黑料正能量

Amber Shank says she鈥檚 always had a clinical interest in how the body functions 鈥� and more specifically, in how and why it stops working.

Her interest led her to investigate careers that primarily work with the dead.

Now a junior clinical laboratory medicine major at 黑料正能量, Shank plans to become a pathologist鈥檚 assistant.

The education of a pathologist is a long and difficult process, with stringent academic requirements and a competitive post-graduate path. Not to mention the unusual activities the work entails 鈥� examining and dissecting dead bodies. So a student would want to be sure this was indeed for her.

This spring, Shank spent 30 hours in a practicum experience, shadowing five pathologists and one pathology assistant at Augusta Health in Fishersville, Va.

After witnessing an autopsy, being around corpses and aiding in organ dissection, Shank says the experience confirmed her desire to continue along this career path and helped her understand more clearly the professional and emotional demands of the job.

Shadowing experience can help save time and money

That鈥檚 the goal of the practicum, a one-semester course required for all pre-professional health sciences majors, says Professor Kristopher Schmidt.

鈥満诹险�能量 has offered this course for years, and our alumni who go on to be successful practitioners in the medical fields often tell us that it was a pivotal experience in their development, as the first taste of what it might feel like to work in the profession,鈥� Schmidt said. 鈥淥ur students gain insights into what it means to work with colleagues and with patients.鈥�

Dr. Julie Plumbley, chair of the Augusta Health Pathology Department, says that hosting students such as Shank for shadowing opportunities provides a more accurate and realistic perspective of what may become their future profession.

鈥淥ne of the great aspects of shadowing is its myth-busting ability,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eople, quite understandably, often form their ideas of a profession they think they鈥檇 like to pursue from television and movies. Of course, these dramatic renderings rarely reflect the reality of a particular type of work. Shadowing can correct false impressions and prevent mistakes that can be costly in terms of time and money. Plus you may learn about a related profession you weren鈥檛 aware of previously.鈥�

In the practicum course, students keep a journal and meet to discuss situations and issues they encounter.

Junior Leah Lapp spent her practicum with family physician and 黑料正能量 alumnus Dr. John Wenger at Sentara RMH. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 have concrete goals yet, which is why I wanted this experience. I鈥檓 currently deciding between medical school and graduate school, and this experience has given me a deeper glimpse and appreciation for what it would really be like to be a doctor.鈥�

If she does decide to apply, an 黑料正能量 education has been helpful to past applicants. Over the past 15 years, 80 percent of those who completed 黑料正能量’s pre-medical program and applied to medical school were accepted.聽Over the past 10 years, students who completed 黑料正能量’s pre-professional health sciences program enjoyed a 100 percent acceptance rate to physical therapy schools and a 92 percent acceptance rate to physician’s assistant programs. 黑料正能量 also has articulation agreements with two universities.

After shadowing, clear goals and a path forward

Being sure of what she wants to do has helped Shank make plans for her future. She has already been accepted into Sentara Rockingham Medical Hospital鈥檚 School of Histotechnology, a one-year program that she鈥檒l begin in January 2019 after graduation from 黑料正能量.

鈥淗istotechnicians work directly alongside pathology assistants, so this will be a good way to get my foot in the door while learning as much as I can before graduate school,鈥� she said.

While earning a salary, Shank says she will also be gaining valuable work experience that may help her application to medical school rise to the top. There are only 12 graduate medical schools that offer a pathology assistant program in the United States 鈥� she hopes to attend Eastern Virginia Medical School聽 鈥� so competition is fierce.

Shank says her practicum experience allowed her to practice skills important to the workplace, like learning how to observe and take notes. She鈥檚 grateful to the professionals who made her practicum experience so worthwhile. After learning of her specific interests, the pathology assistant showed her some video of an autopsy from her medical school days. And she鈥檚 waiting for an invitation to assist at an autopsy, which would include weighing the organs and dictating notes.

This would be 鈥渁 dream come true,鈥� she said.