Through the course of medical education, students learn to call for “consults” from various medical specialties. Yet, consults can come in many forms — from social work, nutrition, law, ethics and policy. There is also much to be learned from premedical and post-bacc students, who may be walking into medicine with a fresh set of eyes. “Consults” invites experienced non-clinicians and undergraduates to contribute pieces relevant to the medical student community.
Contributing Writer
University of Florida
Ansh Shah is an undergraduate student at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, Class of 2027. When he is not playing sports or engaging in his community, he likes to read and gather knowledge surrounding a variety of topics. Ansh aspires to some day attend medical school and become a diagnostic radiologist.
Ever since I could remember, I stood out in my class for all the wrong reasons. I was the kid who dangled his feet from chairs while others rested their feet flat, the kid forced to stand in the front during class photos and the kid who always had his height checked by the ride operator during field trips to the local amusement parks.
Given this prevalence of individuals with disabilities, dental schools nationwide have begun to educate their students on the care for individuals with different disabilities, hoping to make it easier for these patients to access care in the future.
I placed the first pill on my tongue, opened my mouth so the nurse could see, closed my mouth, swallowed the pill, and opened my mouth again so the nurse could confirm that I had swallowed it. I had to repeat this for nine more tablets and this drill continued for seven days a week and for seven more months of the treatment.
As my fellow PA students and I compared notes after our first cadaver dissection session with our medical student colleagues here at Stanford University, we discovered that more than a few of us had fielded slightly abashed questions from our MD student counterparts along the lines of, “So, what exactly is a PA?”
“Three, two, one … lift,” the circulating nurse directs as I raise the patient’s feet from the trauma table onto the recovery bed, gushing with the giddiness of getting to use my hands in a medical setting for the first time.
Given the staggering time commitment required for a pre-medical student or an NCAA athlete, one may question whether it is smart or even viable to take on both of these roles in college. By giving you a glimpse into my routine, I want to show you that it is possible to successfully pursue both your athletic and academic goals.
To combat this, we are called upon to reach a higher degree of commitment within ourselves and curb the tide of fear. Mindfulness is an optimal behavioral strategy within this period of self-isolation to manage our stress and establish the foundation for optimizing our mental and emotional hygiene.
There has been limited to no coverage regarding what it’s like to get sick during this time and to enter the health care system without knowing if your condition is related to the pandemic. I envisioned it to be a frightening situation with much grey area, and then I endured it myself.
Telemedicine should never replace in-person care, especially in the patient-centric hospice environment, but when used appropriately it can provide benefits not found in any other care environment.
On my first day volunteering in the hospital, my task is to observe Steven, a more experienced volunteer, as he visits with patients. We begin by meeting Amanda, the first patient on our list.
While I knew little about these patients at the beginning of the day, I always started out knowing one very important fact: they were already dead.
I had always thought of medical professionals as society’s heroes who could do no wrong, but with my own personal experiences in the back of my mind, I discovered the reality was far more complex.
The year was 2011. I was thirteen years old, and school had just let out. I walked back home, exactly four blocks away from school, left-right-left-right, lub-dub, lub-dub.
Pre-Medical Guest Writer
Stanford University
Teresia is a junior at Stanford University. In 2020, she will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in French and Bachelor of Science in biology with concentrations in biochemistry and biophysics. Because she is a child of two immigrants from Shanghai, she is grateful for her parents who have supported her in achieving her goals. She would also like to thank her other family members, friends, professors, and mentors. In her free time, Teresia enjoys playing the violin, hanging out with friends and family, and biochemical research. After she graduates, Teresia desires to attend medical school and then pursue a career in pediatrics.
