Severna Park Students Get Hands-On Learning At UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center

March 15 was not an average day for members of Severna Park High School’s Future Doctors of America club. Some students witnessed a C-section while others watched surgery.

Those activities were part of a field trip at the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UM BWMC), which invited students to hear from a panel of doctors, clinicians and nurses; ask questions; and shadow professionals after being split into groups based on their interests.

Dr. Jean Jauregui, director of nursing for critical care and intermediate care at UM BWMC, talked about working as a nurse in an intensive care unit, an emergency department patient care technician and specializing in festival medicine at large concerts before working at UM BWMC. Her two tips: “volunteer so you can see everything available to you” and “have a mentor.”

Vascular surgeon Dr. Marshall Benjamin shared his journey and talked about having a low grade-point average in high school and turning around his life with a career in health care.

Dr. Chirag Chaudhari, chairman of the UM BWMC emergency department and medical director of informatics, recounted his 20 years at the medical center. He wanted to be an engineer but discovered a passion for health care.

“For me, I quickly started thinking, ‘Well I never want to have the same day twice. I don’t want to be in a career where I sit at the same desk and I do the same work and I sit at the same computer and every day I go home at 4:59pm,’” Chaudhari said.

Dr. Jason Heavner, vice president and associate chief medical officer at UM BWMC, highlighted the many opportunities within health care: business, research, the arts and humanities.

“I interviewed someone for med school a number of years ago who was a writer on ‘The Dr. Oz Show,’” he said. “So you can choose a career path (within health care), but fundamentally, you’re always in a good position … It gives you the opportunity to have a really nice career and explore whatever you want to do.”

The experience was inspiring for Severna Park High School students, including senior Gabby Rosati, who started interning with UM BWMC last August. Before the field trip began, she had high expectations.

“I want to see a day in the life of a doctor,” she said. “What does a registered nurse do compared to a physician assistant or primary treating physician or a radiologist? I think it’s a great opportunity.”

The day did not disappoint and reinforced her desire to work in health care. “It’s difficult … you’re on your feet constantly, and you never know what is going to happen, but you’re saving lives,” Gabby said.

Junior Camryn Lowman was interested to see how operations at UM BWMC differed from those she has seen on the TV show “Grey’s Anatomy.”

“I’ve just always realized I wanted to help people,” she said.

As vice president of the Future Doctors of America club at Severna Park High School, Kelsey Rowe helped plan the trip with Gabby, Camryn and the staff at UM BWMC. A junior, she makes slideshows to teach other teens about anatomy and plans club activities like making fake wounds so club members can practice stitching. Her current plan is to work as a physician assistant in pediatrics or orthopedics although that could change.

During the field trip in March, her group shadowed staff in the pediatric department.

“We saw a baby with jaundice and watched the nurse take her vitals,” Kelsey said. “It was cool to see how the hospital runs.”

She hopes to return to UM BWMC as an intern during her senior year.

“I am so extremely grateful for the staff at BWMC for spending time with us, and experiences like these are so important to students like myself to get a better understanding of what it means to be in the medical field,” she wrote in an email thanking the staff. “It’s an opportunity to learn beyond what we can in a classroom. Hopefully our club and these types of field trips will inspire others to want a career in health care like it has for me.”

The professionals had plenty of other insight for students.

Advanced practice provider Molly Brockett graduated from Severna Park High School and recounted her career path after changing her major from kinesiology and exercise science.

Marla Muha, also an advanced practice provider, has worked in urgent care, the emergency department, neurosurgery and now orthopedic surgery. Being a physician assistant (PA) offers flexibility, she told students.

“As a PA, if I wanted to do pediatrics tomorrow, I could find a job in pediatrics,” she said. “I like that flexibility and it’s fun. You work with people, you help people. You have hard days, you have easy days, but I was thinking to myself, just like Chirag here, I don’t want to be at a desk job.”

Chaudhari reflected on the opportunities to help patients from the bedside or from a bigger scale by working in an administrative position. Whatever students choose, they should expect the unexpected.

“Life is a series of options … some doors will close, others will open, so don’t let that deter you,” Chaudhari said. “I think you have heard that from other people on the panel. Just have a goal in mind. And you’ll bounce around. There’s no straight line to anywhere you want to get to.”