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| By Katelyn Gendron Reminder Assistant Editor WEST SPRINGFIELD Last Thursday, 55 Hampden County high school students were granted the opportunity to shadow the hectic lives of 55 area doctors during surgeries, patient exams, rounds, charting and testing. The 55 students were chosen from a pool of over 100 applicants eager to participate in this year's Hampden District Medical Society's (HDMS) High School Doctor for a Day Physician Mentoring Program. Fifty-five of the society's 1,011 members, representing Noble Hospital, Baystate Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center, Holyoke Medical Center and Kendred Park View Hospital, participated in the event. HDMS, located in West Springfield, also coordinated students from 13 area schools to shadow the doctors. Students were required to write an essay, be currently enrolled in a science course and have two letters of recommendation in order to be considered, Suzanne Skibinski, executive director of HDMS, explained. She noted that the increasing shortage of available doctors only allowed for 55 students to participate in the day's events. "You were chosen because you've shown an interest in becoming doctors," Dr. Alicia Ross, chair of the event, said to the students at their orientation breakfast at the Baystate Health Learning Center. "Take advantage [of today]. The road to becoming a doctor is long, tiring, exciting, but never boring. Remember, this is just a snapshot a day in the life of a doctor." Dr. Kevin Moriarty, a pediatric surgeon at Baystate Medical Center, said each year he tries to expose his student to the various aspects of the medical profession and not just that of pediatric medicine. "Medicine needs all types of people," he said, adding that those students who are afraid to see blood can go into other areas of medicine. He explained that he wanted his student, Jordan Pike, a senior at West Springfield High School, to have more than just a "pediatric surgeon point of view." Throughout the day Pike was planned to shadow Moriarty through several surgeries, rounds, afternoon office visits and introductions to other physicians, he explained. "When I was little I always wanted to be a doctor," Pike said, adding that she is unsure of which specialty she'd like to practice. "I've watched surgeries on TV and I'm not squeamish at all," she explained of witnessing live surgical procedures. "I just want to help [people]." Dr. Kelly Instrum, an orthopedist, explained that he is always eager to participate in events such as this because it is a great benefit for those exploring their potential career interests. "It's fun and good to see young, eager minds," he said, overlooking the large room full of students. Instrum explained that his student, Christopher Celusniak of Westfield High School, would shadow him through a knee surgery and hospital rounds. Celusniak said his interest in orthopedics spawned from his own preexisting bone condition to which he recently had corrective surgery. Patric Rabbitt, a junior at West Springfield High School, said by shadowing Dr. Scott Stylos, a pathologist at Holyoke Medical Center, he is better able to connect with his desire to help third world people overcome diseases. Rabbitt explained that he is extremely interested in African cultures and plans on living with tribes as a pathologist. Ross noted that while students are not permitted to ever share specifics of each case in order to protect doctor-patient confidentiality, the experiences they gain from the day will aid them in their paths to becoming licensed medical professionals. |