Today, we volunteered at Parkinson's Dynamics. We spent the morning with a large group of Parkinson's patients who were undergoing both physical and cognitive therapies. These exercises included activities such as boxing, cycling, weightlifting, using a cane to move objects, and performing cognitive tasks. Afterward, we went to a local coffee shop for refreshments and team bonding. We arrived at the UAB Medicine building around noon, where we ate lunch and received a presentation from Huntsville Hospital Canines for Coping. We got to meet Orbit, a facility dog from the program. The rest of the day was then spent in the simulation lab with Dr. Bramm and Dr. Irle. They taught us how to listen for certain heart and lung conditions, and how to inject or remove fluid from the knee. All in all, it was a wonderful day full of awesome experiences!
Tuesday:
Today, I spent my morning on rounds with the Internal Medicine team. We saw patients in seemingly every part of the Huntsville Hospital facility. At lunch, we had a seminar on wilderness medicine, which provided us with an extensive understanding of how to respond to medical emergencies in the wilderness setting. After lunch, I spent the afternoon with Dr. Fanning in the Internal Medicine Clinic. This allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of the patient/practitioner relationship, as well as how I would like to conduct myself while caring for my patients in the future.
Wednesday:
Today, we worked on our Wellness Projects. Our group initially chose to focus on Measles in rural Alabama; however, we could not find enough relevant data. So, we then shifted gears toward Alabama's vaccination rates and overall healthcare ratings. At lunch, we were given the opportunity to meet a representative of Alabama's Area Health Education Centers (AHEC). He was very informative and was even able to give me some information on how to go about an upcoming project of mine! Afterward, we departed for Charlie Foster's Espresso Bar so that we could continue working on our projects. We finished our PowerPoint in the afternoon and prepared to print materials for our poster on Thursday.
Thursday:
Today, I completed my exit interview with Dr. Bramm. While this was not as formal as I expected, I received a lot of great feedback and some much-needed validation! After my interview, I was informed that we would no longer be required to make a poster for our project, so we relaxed until lunch. After lunch, we went back to the dorm and got ready for a program pool party, hosted by the parents of a former HRPI student. We carpooled there, singing and laughing the whole way. We enjoyed playing games in the pool, a small pickleball tournament in the driveway, and a delicious barbecue dinner! After the pool party, we went back to the dorms and spent our last night together watching a Star Wars film.
Friday:
Today, we spent the morning packing up as many of our belongings as we could manage. Then, we departed for our Wellness Project Luncheon. Upon arriving at UAB, we quickly ran through our presentations, greeted our family members, and prepared our plates. Once everyone was seated and introductions were given, the presentations began. The first group presented on the medical challenges faced by rural Alabamians, and the second group focused on healing through a rural lifestyle. Lastly, we presented our project, titled "Vaccination in Alabama: Protecting Public Health Through Immunization." Our presentation sparked several interesting questions and a lot of discussion among the physicians in attendance! Afterward, we were seated so that Dean Dr. Smalligan and Dr. Bramm could give a few remarks on the program and our participation in it. We each were then presented with an award and directed to choose a prize. I was given the "Most Likely to Convince the Attending Physician to Let Her Do a Joint Aspiration," for which I chose a small first aid kit as my prize. After collecting our awards, Dean Dr. Smalligan and Dr. Bramm called on us to receive a certificate of completion. We then presented "Thank You" cards to Dr. Bramm and Ms. Clawson for their dedication to our success. As everyone was dismissed, we each spoke with our families, fellow interns, and supportive physicians. I received several compliments on my public speaking, warm wishes from my newfound friends, and kind words from their families. We said our goodbyes and departed for the dorm, where we packed the rest of our things and began our journeys home.
