This past summer I had an experience that surely surpassed all other memories. I had the opportunity to spend a week with Dr. Katie Duncan, an alumna of RPCS, at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology and Oculoplastic surgery.
While traveling and hanging out with friends during the summer is always a highlight, this past summer I had an experience that surely surpassed all other memories. I had the opportunity to spend a week with Dr. Katie Duncan, an alumna of RPCS, at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology and Oculoplastic surgery.
RPCS’ internship program allows rising seniors to spend time exploring a career they have an interest in. Through my science classes at RPCS, I developed a passion for biology and the medical field. My faculty mentor, Mrs. Pope, worked closely with me to find a program that would best suit my interests. I want to share some of my favorite memories from my internship with you!
Each day looked a little different from the one before, allowing me to get the most out of the time I had with Dr. Duncan. The first few days I was on GBMC’s main campus. I followed Dr. Duncan on patient rounds; learned the when, why, and how of each test that was run on patents, and was able to talk to other doctors about their careers. I learned about common eye diseases and treatments. I also spent a day at GBMC’s eye center. At the eye center, I was able to see inside the patient's eye through an extension off of the ophthalmic scope Dr. Duncan looks into it. I was fascinated with being able to see cataracts and learning how to treat them. The last day of my internship a few weeks later, I went with Dr. Duncan to the Northern Baltimore Surgical Center to see the cataract I saw in the patient's eye being removed. I never would have imagined as a high school student that I would be in an OR seeing an eye surgery only a few feet away. It was incredible to see a cataract start to finish: from the identification all the way to the end of the procedure. A dream come true.
After my internship I not only gained fascinating insights on the eye and life as a doctor, but can confidently say I found a field I can see myself working in. I am so fortunate to be in a learning environment that encourages me to explore options in the future and delve into my interests outside of the classroom.
- Grace's Blog