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The opportunity to watch doctors saving lives thrilled Ashlee Snyder ’05 (Gilbertsville, Pa.) during three days of shadowing a trauma surgeon at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.
“It’s so weird to say trauma is interesting, but I enjoyed the fast-paced problem-solving, the high energy, and knowing they were saving someone’s life,” says Snyder, a pre-med student who is a double major in neuroscience and music.
Snyder shadowed intensive care surgeon Dr. Michael Weinstein ’90 as one of about 200 students who gained first-hand knowledge of the professional world in January during winter break. They served externships with alumni and other experienced professionals in business, the arts, education, healthcare, law, engineering, science, government, non-profits, and other fields. The students observed work practices, learned about careers they may consider entering after college, developed professional networking contacts, and built their resumes.
Snyder describes Thomas Jefferson as busy but not frantic like the television show “ER.” She says the experience was sometimes sad, as in the case of a man her own age rendered quadriplegic in a car accident. “But you also see miracles,” she says, citing the example of a patient whose leg was saved by skin grafts. He may walk on it again, she adds.
She was looking for “something different” in this externship after having served earlier ones in family medicine and genetic counseling. She found that she liked the fact that trauma medicine can “make such a difference.”
“Externships give students a good opportunity to explore areas of medicine they might otherwise not get a chance to,” Weinstein says. “It’s also a good chance for me to keep in touch with the school.”
“I benefit from the externships, too,” he adds. “This is the third year I’ve done it. It reminds me of when I was young. You’re reminded of your idealistic thoughts. I enjoy it a lot.”