Friday, June 2nd
I have a new appreciation for doctors. We all complain when the doctors take too long to get into our room or when they forget to call you back. I have never realized how busy a doctor truly is. There were days where Dr. Macias and I wouldn't even get to eat lunch because we were seeing patients back to back all day. Doctors make huge sacrifices for their patients and its important to recognize that because they work really hard.
Dr. Macias is all about doing everything to help the patient. Even if the person as undocumented, had no insurance, was homeless, she always found a way to get them involved in a program or would consult them free of charge because she truly cares about the well being of the people that walk into her office. She does whatever she can to help people. Thats who I want to be as a doctor. Nothing should effect whether you get treated or not. Any human deserves to get treated and this is how the medical industry should be, aim to help everyone.
I definitely know now that I want to be in the medical field and a children's oncologist. This experience was so valuable and I loved every moment of it. This is what I want to do in the future.
I want to get involved in cancer research! We have some cancers that have super amazing effective treatments and other cancers that don't, they have yet to be discovered. And I think it'd be super cool to be a part of that change.
Dr. Macias is all about doing everything to help the patient. Even if the person as undocumented, had no insurance, was homeless, she always found a way to get them involved in a program or would consult them free of charge because she truly cares about the well being of the people that walk into her office. She does whatever she can to help people. Thats who I want to be as a doctor. Nothing should effect whether you get treated or not. Any human deserves to get treated and this is how the medical industry should be, aim to help everyone.
I definitely know now that I want to be in the medical field and a children's oncologist. This experience was so valuable and I loved every moment of it. This is what I want to do in the future.
I want to get involved in cancer research! We have some cancers that have super amazing effective treatments and other cancers that don't, they have yet to be discovered. And I think it'd be super cool to be a part of that change.
I feel like this photo serves as a metaphor for my future because besides wanting to help people through my career I also wanna do it for my people. My parents have sacrificed so much for me already to be where I am today and let me have the opportunities and experiences I've had so I really want to make them proud. I can't wait for the day that I walk across that stage as an MD and I'm able to say I did it. And I can't wait to see how proud my parents are.
Thursday, June 1st
Dr. Macias and I.
I've learned so much from this experience and I think most importantly it's shown me what I want to do in the future. I'd say the measure of success from the work I did here is very high. I've gained so much knowledge.
I think this experience has had a meaningful contribution to myself. I feel like just the whole experience overall taught me so much not only academically but also emotionally. Working in an environment where you have a lot of people that are close to death, not feeling confident in themselves, afraid it definitely opens your eyes. I have never been more grateful for my health. Seeing these patients in such pain and seeing how their bodies just turn against them, has made me realize how we must be grateful for our health when we are healthy. Also it makes me grateful that even thought my Mom had cancer, the treatment worked for her. There are some people that they don't respond to the treatment. I feel like things like this get taken for granted and working in an environment like this really makes you realize how we should be grateful for the little things like health and opportunity.
The work was definitely meaningful to my education, I learned so much. This experience has also helped me decide what I want to do as a future career which affects my future education like my undergrad years.
I feel like from this experience I also got to make strong connections and relationships with patients. This meant the world to me, when I talked to a patient and I could make them smile or laugh through their pain. These were the moments that made the experience so meaningful to me, because I felt what I was doing was for more than me, it was about helping people that needed it. Even if it was just a light bit of light on a gloomy day.
I think this experience has had a meaningful contribution to myself. I feel like just the whole experience overall taught me so much not only academically but also emotionally. Working in an environment where you have a lot of people that are close to death, not feeling confident in themselves, afraid it definitely opens your eyes. I have never been more grateful for my health. Seeing these patients in such pain and seeing how their bodies just turn against them, has made me realize how we must be grateful for our health when we are healthy. Also it makes me grateful that even thought my Mom had cancer, the treatment worked for her. There are some people that they don't respond to the treatment. I feel like things like this get taken for granted and working in an environment like this really makes you realize how we should be grateful for the little things like health and opportunity.
The work was definitely meaningful to my education, I learned so much. This experience has also helped me decide what I want to do as a future career which affects my future education like my undergrad years.
I feel like from this experience I also got to make strong connections and relationships with patients. This meant the world to me, when I talked to a patient and I could make them smile or laugh through their pain. These were the moments that made the experience so meaningful to me, because I felt what I was doing was for more than me, it was about helping people that needed it. Even if it was just a light bit of light on a gloomy day.
Tuesday, May 30th
Dr. Macias did her undergrad years at University of California, Irvine. Then she went to medical school at the University of South California. Lastly she did her fellowships in oncology at UCLA. Dr. Macias has described the process to me like taking the MCAT and applying to medical school and she's very encouraging and has given me very good advice. She always knew she wanted to be a doctor however before she thought she wanted to do internal medicine, later she of course changed her mind and moved to oncology. The one thing I will never forget is when I told Dr. Macias that when I mentioned it to my primary doctor that I was going to UCLA to become a doctor she told me it's very hard to make it at a big school like UCLA and that 2/3 of the people drop pre-med by then end of the first year. When I told Dr. Macias this she said, "don't listen to statistics or how far people think you are going to make it. According to statistics I shouldn't be here right now, but I am. Focus on yourself and push yourself do not worry about others." This is something that will always stick with me and whenever anyone tries to discourage me I will remember what she said to me.
Dr. Macias told me about the process so in my junior year I will take the MCAT and start applying to medical schools. I've been researching and some schools in my interest would be the UCLA Geffen Medical school or UCSF located in San Francisco. Then after graduating from medical school I would do 2 years residency and after residency I would have to do fellowship which is my specialty. So if I wanted to be a children's oncologist I would have to do one fellowship in oncology and another in pediatrics. She also told me how during my undergrad I need to make sure I get involved in some research and volunteering so I can build up a resume for myself when applying to medical school.
This externship has definitely confirmed my love for medicine and whenever I go into a visit with a patient I see myself talking to them and helping them and it only makes me happier when I imagine doing it with kids. Oncology is a very difficult field emotionally, but its also very rewarding. When I see patients than Dr. Macias and tell her that she saved their life thats why I wanna do this. I can make a difference in someones life. Whenever I lose courage or hit road bumps in college (like I know I will) I will remember his experience. This experience reminds me why I want to do this. To help people and make people smile even through the hardest of times.
Dr. Macias told me about the process so in my junior year I will take the MCAT and start applying to medical schools. I've been researching and some schools in my interest would be the UCLA Geffen Medical school or UCSF located in San Francisco. Then after graduating from medical school I would do 2 years residency and after residency I would have to do fellowship which is my specialty. So if I wanted to be a children's oncologist I would have to do one fellowship in oncology and another in pediatrics. She also told me how during my undergrad I need to make sure I get involved in some research and volunteering so I can build up a resume for myself when applying to medical school.
This externship has definitely confirmed my love for medicine and whenever I go into a visit with a patient I see myself talking to them and helping them and it only makes me happier when I imagine doing it with kids. Oncology is a very difficult field emotionally, but its also very rewarding. When I see patients than Dr. Macias and tell her that she saved their life thats why I wanna do this. I can make a difference in someones life. Whenever I lose courage or hit road bumps in college (like I know I will) I will remember his experience. This experience reminds me why I want to do this. To help people and make people smile even through the hardest of times.
Thursday, May 25th
Unfortunately I can't post photos of the office or of the hospital.
But today all morning we've been in the office. Seeing patients, checking their tumor markers to make sure their cancer is stable, checking their general health as well like their platelets, hemoglobins, white blood cell count and blood pressure. Also administering chemotherapy. Then after lunch we went over to the hospital and visited some patients that were being hospitalized for various reasons. Most of them were either pre or post surgery so we were checking on their status and how they were feeling. Then we came back to the office and had many more patients to see.
But today all morning we've been in the office. Seeing patients, checking their tumor markers to make sure their cancer is stable, checking their general health as well like their platelets, hemoglobins, white blood cell count and blood pressure. Also administering chemotherapy. Then after lunch we went over to the hospital and visited some patients that were being hospitalized for various reasons. Most of them were either pre or post surgery so we were checking on their status and how they were feeling. Then we came back to the office and had many more patients to see.
Tuesday, May 23rd
I'd say I demonstrate self-advocacy when I ask questions. Whenever I don't understand something or I'm confused about a patients case I make sure I ask questions so that I can understand. If I don't understand then I won't learn, and Dr. Macias is super patient and always answers all of my questions. She never rushes my questions or thought process she always explains everything to me and makes sure I understand the science behind what is going in with the patients body.
I'm not really working on an independent project, a lot of my time is taken up by visiting patients. However, Dr. Macias did go over my Moms pathology reports with me which was really nice. She explained everything to me and thankfully she said everything looked really good! My mentor/ mentee relationship is awesome! I feel super comfortable with Dr. Macias and she has been an amazing resource. She's taught me about the process to become a doctor, what its like being a doctor and of course I've learned a lot of the science behind what happens to the body when cancer is present. She gives me a lot of great advice and I've learned a lot about her as a person. She is extremely passionate about helping people and I hope that's something I always hold onto when I become a doctor too. I haven't really had to reach out for additional support, my relationship with Dr. Macias is already functioning pretty well and there's really nothing I would want to change.
I'm not really working on an independent project, a lot of my time is taken up by visiting patients. However, Dr. Macias did go over my Moms pathology reports with me which was really nice. She explained everything to me and thankfully she said everything looked really good! My mentor/ mentee relationship is awesome! I feel super comfortable with Dr. Macias and she has been an amazing resource. She's taught me about the process to become a doctor, what its like being a doctor and of course I've learned a lot of the science behind what happens to the body when cancer is present. She gives me a lot of great advice and I've learned a lot about her as a person. She is extremely passionate about helping people and I hope that's something I always hold onto when I become a doctor too. I haven't really had to reach out for additional support, my relationship with Dr. Macias is already functioning pretty well and there's really nothing I would want to change.
Thursday, May 18th
I can't take photos or videos of the clinic or hospital because of patient confidentiality but I'll describe the area.
So walking into the clinic you will see the front desk where you will be greeted by 2 lovely ladies. Then you walk in the door on the side of their desk and you will be a hallway where all of the "check-up" rooms are and Doctors offices. At the very end is Dr. Macias' office which is where we spend our breaks from seeing patients in. The "check up" rooms look like your classic Doctors office and this is where we meet with patients. To the left of the hallway is the chemotherapy area. There are a bunch of recliner seats where people sit and receive their chemotherapy. And thats basically the whole office.
So walking into the clinic you will see the front desk where you will be greeted by 2 lovely ladies. Then you walk in the door on the side of their desk and you will be a hallway where all of the "check-up" rooms are and Doctors offices. At the very end is Dr. Macias' office which is where we spend our breaks from seeing patients in. The "check up" rooms look like your classic Doctors office and this is where we meet with patients. To the left of the hallway is the chemotherapy area. There are a bunch of recliner seats where people sit and receive their chemotherapy. And thats basically the whole office.
Tuesday, May 16th
I am so glad I chose this internship! And I'm so glad Dr. Macias gave me a chance to work with her. I have been learning so much and I love it here. I feel like this has given me a really good insight on what being an oncologist means and what they have to do and go through. I feel like this solidifies my passions and makes me want to work harder so that one day I could call myself a doctor.
Dr. Macias just yesterday came up with an idea of a little project for me to do. She said for me to gather my moms pathology reports and she would go over them with me and then I could create an informational pamphlet about breast cancer and then create a little plan for my mom for the future. Like what are the odds of her cancer coming back, how can we prevent it. And the informational pamphlet will be more general for all women. I think it's super cool that she's willing to look over my moms documents with me and explain them. Not only am I learning a lot about oncology but I'm also learning about how to help my mom, which I think is super cool. I think I will have enough time to do this, Dr. Macias is super flexible and she's less worried about a final product and more concerned about how much I am actually learning.
Dr. Macias just yesterday came up with an idea of a little project for me to do. She said for me to gather my moms pathology reports and she would go over them with me and then I could create an informational pamphlet about breast cancer and then create a little plan for my mom for the future. Like what are the odds of her cancer coming back, how can we prevent it. And the informational pamphlet will be more general for all women. I think it's super cool that she's willing to look over my moms documents with me and explain them. Not only am I learning a lot about oncology but I'm also learning about how to help my mom, which I think is super cool. I think I will have enough time to do this, Dr. Macias is super flexible and she's less worried about a final product and more concerned about how much I am actually learning.
Thursday, May 11th
Has anything happened that's worth telling us about? Funny stories?
For Mexican Mothers Day the office was giving patients that are mothers one rose. They had a bucket placed on the front desk filled with different colored roses and as we were nearing lunch the last patient was leaving. As she was leaving the office the nurses told her to pick whatever rose she'd like for mothers day. Everyone was in the back room eating lunch and one of the nurses went back to the front to check on something. When she came back she said the WHOLE bucket of roses was gone. The last patient took the whole bucket of roses, there were probably 50 roses still in the bucket. We all had a good laugh and the women definitely got a nice bouquet of roses.
What have you learned about your organization's mission and purpose?
The purpose of an oncology medical department is to help people with cancer. Help cure their cancer or help them live with cancer. I never realized how much legal went into the medical field. As some patients differ with documentation or insurance it makes it harder to treat patients. There is a struggle between moral and making your company happy when being an oncologist. One thing Dr. Macias has taught me is you must stick to helping people, even if it might get you in trouble. Helping people is why I want to go into oncology and I must keep this in mind when I start my journey to becoming one. And while I am one.
I find myself telling all my male cousins and friends now that they must be checking themselves for testicular cancer, (for anyone reading this blog, prime age for testicular cancer is teen years to 25! So check yourself!) I talk to my mom about how cancer can come back and we must be checking ourselves. I've definitely become more aware to the different types of cancer and I think this is important for everyone. No one is immune to cancer no matter how healthy you think you are, so we all need to make sure we are on top of checking ourselves and being aware of what different cancers could look like.
For Mexican Mothers Day the office was giving patients that are mothers one rose. They had a bucket placed on the front desk filled with different colored roses and as we were nearing lunch the last patient was leaving. As she was leaving the office the nurses told her to pick whatever rose she'd like for mothers day. Everyone was in the back room eating lunch and one of the nurses went back to the front to check on something. When she came back she said the WHOLE bucket of roses was gone. The last patient took the whole bucket of roses, there were probably 50 roses still in the bucket. We all had a good laugh and the women definitely got a nice bouquet of roses.
What have you learned about your organization's mission and purpose?
The purpose of an oncology medical department is to help people with cancer. Help cure their cancer or help them live with cancer. I never realized how much legal went into the medical field. As some patients differ with documentation or insurance it makes it harder to treat patients. There is a struggle between moral and making your company happy when being an oncologist. One thing Dr. Macias has taught me is you must stick to helping people, even if it might get you in trouble. Helping people is why I want to go into oncology and I must keep this in mind when I start my journey to becoming one. And while I am one.
I find myself telling all my male cousins and friends now that they must be checking themselves for testicular cancer, (for anyone reading this blog, prime age for testicular cancer is teen years to 25! So check yourself!) I talk to my mom about how cancer can come back and we must be checking ourselves. I've definitely become more aware to the different types of cancer and I think this is important for everyone. No one is immune to cancer no matter how healthy you think you are, so we all need to make sure we are on top of checking ourselves and being aware of what different cancers could look like.
Tuesday, May 9th
What strikes me most is how much I'm actually able to do and see! Dr. Macias brings me in with her to every appointment, introduces me to the patient and I get to watch her examine them and discuss their medical status. We also did rounds at the hospital where I also got to watch her interact with the patients that are being hospitalized. Many of the patients have been extremely nice and very encouraging when they hear I want to be an oncologist. I definitely love it here and I've already learned and seen so much!
Everyone here is extremely nice! All of the nurses and doctors and even patients have all been extremely kind. They fed me lunch and everyone has been extremely encouraging once they hear what I want to do as a career. Dr. Macias is the best! Super nice, lets me get super involved and truly wants me to learn. She is also an amazing doctor with her patients and her passion for helping people definitely shows.I am so excited for this month! I just really can't believe how involved I am able to be here. Dr. Macias will explain to me the status of a patient and then we go in to see them so I get to watch the whole process of assessing their records and then speaking with them. While were in the room with the patient she will explain to me what she's checking for while she's examining them and explain their past progress to me. I definitely did not think I was going to be able to be this involved and it is so cool! I feel like I've already learned so much.
I'm super excited to keep learning and just meet new patients. We go to a new patient and it's a complete new story. Every case of cancer is completely unique and there's no one way to treat certain types of cancers. There's so many categories and so many unique medical histories that make every case unique to treat. I've met so many awesome optimistic fighting patients and it's honestly so inspiring to see these people fighting through all of their pain. This is what I think makes this job all worth it.
I'm not sure I'm really worried about anything, I feel this is gonna be a great experience. I can't wait to soak up so much information and meet many more fighting, kind and beautiful patients.
Everyone here is extremely nice! All of the nurses and doctors and even patients have all been extremely kind. They fed me lunch and everyone has been extremely encouraging once they hear what I want to do as a career. Dr. Macias is the best! Super nice, lets me get super involved and truly wants me to learn. She is also an amazing doctor with her patients and her passion for helping people definitely shows.I am so excited for this month! I just really can't believe how involved I am able to be here. Dr. Macias will explain to me the status of a patient and then we go in to see them so I get to watch the whole process of assessing their records and then speaking with them. While were in the room with the patient she will explain to me what she's checking for while she's examining them and explain their past progress to me. I definitely did not think I was going to be able to be this involved and it is so cool! I feel like I've already learned so much.
I'm super excited to keep learning and just meet new patients. We go to a new patient and it's a complete new story. Every case of cancer is completely unique and there's no one way to treat certain types of cancers. There's so many categories and so many unique medical histories that make every case unique to treat. I've met so many awesome optimistic fighting patients and it's honestly so inspiring to see these people fighting through all of their pain. This is what I think makes this job all worth it.
I'm not sure I'm really worried about anything, I feel this is gonna be a great experience. I can't wait to soak up so much information and meet many more fighting, kind and beautiful patients.
Thursday , May 4th
For externship I will be interning with an oncologist at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista. Dr. Mariela Macias got her MD at USC and did her fellowship in oncology at UCLA. I am super excited for this experience! As of now my goal is to become a children's oncologist so I am so excited to learn about what oncology looks like and what it means to be an oncologist. I'm not really nervous I'm more worried about how much I will be able to do. I realize that this is a doctors office and the capacity of what I can do is very minimal.
My internship mentor is Dr. Mariela Macias. Throughout externship I will just be shadowing her and watching other employees in the office work, as I can't do much physical work myself. But I'm super excited just to watch the process of treating patients, hearing the different cases and most importantly watching people improve!
My internship mentor is Dr. Mariela Macias. Throughout externship I will just be shadowing her and watching other employees in the office work, as I can't do much physical work myself. But I'm super excited just to watch the process of treating patients, hearing the different cases and most importantly watching people improve!
I'm hoping my internship will look a lot like this. I hope that I get to meet a lot of people and just see how they live their lives with cancer and hopefully bring some light to their day. Hopefully with Dr. Macias I will get to learn a lot about the body and how we use chemotherapy, radiation and medication to defeat cancer.