Hello everyone! My name is Eleshaday Abraha. I am a sophomore majoring in BBMB. I’ve been interning at Providence St Mary’s Hospital in Walla Walla for the past two months as part of their summer student volunteer program. This internship equips students who want to be doctors with hands-on experience working with medical professionals. During this internship, I have been working in the neurosurgery and the medical laboratory departments.
My day at the hospital varies depending on the office I work at. The majority of my work in the medical laboratory involves data entry and document organization. Aside from that, I run hospital inspections with my supervisor, organize reagents, and load samples. In between tasks, I learn about the functions of various machines and methods for interpreting the results. This includes but is not limited to monitoring and detecting cancer growth, deciphering covid test results, and identifying abnormal blood mineral combinations. Even though learning about these complex instruments has been fascinating, my favorite aspect of working in the lab is learning about various fields all in one place. Work orders come in from a variety of specialties. Identifying the correct test type and detecting disorders in different organs gave me a glimpse into the work of various departments.
Like every other volunteer, I clean and stock the exam rooms at the neurosurgery office. However, as part of the student program, I’ve had the opportunity to observe doctors, physician assistants, and nurses as they consult and treat patients. Mostly, after each session, I look through the case with the provider, discuss the treatment/ surgical plans, and get a list of resources I can read to learn more about the condition. In this field, each of the three professionals has specific responsibilities. Doctors mainly consult with new patients before surgery to identify the disorder, while nurses and physician assistants typically monitor progress and aid recovery after surgery. My reason for shadowing all three professions, even though I am only interested in becoming a physician, is that it enables me to get the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery process of various brain and spinal disorders. In addition, I had the opportunity to speak with neurosurgeons about the medical school application process and receive advice. Interacting with patients from various socioeconomic backgrounds, listening to how they cope with the pain, and learning how it affects their way of life has been another valuable learning activity. In addition to the experiences I gained through this internship, being able to volunteer and contribute to the well-being of others has been extremely rewarding.
Experiences like Eleshaday‘s are made possible by the Whitman Internship Grant, which provides funding for students to participate in unpaid internships at both for-profit and non-profit organizations. We are happy to be sharing blog posts from students who were supported by either a summer, fall, spring, or year-long Whitman Internship Grant at organizations, businesses, and research labs all around the world. To learn how you could secure a Whitman Internship Grant or host a Whitman intern at your organization, click here or contact Assistant Director for Internship Programs Mitzy Rodriguez