Science & Global Change Practicum Reflection
For my practicum project, I shadowed at the Brain and Spine Institute of Sinai Hospital under a Neurologist by the name of Dr. Braeme Glaun. I was fortunate enough to hear about Dr. Glaun through a friend, and was able to easily get in touch with him by text. While many students may not be as lucky as I was in this case, one tip I can still advise future scholars on is to always speak in a polite and professional manner when reaching out to prospective mentors. These mentors may not only guide you through internships and experiences, but may also be people who write your future letters of recommendation or help you find future positions, making your relationship with them very important. As a shadow, the only “task” I partook in was observation, however, the variety came in what I was observing. I was given the privilege of witnessing many electromyography (EMG) tests, two spinal surgeries, and various other medical evaluations covering complex ailments, including but not limited to multiple sclerosis and hydrocephalus. During EMG tests, needles are inserted into the muscle to measure electrical activity in the nerves and search for electrical abnormalities. Should abnormalities be observed in the body, the location and severity of neurological damage can be assessed. While observing these tests, I learned how doctors interact with patients and prepare them for procedures. I was also shown the importance of biomedical devices, and was able to learn how EMG tests work, and can even be improved. While observing surgeries I learned how different medical staff operate together during procedures, how surgeons think about and work through a surgery, and gained experience being in a clinical setting. The most impactful part of the experience, which to some may have seemed the most “bland,” were the check ups and medical evaluations. While I already had some understanding of the severity of neurodegenerative diseases before my experience shadowing, my shadowing experience really opened my eyes to how devastating the diseases can be, with the ability to cause chronic pain, or completely take away our personality and ability to function. Tying into the newfound reverence I gained for these ailments, is also a respect I gained for medicine. We all grow up knowing how important pharmaceuticals are, but I hadn’t known how important different therapeutics are for these incurable diseases in order to slow down their progress and or improve the quality of life in patients. In realizing the importance of these therapeutic agents, I decided to study on the biotherapeutic track of the bioengineering major. As I shadowed, and during my time after shadowing, I began to look into biotherapeutics with more depth, and was encapsulated at the complexities of the field and the possible uses for different therapies. I believe that biotherapeutics hold the key to curing the infamous list of “incurable” diseases we know, and wish to be a part of the movement that works to unlock the key to eliminating said diseases from this list. My time at Sinai truly changed my entire perspective on the medical field, and influenced the path I want to take in my professional life. Had it not been for my time shadowing, I know for a fact I would not have chosen to pursue biotherapeutics, a field of study I am now very passionate about. Shadowing for my practicum project may have not been the most impactful choice as a resume builder, but I could not be happier with my decision, as it provided me with insights and a goal that I would not have been able to realize anywhere else.