Since I was five, I dreamed of becoming a doctor. While living with my grandparents, I noticed that they were always sick. They had many diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and more. As their grandchild, I was naturally worried for them. I visioned saving them and making their diseases go away.…
When I was shadowing an osteopathic family medicine physician, Dr. Anthony Lopresti, I came to appreciate how the philosophies of osteopathy coincides with my own. Through many patient encounters, I learned of the combination of prescribed medications and musculoskeletal manipulation that enhances the body’s natural process to heal on its own. I was wavering between pursuing the two philosophies of allopathic or osteopathic that both sought to improve individuals’ lives. My passion in osteopathic medicine was confirmed when I comforted a distressed patient which made me realize how important patient satisfaction was to me. The ideal practice of medicine she spoke of also resonated my own beliefs of practicing medicine: to consider the person…
Why do I, Mishayla Moffitt, want to pursue a career in healthcare? It all started when I was in preschool and finally beginning to understand how the world works and what my dad did for a job. My dad is so passionate and caring towards his patients and he never goes home till the last sick patient is seen for the day. My dad is a family physician and from the age of five, I had my heart set on being a great doctor just like him.…
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment” -Ralph Waldo Emerson(american essayist/lecturer. This quote is what i feel like I have,to be able to be let into this compound. I’ve had many setbacks in life from being fat to getting bullied by kids at my elementary school well I guess those kind of relate to each other.…
My journey in the health field began at a fairly young age. When I was in middle school I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA). After the diagnosis, my life consisted of doctor appointments and hospitals. I was amazed at how the doctors would know what to do and what to prescribe to make me feel better. Soon enough I developed an interest in medicine and had my mind set on going to college and becoming a doctor.…
They call them “Tap-taps,” the brightly painted open back trucks that transport passengers through the dusty streets of Haiti. A traveler taps the side of the vehicle to board, pays, rides and then taps to jump off at a desired destination. For one particular man who sat with his face covered by a towel, that destination was the Diegue clinic in Port-au-Prince. All I knew from intake was that this patient was here for a foot issue. I noticed the adult sitting uncomfortably, a towel wrapping his foot, as his eyes scanned around the room.…
Prior to my experience in the Columbia University Summer Public Health Scholars Program (SPHSP), I simply wanted to “help people”. This broad and shallow reason for my pursuit of a medical degree has since been redefined. My pursuit of a medical degree is greatly strengthened by the Columbia University Summer Public Health Scholars Program (SPHSP). During the SPHSP the program exposed us to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and my eyes were opened to unique way help people.…
For my assignment, I got to interview Dr. Rolf D. Morstead, MD, FAAPMR on February 17, 2018. He obtained his degree at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans and is in practice for more than twenty years. He is board certified in both Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine. Dr. Morstead currently works as an independent practitioner for eighteen years in Monroe, LA. He is also affiliated with St. Francis Medical Center and Glenwood Regional Medical Center.…
In a four-week clinical externship in Family Medicine, I gained a vast experience of United States health care system. I attended morning case presentations on a daily basis as well as discussions with the attending and residents after the morning rounds. I took histories and performed physical examinations in outpatient and inpatient settings. Maintaining the records of admitted/discharged patients and scheduling follow up appointments with the assigned residents was a great learning. I prepared powerpoint presentations on the weekly basis and attended lectures/seminars on topics regarding medical health and preventions.…
My clinical experience so far has been quite interesting, because I learned basic clinical procedures and preventions that I know will benefit me as a nurse in the near future. During lab, we discussed infection control, personal hygiene, and isolation precautions. These procedures impact my personal health and wellness, because I need to ensure that I am using the proper techniques in order to keep me safe. Also, I know that it is important to make sure my patients are not at risk of developing hospital associated infections.…
To prepare for my transition into clinical, I want to review my notes to get a better understanding of how to apply my knowledge in a practical setting. Often in simulations, I feel like I’m working through the case with a fragmented understanding of the situation because I am unsure if I’m following the right train of thought. My learning goal is to strengthen my foundation in my knowledge of respiratory care to better apply it in a clinical setting.…
The Dreaded Medicine Pass “Here is your medicine”, the nurse said as she walked into the resident’s room. Working in a nursing home I hear this phrase all the time. Even as a nursing assistant, I hear it every time a nurse comes in to give a resident medicine while I am trying to give care to him/her. I used to think that a nursing home was a happy place that all elderly people went to when they retired; however, as I got older I realized that I was wrong. Elderly people need help because they cannot take proper care of themselves.…
Lastly, there was one patient who I had noticed since the beginning of my clinical rotation. He was often wondering around the unit or sitting in his room. However, one morning, I noticed him sitting in the dining room by himself and decided to approach him. I introduced myself and asked him if he would like to play cards. He immideitly declined my offer saying something along the lines of “no thanks.”…
For the first week, my clinical objective was to participate in interprofessional team communication and collaboration. Being a student it can often be daunting to go out on a limb to put yourself out there and incorporate yourself as part of the team. This week the experience I encountered which helped me reach my clinical objective was quite adrenaline-charged. Upon having a patient return from their dialysis treatment they were found unresponsive by my preceptor and I. Being able to communicate with my preceptor on the next steps of activating the rapid response team (RRT) as well as getting more hands on deck was a big step and definitely a different role than that of just a student nurse.…
I could hardly contain my excitement when I found out my first clinical experience would be in the intensive care unit, but my lack of knowledge in ICU care caused apprehension about the care I could provide for the clients and their families. As a senior nursing student, I knew the material, but the high acuity of the patients made me nervous! Inexperience led me to rely mostly on my psychosocial skills and interactions with patients. After report, as I was assessing my patients, I felt particularly drawn to a particular elderly lady. She'd suffered a stroke, was unresponsive, and the offgoing nurse had given me a mental picture of her grieving husband, who was trying to come to grips with this major life change.…