Name: Jane

Senior

Major: Neurobiology

CFS Program: Field Studies in Public Health

I am currently interning at a non-profit called Health Leads, which is an organization that strives to link families and individuals of low-income Chicago neighborhoods to non-medical resources. As someone who is currently in the process of applying to medical school, my experience at Health Leads has been invaluable to my understanding of medicine’s role in healthcare. I believe that often times, our society today places doctors on a pedestal and we treat medicine as the one-stop solution for health and well-being. Interning at Health Leads has given me a much more realistic, holistic view of healthcare that incorporates factors such as basic resources and preventative measures. I also learned about the importance of individualism in treating patients. Even when people have the same issues, their stories and backgrounds are unique and must be acknowledged for efficient care. Overall, it has been amazing being able to learn about myself and the field of healthcare on a firsthand basis.

Another thing that has made this quarter so special is the accompanying weekly class. As someone who has never taken classes related to public health before, I have learned a lot about this topic and its implications. In addition, it has been really interesting to tie in issues we learn about in class to my actual internship. In the remaining weeks, I am excited to continue to immerse myself in the internship. Even with the four hour commute, the experience has been absolutely invaluable.