9 minute read
Externship Experience Reports
The Family Health Foundation of Missouri and the American Academy of Family Physician Foundation sponsored four medical students to participate in the MAFP summer externship program. Because of your financial support, we are able to continue this program for medical students interested in family medicine. Here are stories about their experience this summer.
Noah Brown, MS3 University of Missouri Kansas City Externship Site: University of Missouri-Kansas City Family Medicine Residency
Advertisement
This externship was truly an amazing experience. From the first day to the last day, I enjoyed every second of my time at Truman Medical Center – Lakewood with the UMKC Family Medicine Residency Program. I was able to learn so much about the residency program, about medicine in general, and about how truly wonderful the field of family medicine is through this incredible opportunity. I have always had family medicine at the top of my list for specialties, and this experience further sealed that.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this experience was getting to learn about the UMKC Family Medicine Residency Program. This program at TMC-Lakewood has the unique opportunity to truly train for a full-scope practice, as family medicine physicians are an integral part throughout the hospital. From inpatient medicine, to OB/ GYN, to clinic, to procedures, and everything in between, residents at UMKC’s program get training in every aspect of family medicine, and really every aspect of medicine in general. It is because of this that graduates from this residency can truly shape their practice to whatever they desire, whether it be more clinic, more inpatient, more OB, or just a little bit of everything.
Whenever I asked a resident about their experience in this program, they said that this variety in their training was one of the greatest aspects of this program. This was definitely one of the greatest aspects of my experience, as well. To be able to get exposure in so many areas, I really learned so much. To add to this, the residents and faculty that I worked with were incredible in their willingness and ability to teach. They were happy to answer each and every question that I had, and if they did not know the exact answer, they would do their absolute best to find the answer, whether that be from another resident, faculty, or research articles. Additionally, the residents would ask me questions in regard to the patients we would see. This was one of my favorite parts because I was able to have a meaningful discussion with the resident about what I thought would be appropriate for the patient, and I was able to learn so much from these interactions. These things made it easier to learn, as they not only made me feel comfortable to ask questions, but they challenged me in order to practice my own clinical skills.
Another important aspect of this program that I observed throughout my experience was the comradery among the residents and faculty. You could tell that they were one big family who truly care about each other and their patients. I remember what one resident said to me, “It’s the people that make the program.” And this is why the residency program at UMKC is truly one-of-a-kind: the community. It was a lot of fun to be able to be a part of this community during my externship. The residents and faculty are truly one big family, and they do their best to ensure that students and others feel just as much a part of that family as they are. This was definitely a breath of fresh air and it gives me something to look forward to in the future.
Overall, I am very happy to have participated in this wonderful experience. These four weeks went by so fast, but it’s as they say, “time flies when you’re having fun”. Through this externship, I was able to learn so much, refine my own clinical skills, and meet some truly incredible residents and faculty at TMC-Lakewood.
Monisa Saravanan, MS1 Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences Externship Site: Research Medical Center Family Medicine Residency
I had the honor of being selected for the summer externship program through the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Family Health Foundation of Missouri. I am so thankful for having spent my summer learning from incredible faculty, residents, and staff at Research Medical Center. My supervisor, Dr. Jennifer Tieman, was so gracious for letting me make my experience exactly how I wanted it. Before even starting my externship, Dr. Tieman took the time to figure out what I wanted from the program and specifically tailored my externship to my interests. Having had limited exposure to all that family medicine could entail, I asked to be given the chance to explore the field in its entirety. This resulted in a four-week excursion through outpatient clinic, inpatient rounds, labor and delivery and a visit to newborns in the nursery.
Throughout my first year and especially after the burnout experienced during our Neuroendocrine block, I felt that I maybe had lost sight of the ultimate goal and got a little too caught up in my scores and academic performance. Being able to work alongside physicians like Dr. Tieman, her colleagues, and her residents, I was reminded of why I wanted to pursue medicine and specifically family medicine in the first place. This externship was like a breath of fresh air. I was reminded of how important the patient-provider relationship is and how the quality of that relationship is a direct result of the quality of care experienced by patients and the enthusiasm shown by their physicians. Additionally, after having spent most of our time in the classroom, it was refreshing to see how the things I learned were applied in a clinical setting.
During my clinical experience, I had the opportunity to interview patients, conduct physical exams, and observe procedures. I also participated in grand grounds, attended lectures and performed a Mini-Mental State exam. All of these experiences allowed me to practice and build on the skills that I had been taught over the past year. As someone who has been grappling with which specific subset of primary care to pursue, this externship has defined family medicine as the career choice for my future endeavors. This field has the unique capacity to tailor your career to include a specific skill set (i.e. OB surgery) while also taking on the responsibilities of the profession. Additionally, family medicine has the beauty of being able to work with the greatest breadth of individuals while also enabling close patient-provider relationships - as evidenced by patients’ reactions when the 3rd year residents informed them of their move to other locations.
Each encounter I had with the physicians, residents, patients, and staff was a learning experience and has contributed to my growth as a student doctor. I look forward to taking the skills and new insight I have developed through my journey to becoming a future physician. In my role as the current chapter president of ACOFP at Kansas City University, I aim to recommend this program to other interested medical students so 2they too can experience what I have had the privilege to.
Lillian Scanlon, MS1 Saint Louis University Externship Site: University of Missouri-Columbia Family Medicine Residency
This summer, I was selected for the Family Health Foundation of Missouri’s externship program, which allowed me to spend four weeks at the Family Health Center in Columbia, MO. At the FHC, I was immersed in the day to day life of a family medicine physician. I worked with several different residents and attendings throughout my experience. It didn’t take long to notice the enthusiasm, dedication, and passion that all of these physicians had for their work. This only bolstered my interest in pursuing family medicine as a career.
One of the best parts of this experience was having the opportunity to interview patients on my own. During my first year of medical school, most of my practice with taking a patient’s history was with standardized patients in a classroom setting. Having this independence was an excellent learning opportunity. I was encouraged by how open and trusting patients were, even moments after meeting me. As I honed my interviewing skills and learned how to ask the right questions, I grew excited for my future career as a physician.
The FHC is a federally qualified health center that cares for uninsured and underinsured families. Throughout my time there, I was able to see a racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse patient population. I saw various patients- everything from prenatal visits, geriatric, sports medicine, and pediatrics. Throughout these visits, the physicians I worked with were willing to explain their thought process to me as they performed the exam and arrived at a diagnosis. This provided a lot of insight into how the mind of a physician works.
I was also able to observe grand rounds, weekly resident didactics, and the student-run clinic: MedZou, which allowed me to dive deeper into the field of family medicine. During my externship, the third-year residents were wrapping up their residency experience. As I watched them say goodbye to patients that they had been caring for during the past three years, I realized how unique the physician-patient relationship is in the field of family medicine. Physicians focus on caring for the whole patient, and in turn, are able to build lasting and trusting relationships. Throughout the summer, I learned an incredible amount about medicine and gained skills that I can take with me when I care for my future patients.
Amanda Springer, MS1 Saint Louis University Externship Site: Mercy Hospital Family Medicine Residency
I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I had as the MAFP Summer Extern at Mercy Family Medicine. This was a truly exceptional experience where I was exposed to both outpatient and inpatient care. In addition, I attended didactic lectures and workshops about ultrasound, suturing, joint injections and osteopathic skills. The final component of my placement helped to foster my understanding of advocacy work. This included completing Family Medicine Advocacy Modules, a community needs assessment and presenting a capstone project!
COVID-19 has changed so much about our life and it was humbling to hear patients’ stories about what they are going through during these difficult times. I will keep these experiences with me at school this year and remember how family medicine practitioners are the backbone of the healthcare system.
I want to thank my incredible mentor Dr. Sarah Cole for her invaluable lessons each day and always encouraging me to learn more! I also want to thank the amazing residents I shadowed at the clinic, Dr. Chelsea Drissell and Dr. Vanessa Murillo, your wisdom will stay with me! This is an experience I will always remember and will definitely recommend to anyone who is interested in family medicine!
