I spent the summer in Houston, Texas with 3 other Wabash students shadowing various OB/GYN physicians, residents, and medical staff within the UTHealth System and the McGovern Medical School. We were able to see how subspecialties of OB/GYN focus on their unique cases facing their particular field. My favorite specialty I was able to observe was gynecologic oncology; I found it incredibly interesting, and the field is rapidly evolving with the advent of new procedures and techniques. Another highlight of my time there was being able to observe countless live births and c-sections; it is one of the most amazing things I’ve seen and has sparked my interest in OB/GYN as a specialty that I am now considering pursing post medical school.
I was also able to pick physicians’ brains about the current state of medicine, and the things they find most troubling. I often heard issues arise with insurance, understaffed departments, and long hours to name a few. It brought my attention beyond the hospital and the clinic to the context that medicine exists in. Despite these challenges facing healthcare today, this shadowing experience has further solidified my desire to pursue medicine and become a physician. I found myself among some of the kindest and brightest people I’ve ever met, and the environment was nothing but supportive and compassionate. My knowledge of the subject matter was often limited, but soon enough a medical student, resident, or physician would explain the concept and field my many questions. One of the interactions that I think of the most was during rounds with a physician who has been described as the “king of bedside manners”, when I asked him what his secret was to having such positive interactions with patients. He responded with two words “Patient autonomy.” He explained that the role of physician is not to unilaterally decide what is best for a patient, but to have a conversation. He said too often patient concerns fall on deaf ears, and they feel overlooked. He encouraged me to always put patient autonomy first and hear their perspective before making decisions. It reframed how I think about medicine and is something I will take forward in my career.
