Students learn from local doctors during St. Luke's Medical Mentorship program

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- A little dose of mentoring can go a long way for an aspiring medical student. Over the summer, nine students were paired with a variety of physicians at St. Luke’s The Woodland Hospital and St. Luke’s Lakeside Hospital to gain a front-line, real world glimpse of what the healthcare profession might offer them.

According to Kathryne Butler, Manager of Volunteer Services, the Medical Mentorship program was designed to give high school juniors and seniors as well as college undergraduates the opportunity to directly experience the day-to-day operations of a physician, to form networking connections with well-respected physicians who served as their mentors, and to volunteer their time at a hospital which is committed to developing future healthcare professionals.

Each accepted applicant participated in a four-week program based upon the scheduling opportunities available to ensure they gained a broad perspective of the medical field. They shadowed physicians from unlike specialties, accompanying them to all of their professional activities including to clinical, office, conference, surgical and research settings.

The mentoring physicians and student participants included:

- Mentors Dr. Peter Shedden and Dr. Cyril Sebastian, Neurosurgery, with student Fernando Saavedra of The Woodlands High School.

- Mentor Dr. Ather Siddiqi, Pulmonology with student Jessica Strayer of The John Cooper School.

- Mentor Dr. John Fackler, Orthopedics, with student Aamer Rakla of The John Cooper School.

- Mentor Dr. S. Chandra-Bose Reddy, Pediatric Cardiology, with student Taylor Schwarzberger of The Woodlands College Park High School.

- Mentor Dr. Fang, Radiology, with student Carina Yebra of Willis High School.

- Mentor Dr. Michael Marlow, Family Practice, with student Ashley Green of The University of Chicago.

- Mentors Dr. Rajeev Pethe, Dr. Julie Schaferling, Dr. Bradley Spartz, Dr. Christopher Fedoruk and Dr. Michael Nolen, Emergency Department, with students Madison Lancaster of Western Christian Academy and William Addison of Texas A&M.

- Mentor Dr. Derek Schoppa, Anesthesiology, with student Lisa Plattenberger, of the University of Delaware.

During a recent appreciation luncheon held on the campus, students shared how this program made an impact upon them.

Madison Lancaster of Western Christian Academy, who shadowed Emergency Department physicians, explained, “We’ve all seen or heard of Grey’s Anatomy. We hear about emergency room doctors and the long hours. But what we don’t hear about is what happens behind the scenes – the decisions, the quick-thinking, and how much the doctors depend on the nurses around them to help. I got to see it all; from a major heart attack to itchy feet. I saw that the real Emergency Room is not glamorous. These doctors make real life-or-death decisions in the blink of an eye, and can’t afford to stop and second-guess themselves. I have great admiration for these physicians and their abilities, which sometimes get taken for granted.

“I never once felt like I was annoying anyone and they were all very patient and took the time to explain things to me. Being around these doctors and nurses showed me that the life of a physician is something to be proud of. The doctors could be yelled at, cursed at, and still give the patients the best care they can. These people are kind of like our modern-day heroes, and we should respect them for what they do. There may be people that are smart and make it through medical school, ones that know everything there is to know about the human body, but it takes a special person to make a great doctor. You have to care about people and be willing to listen to their stories and complaints, then take that information and turn it into a diagnosis. I’m so thankful for the opportunity because they taught me that I would be honored to be a doctor.”

Student Fernando Saavedra of The Woodlands High School, who shadowed neurosurgery mentors Dr. Peter Shedden and Dr. Cyril Sebastian, commented, “This has been an uplifting and eye-opening experience for me. I am grateful for the opportunity to obtain an in-depth view of the daily routines of the physician from the clinic to the operating room where I could observe actual surgeries firsthand. In addition I was given a glimpse of an incredible alternative to brain surgery known as Gamma Knife which uses small, precisely targeted bursts of radiation to treat a wide range of ailments in the brain. In spite of all the amazing technology I was able to see at the hospital, the greatest thing I witnessed during my time was the incredible cooperative effort that goes into managing a clinic, as well as successfully completing a surgical procedure. It was a wonderful thing to witness the dedication each of these professionals put into their work. This program has reaffirmed my interest in pursuing a medical career as a surgeon and has inspired me to continue on the path.”

Mentor Dr. Michael Marlow, Family Practice, who mentored student Ashley Green of The University of Chicago, noted, “I thoroughly enjoyed participating in this important program. Ashley was such a smart and impressive student and I was impressed by the insightful questions she would ask. She learned that caring for patients also involves persuading them to be empowered to take charge of their own health and be proactive about it. Family practice is certainly diverse, and Ashley found it interesting and confirming for her endeavors.”

Debra F. Sukin, CEO of St. Luke’s The Woodland Hospital and St. Luke’s Lakeside Hospital, said, “It is truly an honor as we embark on yet another journey that will impact the future of healthcare as we know it. St. Luke’s Medical Mentorship Program is the first of its kind in Montgomery County and we are privileged to pave the way in creating new opportunities for high school and college students to learn about and gain experience in healthcare professions.

“This program would not have been made possible without the support of our physicians and we appreciate their leadership and dedication to the future of health care and to the success of St. Luke’s hospitals.

“I thank the students for their participation in this program. They were chosen as the best of the best of the applicants because we felt they stood out above and beyond the others as exemplified by their drive and eagerness to learn about the medical field. They earned a rare opportunity to observe physicians in clinical and surgical settings that many other aspiring health care professionals have not been afforded. I hope this experience will help in the course of their decisions as they pursue a medical career, and that they discover the area of study that best meets their interests and capitalizes on their talents.