Blog 3 - First Interview Preparation

1. Who do you plan to interview? Why? 
1. I plan to interview my mentor. When I went for mentorship I wasn't able to talk to him very much because it was a really busy night at the hospital. I hope to get a little more foundational knowledge about his job. He also might be able to give me ideas of who to interview next. 
2.  Five questions will be assigned to all seniors to ask.  What additional questions do you plan to ask?  Ask open-ended questions.  What are open-ended questions? Click here!
1. You've worked in the ER for 20 years now. How has your enthusiasm for the job changed in that time?
2. What are some political or medical problems that you encounter frequently while on the job?
3. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? 
4. How does ER overcrowding affect you? Do you have any solutions or do you see any root causes?
5. Do you know the insurance situation of your patients? Does this play a role in the treatment of the patient?

Blog 2 - Summer Mentorship

Senior Project Hours

1. List the contact name, phone number, and organization of the person with whom you volunteered.
1. Dr. Miguel Rodriguez 
2. (562) 904-5000 (general hospital number, if you need his personal number for verification I can give it to you offline)
3. Downey Regional Medical Center(recently changed to Downey PIH)
2. What qualified this person as an expert in your topic choice? 
1. He is a licensed MD whom graduated from Stanford Medical School. He specializes in emergency medicine and has over 20 years of experience in the field. He currently works at Downey PIH and a small ER in Santa Ana.     
3. List three questions for further exploration now that you've completed your summer hours. 
1. How is specializing in emergency medicine different than any other speciality field?
2. What portion of people who come into the ER are having an actual emergency?
3. How does the total number of patients in the ER and waiting room affect the individual care of each patient?    
4. What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?
1. The most important thing I gained from this experience is what its like to be on the doctor's side of the ER.  I've spent plenty of time in the ER as a patient but it was definitely an eye-opener to see the balancing act that happens on the other side.  My experience gave me a much better appreciation for all the doctor's work. 
5. What is your senior project topic going to be?  How did mentorship help you make your decision?  Please explain.
1. My topic is going to be on emergency medicine. I was a little iffy at first because I wasn't sure if I would actually be able to mentor in the emergency room, but now that I have several connections I am very excited. Mentorship showed me several routes that I could go with this topic, which was another concern of mine. 

Blog 1 - Senior Final Lesson/Interview Reflection

1.  What three lessons were most helpful for you to see, and why?

• I thought it was very helpful to see Liliana’s presentation about Medicine. I am considering doing my project on medicine, so it was nice to see an example of a path I could take and how it came out.
• Drag racing was another topic I am glad I saw. The general topic I enjoy, but the question steered it in a direction that wasn’t as appealing. It showed how the question really is the directing force of the project. I also learned from that presentation that making sure everyone has the same foundational knowledge is key to keeping people engaged. A lot of times people were zoning out, including myself, because the presenter was talking about things that he presumed we already understood but didn’t always.  
• Documentary film making was another helpful presentation because I felt like I actually learned useful information. She started out with very basic knowledge and gradually built upon it until she got to her answers. She defined her terms, was energetic, and actively engaged the audience which made her presentation memorable. It was also nice that she talked a lot about her mentorship and what she did during it because it helped me figure out what I need from mine in order to be beneficial.   

2. List one thing that you learned about the senior project in interviews that will help you get off to a good start?

• The seniors I talked calmed some of my fears about senior project. They told me that it really wasn’t that bad if you got your assignments done early and had your mentorship hours completed within first semester. They also said it was good to have a schedule with your mentor so you know when your hours will be completed.

3. What topic(s) are you considering, and why?

• I am considering medicine. Some of the branches that interest me are neurology, emergency care, Eastern-Style medicine, and elderly care/assisted living. I've always had a passion for medicine because of the science involved and how it is always changing.

4. What EQ do you think might be interesting to consider in guiding a project like this? (Please don't worry about any sort of formula...we want this question to come from your genuine interest).

• What is the best way for a doctor(either neurology, eastern-style, or elderly) to help their patients achieve a symptom/pain free life?
• How can an emergency room doctor best care for his/her patients in the overcrowded and hectic environment? What is the best way an emergency room doctor can diagnose and treat patients?  

5. What are some ideas you have about finding summer mentorship?

• I am very close with several of my doctors so I am confident that they can give me connections to people in the field I want. I can also do general volunteering until I find someone that can mentor me.