This page is no longer being updated and remains online for informational and historical purposes only. The information is accurate as of the last page update.
For questions about page contents, contact the Communications Division.
Observation may be the best teacher for those making their way through the medical field.
Two biology majors recently spent a two-week internship observing how a busy suburban pediatric care unit in Rydal, Pa., works, under the supervision of pediatrician Philip Goldstein ’70.
Both Mike Favara ’08 (Holmdel, N.J.) and Katie Schultes ’08 (Woodbury, N.J.) spent time in the Philadelphia suburb this summer observing a wide-array of pediatric practices.
“I am one of four pediatricians in the group, which also has two pediatric nurse practitioners on staff,” Goldstein says. “Our practice cares for a large number of children in the area, from birth through age 18 or so. The interns observe our patient visits, participate in discussions to learn about ambulatory pediatric care, as well as become familiar with the administrative and business aspects of the practice.”
Favara says the most important part of the internship was being in the mix of what was going on.
“I saw so many things that were extremely interesting to me (as well as anyone else interested in the medical field) within my first few days at the internship,” he says. “Between seeing children with the run-of-the-mill ailments such as strep throat or a simple cold, I was able to observe more complicated cases, ranging from various cases of Lyme’s disease to migraines in toddlers.”
Schultes also let the complex internship seep in as she shadowed doctors.
“Dr. Goldstein provided me with an internship to not only explain the dynamics of medicine through his practice but also the business aspect to what he does,” says Schultes. “I not only had experience in two different private practice offices in two different areas but accompanied him into two major hospitals as he examined his newborns.”
Both students have plans to pursue careers as physicians after graduating and spent most of their time working with pediatricians, as well as spending some time in a neo-natal care unit.
“There is opportunity for the student to spend a portion of the internship observing in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) setting,” Goldstein says. “I believe the students gain a real appreciation of the day-to-day aspects of a busy suburban pediatric practice along with neonatal subspecialty exposure, which would prove valuable in guiding him/her in choosing a career path in medicine.”
Favara says the experience strengthened his interest in the field.
“Above anything else, this internship solidified my desire to go into the medical field,” he says. “This internship taught me that medicine is the right path for me, and there’s nothing else that I’d rather be doing.”
“I have always loved children, whether it be coaching or tutoring,” adds Schultes. “I have always found it easy but even more rewarding to work with them. It was easy to see this same love in Dr. Goldstein’s interactions with his patients.”
Favara is also involved with the Landis Community Outreach Center, where he volunteers at Kids in the Community, and is also an English as a Second Language tutor with ProJeCt in Easton. He is also a Trustee Scholar and a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.
Schultes is a varsity track and field and cross- county captain and member of Alpha Phi, where she serves as director of member development and chaplain. She is also a Marquis Scholar and member of Student Movement Against Cancer (SMAC).