Natalie Negron is a senior biology major and history and behavioral neuroscience minor. She spent six weeks at the Cleveland Clinic in Weston last summer, where she had many experiences that contributed to her passion for science and medicine.
As a child, I was always very interested in science and knew that I wanted a career as a physician. I remember watching hundreds of “ER” episodes and making my younger brother play “doctor” with me, so I could diagnose his made-up symptoms. It was this early fascination with medicine that led me to choose biology as my major in college and eventually pursue as much hands-on exposure to the medical environment as possible. One of the internships that I was fortunate to be involved with was the Summer Scholars Program at Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Florida.
The Summer Scholars Program is a six-week shadowing program offered to both high school and college students interested in the medical field. During the summer of 2014, I shadowed Dr. Giovanna DaSilva, a colorectal surgeon. When I first received my assignment to the colorectal surgery department, I was very nervous and did not know what to expect. However, I quickly learned that colorectal surgery is one of the most interesting and complex fields in medicine.
Over the course of the six weeks, I shadowed Dr. DaSilva and her colorectal fellow Dr. Haane Massarotti in both the clinic and the operating room. At the beginning and end of each week, I saw patients with them in the clinic, where I experienced doctor-patient interactions. Throughout the week, I observed all of their surgeries in the operating room and colonoscopy procedures in the endoscopy wing.
I treated my internship as though I were a medical student on my surgical rotation. I arrived at the hospital every day at 8 a.m. and sometimes earlier if I wanted to attend a morning lecture or accompany doctors on their rounds. I left late in the evening when my doctor was finished seeing patients or done with surgery. Through my interactions with the medical students, residents, fellows and attending physicians, I learned how the medical field differs at each level of training.
I also learned the importance of compassion and empathy in a medical setting. So many of the patients I encountered were fighting for their lives every single day. I met several patients suffering from colon cancer who had to undergo very invasive and traumatic surgeries just so that they could live another day. It was certainly difficult having to see the trauma that they endured, but at the same time it was so inspiring to see them have such vibrant spirits despite their diseases. Every patient that I met further added to my appreciation of life.
One patient in particular taught me the most about demonstrating compassion and understanding throughout the entire treatment process. I was fortunate enough to see this patient’s entire course of treatment and medical care. I first met him in an initial pre-operative clinical visit, then witnessed his 7-hour laparoscopic total colectomy surgery a few weeks later and finally visited him again in recovery some days after his surgery. Although he had an aggressive form of colon cancer, he always tried to make the best of the situations that life had dealt him. Meeting him made me a better and more caring individual, and I am certain that I will also be a better doctor because of the things that I learned from him and my mentors.
The experiences that I have from my time as a Summer Scholar will stay with me forever, and I have no doubt that I am better equipped for medical school, residency programs and my future career as a physician.
