Being a doctor is more than a profession; it’s a commitment to transforming lives and making a tangible impact on the health and well-being of others. This is why I was excited to get the chance to intern with Dr. Dineli Ahearn at Tufts Medical Center this summer, gaining first-hand experience in the medical field. Dr. Ahearn is a Doctor of Internal Medicine, Primary Care at Tufts Medical Center, and she is also an Associate Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. Her accomplishments include being named “Top Doctor” in U.S. News & World Report in 2012, and receiving the same honor from Boston Magazine eight times between 2013 and 2024. Throughout my internship, I observed Dr. Ahearn's work across various departments in the hospital. Additionally, I gained valuable insights into the diverse roles and responsibilities of other healthcare professionals within the institution.
The first week of my internship, Dr. Ahearn was on inpatient care, meaning she worked with patients who were staying in the hospital while undergoing treatment. Each morning, Dr. Ahearn would check her patients’ vitals on the computer to make sure there were no significant changes overnight. She would also review information about new patients who were admitted to the emergency room and assigned to her since the day before. After this, she would visit her patients in person as well as introduce herself to any of her new patients. During these quick visits, Dr. Ahearn would check their heartbeat, breathing, and other vital signs, and then she would meet with the case managers on each floor regarding her patients. Coordination with case managers is crucial for managing discharges and determining whether patients are going home, requiring home care, or are going to rehab.
After coordinating with the case managers, we rounded in a meeting room. Morning rounds were a collaborative effort involving Dr. Ahearn, a senior resident, two interns, and two medical students. The interns and medical students presented each patient using the SOAP Method (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) to Dr. Ahearn and the senior resident. From there, everyone would discuss what medications the patient should take in order to get better. I found this interesting because sometimes the medication that a patient needed was obvious, but other times, it took a whole team of doctors to figure out how to treat the patient. In one of the rounds I observed, for example, one patient was admitted to the hospital and Dr. Ahearn had to consult with multiple different departments – dermatology and neurology – to decide how to treat the patient. Afternoons were spent visiting patients who were not seen in the morning, followed by afternoon rounds, where updates on patients were given to Dr. Ahearn and her senior resident.
During the last three weeks of my internship, Dr. Ahearn was on outpatient care, meaning that she worked with patients who received medical treatment without being admitted to the hospital. This was a very different environment from inpatient care because her patients were generally not critically ill. Additionally, Dr. Ahearn had long-standing relationships with most of her outpatient patients, in contrast to inpatient care, where she often met patients for the first time. Each day in the outpatient setting was unique. At times, Dr. Ahearn had virtual appointments via phone or Zoom. These telehealth visits, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to be an option for patient care today. Another aspect of outpatient care involves in-person visits. I observed numerous appointments where Dr. Ahearn conducted physical examinations or follow-ups with patients, providing comprehensive and personalized care.
During physicals, Dr. Ahearn would first engage in a conversation regarding the patient’s health and home life. The patient had the opportunity to share any medical concerns they had about themselves so that they could receive input from Dr. Ahearn. Then, she would go over the patient’s medication list. During this time, she discontinued any medications the patient no longer took, ordered any new medications the patient was prescribed, and refilled medications the patient needed more of. She would also determine if the patient needed any vaccines, and would then get the vaccine from the medication room. During the actual exam, Dr. Ahearn took patients’ blood pressure, checked their heartbeat and breathing, briefly checked their eyes, ears, and mouth, and looked at any concerns that the patient had. At the end of the examination, she gave any needed vaccines and printed out a copy of the patients’ medicine lists for them to keep.
Many days, I got to shadow and assist the medical assistants (MA). The MAs would see the patients before the doctors did, and would take their blood pressure, measure their height, and measure their weight. They would also note any concerns or feelings that the patient had prior to their consultation with their doctor. MAs also had the job of cleaning rooms after a patient had been in that room, which I got to help out with. First, I put on gloves, then use bacterial wipes to wipe down the chairs and surfaces that the patient and doctor had touched. I would finally take the gown that the patient wore and put it into a bin, and the room was then ready for the next patient.
I also got to shadow a pharmacist for one day. During this day, I observed three appointments, and I got a feeling of what it was like to be a pharmacist in a hospital. Patients would often book appointments with a pharmacist in between appointments they had with their primary care doctors to gain a deeper understanding of the medications they were taking. For example, two patients I observed discussed their options for weight loss medications. They were told all about how the drugs work to lessen their appetite and convince their brain that they are full with less food. I also observed an appointment about medications for diabetes, where the patient was told about his high blood sugar levels and what he could do to bring them down.
In addition to shadowing different professionals during my internship, I also contributed significantly to the behind-the-scenes work that ensures the hospital runs smoothly. My tasks included making photocopies of information sheets for patients and organizing them in a file bin. I learned how to fax, assisting doctors and secretaries on the primary care floor. Additionally, I organized the medication room to help doctors quickly find medical tools and vaccines, and I also restocked and organized the tools in exam rooms. Lastly, I helped create the nursing schedule for the upcoming months by recording each nurse's requested time off and updating the premade schedule accordingly.
Making the nursing schedule Restocked/organized exam room tools Copies of information sheets in file bin
This internship was an incredible opportunity to learn about many different aspects, roles, and responsibilities of people in a hospital. My experience with Dr. Ahearn was very beneficial to my view on and interest in primary care and medicine. I would like to thank Dr. Ahearn and Tufts Medical Center for allowing me to shadow, and for providing an incredible learning experience this summer. I would also like to thank Mr. Schlenker for providing me with this opportunity.
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