By: Jenny Kim
Sometimes just taking a chance can open up a world of possibilities.
Hershey High School senior Julia Corbin spends one or two hours everyday as an intern at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Thanks to the Health Career Explorations Program (HCEP), Corbin can shadow medical professionals in a variety of specialties as a high school student with the goal of narrowing her career choice.
Everyday from periods 3 to 5AB, Corbin follows a different nurse from a variety of fields. The fields can range from ophthalmology, psychology, to music therapy. Corbin watches and takes notes while the nurse works with the patients. She also attends a seminar every Friday to learn about a specific field from a variety of doctors and researchers.
Corbin enjoys very much what she does as an intern. At one point, she was able to work with kids at the children’s hospital and make music with them. Corbin also got to see a patient being put to sleep for surgery.
Not only do the interns enjoy this program but so do the doctors as well. “It’s really cool to see young students awed by what I do and seeing them learn,” said Jade Park, an anesthesiologist at the Hershey Medical Center.
Although the program is adventurous and exciting, there is an intense application process to be accepted into the HCEP program. The ten students that are selected must have exceptional grades, attendance, discipline, and trustworthiness. In addition, the applicants must write an essay explaining why they should be chosen for the program.
Along with the extreme application process, the program itself is rigorous as well. Everyday Corbin must write a page long personal learning journal explaining what she did that day. Along with the journal, Corbin must do a case study to present at the end of the program. This presentation is reviewed by doctors and the administration.
“It’s definitely challenging, but then again, so is being an actual doctor,” said Corbin.
Bonnie Ritchey, HCEP supervisor, agrees that this program is rigorous, but believes it is also tremendously beneficial. In HCEP, Corbin can narrow down her job choices in the first semester, and for the second semester she can shadow one specific doctor or nurse in the field she would like to pursue. This way, Corbin will not waste time or money in college because she will already know where her interests lie.
“It truly is such a great and rewarding program,” said Ritchey.
HCEP also helps students get accepted into superior college medical programs. According to Ritchey, past students have been accepted to excellent programs largely because of HCEP. Corbin, who is thinking of being a physician’s assistant (PA), feels that with HCEP will increase her chances of getting into a quality PA program.
Whether it’s working with kids or full grown adults, Corbin can experience it all. The program is time consuming and intense yet educational and extremely rewarding. Corbin thinks of it as “a great opportunity that shouldn’t be missed.”
“It gets you ready for real doctor life, and because of this program, I’m ready,” said Corbin.
