and gaining a better understanding of medical school and residency. I witness multiple cesarean sections, vaginal births, hysterectomies, myomectomies, and other exact procedures. The hands-on experiences provided to me helped further my passion for working in the medical field.
This internship helped me grow in multiple ways; in a medical sense, I learned a lot more about the surgical side of medicine and how to develop relationships with patients. I also developed a lot more as an adult by living in a new state and working like a medical student. I was also able to experience many different activities that I would not have experienced in Indiana, such as Hurricane I and the excellent food in Texas. All jokes aside, this internship was incredibly
eye-opening to what being a doctor truly means. That was incredibly positive, pushing me to pursue medical school and continue to focus on medicine and science as a whole.
I want to thank Dr. Blackwell and Dr. Ashimi again for all of their help this summer. I also want to give a special shoutout to Jill Rogers, whose help in giving me the opportunity to be a Gilstrap Student and her help throughout my entire time at Wabash is truly appreciated. I hope many more students can participate in this internship for years to come.
