I am often amazed at the opportunities that students have today. Since I teach in a school that includes a Math and Science magnet program, we have many intelligent and diligent students who are thinking about becoming doctors in the future, a career interest for many of the students I have taught through the years.
Oh, but what opportunities kids have today!
Our senior magnet students are required to complete internships for one semester during their final year of high school. Some students who are considering careers in the medical field intern with doctors, and a few of the lucky ones get to spend weeks working with energetic and compassionate surgeons who are willing to mentor a seventeen or eighteen-year-old student.
That’s right – surgeons!
Students get their own scrubs and have the opportunity to enter the operating room and watch as surgeons complete operations, not once, but many, many times during the 18-week program. Every semester I have wide-eyed students who tell me all about what they see during operations, and our conversations almost always revolve around the amputations that they see.
Yes, amputations! (I would run away, but for kids who are interested in medicine, this is an experience of a lifetime.)
Imagine being eighteen years old and interested in becoming a doctor. How much would it mean to you to be able to walk into a doctor’s office or a surgeon’s office and shadow him during part of the day? Without question, students who have this amazing opportunity will remember it for the rest of their lives, and this experience will indeed help them decide if a life in medicine is what they want to pursue.
I wish all of our students had the opportunity to shadow caring professionals who are willing to devote part of their day to prepare future generations for careers.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2010 Edie Parrott
2 comments on this topic
3. March - 4:29 am
I think that Drs. who are willing to do this should be rewarded in some way – it seems that in our community it is only a few – and they are so important to education. It would be great if they could be highlighted on local news or something. They are performing a super survice! I wonder how one would go about doing this – maybe Dr. Dyer should add it to her list!
3. March - 7:21 am
I couldn’t even dissect the pig.
What an awesome program. Think of how many students begin to take classes in college without the foggiest idea of what they want to do or thinking they want to do something they’ve never witnessed. This could save years of going in the wrong direction. Hearing about adults taking the time to expose a child to a career is heartwarming.
3. March - 6:38 pm
I don’t know why I’ve never commented in the past. I read your blog religiously, I hope that doesn’t seem weird.Well, I just wanted to let you know that you were that energetic and compassionate professional who allowed me to shadow you in the classroom- a place that I so look forward to spending the next best years of my life. And though it may not to the normal person seem as exciting as watching an amputation- letting me help with your teacher duties last semester really meant alot to me!
3. March - 7:12 pm
Thanks, Cortney! I wish I had you back this semester! You will make a wonderful teacher, and I can’t wait until you have your own classroom and invite me to visit! I’ll come help you pass out papers.
3. March - 7:12 pm
How true, Theresa! What a difference such programs make in the lives of so many students.
3. March - 7:16 pm
You’re right, Margaret. I started to mention Dr. Hafner and the doctors in his practice, but I’m sure he doesn’t want people contacting him to ask about the program. I really like the idea about the local news. I think I’m going to pursue that. As far as their reward is concerned, I suspect they feel that reward just about every day when they work with such motivated kids who are so interested in what the doctors are doing. They have to be kind souls in the first place to volunteer to work with our students.