A Medical Pre-Medical Experience

by Vaibhav Mangrulkar

I entered the summer like most other first year pre-medical students -- hoping I had a clue about medicine but realistically knowing that I had a lot to learn. When I looked at the hordes of people applying to medical school each year or perhaps even the mi ni-mob of hopefuls in Columbia University, I couldn't help but think that there must be some people who hastily made the decision to study medicine. I didn't want to be in that category, so I looked for a job in which I could get a good insider's look at the medical field. Ultimately this summer, I was a student at Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

A t the hospital, I was a student of Dr. Anthony J. Chiaramida, Director of Cardiology. As a member of the Cardiology Department in RBMC, an academic teaching hospital, Dr. Chiaramida often interacts with the residents. He gives lectures, and also conducts morning reports and morning rounds, both of which involve discussing the patients' medical progress and history with the residents. These allow the residents to make excellent decisions for their patients' care as well as seek assistance from Dr. Chiarami da about medical board exam questions.

D r. Chiaramida invited me to wear a white coat like the residents and observe some of these daily activities. I got a chance to watch the residents as they cared for patients in the Intensive Care Units and as they went to meetings to learn more about inte rnal medicine.

O f course, everything from myocardial infarctions to EKGs was foreign to me because I didn't have four years of medical school experience to help me. However, while I was studiously trying to learn each bit of information, I eventually realized that reside nts don't know some of this stuff either -- they were at these morning reports to learn, too. This was especially true with first-year residents, who had the true crash course, learning at least two hospital and medical topics each day for about one month .

C onsequently, the residents always appeared busy, since they had to attend these meetings as well as provide superior care and comfort to their patients. But that didn't bother them, because they always appeared ready to answer to the needs of everyone, in cluding the nurses who often needed their assistance in performing tests, analyzing the results, and planning courses of action..

W hen I finished this program at the end of the summer, I was really amazed at the variety of programs for residents at the hospital. Initially, I just expected that the residents would strictly provide patient care, but I learned that there is always a con stant stream of medical education during the three or four year residency.

H aving an insider's look at the procedures and facilities in a hospital, in my opinion, is the key to deciding whether medicine would suit someone. There are so many rumors about residency that the only way to know the real deal is by witnessing the progra m in action. Moreover, residents can provide important information about medical schools and their opinions on medicine. It's very close to a comprehensive understanding of a doctor's profession, even surpassing an episode of ER.

American Association of Medical Colleges
American Medical Student Association
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