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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor HOLYOKE For Chicopee Comprehensive High School student Afza Safeer participating in the annual High School Doctor for a Day program gave her a second chance to consider her future career. Forty-two high school students were teamed with area doctors for a day on Thursday as part of the program sponsored by the Hampden District Medical Society. The students were admitted through an essay contest and over 100 applications were received. The students met with their doctors for breakfast at Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) and then accompanied their mentors to their respective practices. The students gathered once more at HMC at 5 p.m. to share their experiences with each other. Schools represented in the program included Agawam High School, Central High School, Chicopee Comprehensive High School, the High School of Commerce, East Longmeadow High School, Granby High School, Holyoke Catholic High School, Ludlow High School, Minnechaug Regional High School, Longmeadow High School, Southwick-Tolland Regional High School, West Springfield High School and Wilbraham/Monson Academy. Safeer had attended the program last year and shadowed a pediatric surgeon at Bay State Medical Center. The experience inspired her to volunteer in the surgical ward. This year she was teamed with Dr. B. David Shea who is a hospitalist at Holyoke Medical Center. Shea explained the term "hospitalist" describes a doctor whose practice is in a hospital and who works with surgeons to provide necessary before and after surgery care. The field is relatively new and Safeer said she was impressed with the compassion in the practice. Safeer, a senior, said she is currently looking into a number of colleges to begin her medical career. Medicine runs in her family. Her grandfather, who is a doctor, has inspired her to enter the field. |