Shadowing Blog #2: Internal Medicne and Pediatrics (10 Hours)

     Over the course of the last couple of weeks, I have had the privilege of shadowing a Physician (my former pediatrician) at Internal Medicine and Pediatrics of Bristol, which is my home town. I have been shadowing on Friday afternoons, and of course, over fall break. I was very excited to begin this shadowing process because pediatric medicine is the field that I hope to enter into after medical school. Shadowing this wonderful provider, has taught me so much about what I am going to be doing, and have proven to me even more that this is what I want to do with my life. I feel that one of the most important things that shadowing shows you is what kind of provider I want to be. I don’t mean the specialty you wish to enter into, but rather the type of provider that you want your patients, colleagues, and future students to admire you because of. Over these last few weeks, I have been given another prime example of the doctor that I hope to be in the coming years.

            This shadowing experience was unlike any other that I have had previously because, as stated above, I was in a pediatric office and shadowing small children. The particular provider that I shadowed believes that anything that can be fixed (especially with small children) with natural methods and the absence of medications that could potentially cause more harm than good, should be done that way. I was able to see him write down, from memory, a recipe and directions for how to aid a child facing dehydration. I learned that an equal mixture of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol can help when someone is struggling with water in their ears. I also learned that (though this does not directly apply to children) cherry juice and celery help in relieving gout symptoms. All of these methods were completely unheard of to me, and I was absolutely fascinated to learn more. I also learned some ideas for making sure that children receive the nutrients that they need. This provider, on more than one occasion told the parents that there are 3 things every child needs: at least 1 hour of outside time per day, 2 hours (preferably less) of screen time per day, and 5 fresh fruits or vegetables per day. In order to help the kids remember this, he would always tell them that they need to eat all of the colors of the rainbow every day. He recommended smoothies with hidden ingredients and allowing the kids to help prepare their own meals.

            I was also given an immunization schedule for when children should receive vaccinations including Pediatrix, Hib, Prevnar, and Rotarix at 4mo all the way to Tdap, Gardisil, and Meningococcal between 11-12 years. This was really cool to have it laid out when vaccinations need to be given. I was also able to hear the Pediatrician defend his opinion as to why vaccines are important and necessary, especially in this world where so many parents are trying to prevent their children from receiving them.

            The most important thing, at least for me personally as a student, that I saw from this provider was the fact that he took time with his patients and made them feel as though he had nothing more interesting in the world to be doing than to be talking with them, at least for the small amount of time they had for the appointment. He remembered their names and their families and stories that he had been told many months/years before. He prayed with them and asked God to hold them and bring them peace, no matter what it was they were facing. He shared his love with them, and that is what I admired most.

            Overall, this shadowing experience was wonderful, and I am looking forward to shadowing this provider, and others in his office in the coming months. I cannot wait to learn more about what it takes to care for children in the healthcare field.

Shadowing (First 5 Hours)

This past week, I was able to begin my shadowing hours for the semester; working towards the 20-hour goal for the entirety of the semester. This week, I had the privilege of shadowing a nurse practitioner at a weight loss clinic in Johnson City, TN. This was so different than any other office that I have shadowed in as of yet, and it changed my perspective for how I had viewed weight loss clinics in the past. Previously, I had not given much thought to the workings of a weight loss clinic, and I figured they were just basically passing out diet pills to help customers lose weight. Through this shadowing experience, I learned that this was not necessarily the case.

     There are a lot more to weight loss clinics than one may be able to immediately bring to mind. At this office, the provider (along with the staff) stress the importance of a healthy lifestyle including exercise and a well-balanced diet. Yes, there are some medications/injections that are given to the patients in order to help them “kick-start” their energy and or suppress cravings and overbearing appetite, but that is not the primary focus of this clinic. They truly want their patients to succeed in their weight loss journeys and offer encouragement for every step along the way. The patients come in for a monthly weigh in and to pick up any prescriptions that they may be getting. At this appointment, they discuss with the provider how they have implemented previous health style discussions into their own lives, how they feel that they have done with progress, and whether or not they faced any issues throughout the month that may have had adverse effects on their weight loss. The provider then tells the patient whether they need to “keep doing what they are doing” or whether or not some aspects of their efforts need to be modified in order to produce an overall healthier being.

I found it very interesting how the providers tied everything back to weight, many of which I was not total aware of. One’s body weight affects so much when it comes to health and preventative measures. Excess weight can affect anything from back/leg pain and overall discomfort to cardiac/respiratory issues and organ failure. The hope that this clinic and its providers hold is that they are making a difference in their patient’s health and helping them to protect themselves from serious ailments.

All in all, shadowing here has been a very interesting and informative experience. I learned a lot about nutrition/exercise (including small activities that one does not normally associate with exercising) and about how body weight and one’s BMI can affect so many other things. I plan on coming back to this clinic to shadow more later on in the semester and hope to continue to learn more about the importance of advocating for a healthy lifestyle when working with patients.

Deadly Medicine?!

     Today I had the pleasure of visiting the Reece Museum at East Tennessee State University. As I have stated in previous blogs, I love stopping by the Reece Museum and checking out what exhibits they have going on throughout the year. The exhibit that they are now featuring, struck a chord with me because it involves something that I am very passionate about. The current exhibit being featured here is called, “Deadly Medicine”. The featured artwork consists of pictures, letters, and documentaries that focus on medical practices throughout history (mostly surrounding the time of Nazi power and Hitler in Germany) that were widely practiced and were generally thought of as helpful and healing for the human body or for the human race as a whole.

     This exhibit was different than any others that I had seen before because the focus was not necessarily on the pictures, although they did have a major effect on the impact these stories and documentaries had on the audience. Rather the point of this exhibit was to show the audience what was believed by government officials and many medical practitioners of this times and how the decisions they made based on this affected the people.

     The main topic discussed throughout the exhibit was Eugenics. Basically, the government was advising “more valuable” people in society to have large families, while making every effort to sterilize everyone else. The people were given a list of “commandments for finding a mate” to ensure that there was no mixing of races, class, and potential illness. Sterilization was considered more humane than euthanasia, though both were used commonly. This did not just include adults, but also affected children. Babies who were born premature were seen as lacking in necessary components of life and were euthanized. This was considered a “mercy death” so that the child did not have to deal with their “certain” disabilities later on. This hit home with me because I was born 2 months early. The fact that they wanted to destroy a human life on any grounds, but most certainly without knowing if their estimation regarding mental capacity and capabilities was true, infuriates me. I turned out just fine, and it is so sad because many of these other children would have as well.

     All in all, this exhibit was very intriguing. I loved that it incorporated so many different types of information, and that it gave such a clear picture of what this “deadly medicine” was like. This exhibit shows the darker side of medical history, and how, especially at that time in history, it can be twisted by political interventions. I would highly recommend everyone check it out. “Deadly Medicine” will remain in the Reece Museum until 09/28/17 and no matter what your interests are, you will be intrigued by this display and leave with more knowledge of this period in history and a deeper understanding of how medical theories affect history, than what you entered with.

ETSU Colloquium Year 2 Semester 1

Hello Everyone!

As the semester commences, and I begin my Sophomore year at ETSU, I have decided to continue this blog for my colloquium course, detailing my new adventures. I am so excited for my second year and for all of my classes. I am even more excited for getting more involved on campus! Last year, I was still slightly intimidated by the idea of being on a college campus and was very overwhelmed by the newness of everything. I feel that this year is going to be so much better. Instead of anxiety, I have been filled with eager anticipation for classes, organization meetings, meeting new people, and learning more about the people I met last year. I cannot wait to see how this semester goes and to share my experiences with everyone who takes time to read my blog.

Thank you,
Savannah