My name is Fabiola Cabanas and I have had the privilege of working as an intern for the ISHTaR program in the Emergency Medicine Department at UNC this summer. This internship has opened up my view of the intricate network that is the field of medicine. I have learned so much about what it means to be a ER physician, nurse, researcher, P.A, cardiologist, oncologist, pediatrician, and many other professions. While conducting research for the Emergency Medicine Department, under Dr. Jane Brice and Ms. Julianne Cyr, I have gained all sorts of new knowledge about current and past research projects. In addition, I have absorbed new information concerning behavioral health in the ED and prehospital care. I have also obtained a new understanding of previously acquired knowledge when I witnessed its application while shadowing doctors in the hospital setting. I was very excited to realize that I thoroughly enjoyed certain fields in medicine that I never thought about studying. For example, I told myself a couple of years back that oncology was not for me. However, through my experience while shadowing Dr. John Hipps, I realized that pediatric hematology/oncology was something that I could actually see myself doing in the future. I loved getting to experience both the hospital and prehospital settings firsthand, and learned so much about what it means to do research within the field of medicine and just how insanely cool it feels to have your name written on something professional. Not to mention the badge. It’s a very official badge.
All jokes aside, this has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life filled with great people who I will never forget. I know now that this internship will not only serve as a great memory for years to come, but I will also reap many benefits from this experience both in the near and far future. Thank you ISHTaR!
