High school students learn about healthcare at ECMC

Diandrea Lewis, 15, from Amherst Central High School served as a summer intern for Dr. Timothy Jorden, a general surgeon at Erie County Medical Center. In addition to observing surgeries she assisted in patient care.

Amherst residents Andrea Finley, Ashley McNeal and Diandrea Lewis, students in the University at Buffalo Biomedical Science and Technology Entry Program MedSTEP, participated in a six-week internship at the Erie County Medical Center this past summer as part of their MedSTEP curriculum.

MedSTEP is for high school students who are interested in medical careers. During the program Andrea, 15, a sophomore at Sweet Home High School observed sessions in the radiology department.

She shadowed the technicians through different radiology rotations. Before the program, Andrea said she thought that radiology was just X-rays, and that the internship highly exceeded her expectation.

"Quality of care for the patients is very important. We should treat people the way we want to be treated. Through this rotation, I learned how to communicate and act appropriately in a professional field," she said.

Rose Marie Nadolinski, senior radiologic technologist and Andrea's supervisor said she thought the summer internships were great experiences for both students and staff members.

"The student gained exposure to health related professions. (Andrea) also learned about teamwork, networking, patient interaction, responsibility, and customer service," Nadolinski said.

Diandrea, 15, a junior at Amherst Central High School observed sessions in the operating room. Diandrea was placed with Dr. Timothy Jorden, a general surgeon at ECMC and would observe three to four surgeries on a daily basis.

She also assisted in changing dressings, washing out wounds, and cutting stitches. Due to a wide variety of surgeries that Dr. Jorden performs, the surgeries that Diandrea was able to watch included a skin graft, colostomy/ ileostomy, hernia repair, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and balloon angioplasty.

"Each case was different and that was what made it interesting," she said. "The most important thing that I got out of this is that you have to love what you do; not only for yourself but also for the people that you are taking care of."

Dr. Jorden said, "Diandrea became familiar with how diverse medicine really is; in terms of a doctor's practice. She learned that she could make a real impact in whatever field she chooses in medicine. She was exposed to a tremendous volume and diversity of patient care. She also learned the way medical care could be delivered and how much she could accomplish in a day."

McNeal, 15, a junior at the Buffalo Seminary observed tests conducted within the electrocardiograph/ echocardiography (EKG/Echo) laboratory.

She shadowed a technician and was able to observe stress tests and echocardiogram, an ultrasound of the heart, being done. A busy department, she observed many inpatients and outpatients. Before this internship, McNeal thought that the medical field was a lot like the ER show on television.

"It seems a lot more private in real life," she said. "It is important to have personal relationships with patients and make them feel cared for."

The students intend to go to medical school to become doctors. Andrea plans to study to be an obstetrics-gynecology (OB-GYN) doctor one day.

Diandrea said she would like to explore other fields in medicine before making her decision.