Thomas McCoy, an orthopedic surgeon at OrthoCarolina who specializes in joint replacement surgery. During this experience, I was able to observe many different types of orthopedic cases but, more importantly, I also shadowed Dr. McCoy caring for patients in the office. As I gained more and more knowledge about what orthopedists do, I saw how many people in the U.S. are stuck in an endless cycle of arthritis, inactivity, weight gain and more pain. Seeing the difference that Dr. McCoy made in many of his patient’s lives reinforced my desire to make a difference as well and help people get back on their feet again. I also recently shadowed a GI doctor who allowed me to do some scribe work and see more of what doctors do when they are not with patients. In both of my experiences, the doctors talked about difficulties adjusting to doing more paperwork and the new data entry software. As a prospective doctor, I anticipate to encounter changes like these throughout my career. Growing up alongside the advancing internet and computer technology has provided me with a large knowledge base and help me adapt to various changes.
I also had a unique opportunity to visit Peru this summer as part of a service learning trip. I visited various clinics and hospitals to see many differences as well as similarities Peru’s healthcare system compared to the U.S. For example, there are still many rural areas in the mountains that have little