This post is from one of our summer interns at the end of his summer with us.

My summer internship at NJPNI

By Benjamin Horowitz

August 27, 2012

 

My summer internship at NJPNI was an incredible experience.  Spending 8 weeks with NJPNI gave me a good understanding of how a clinical practice operates. Throughout my internship, Dr. Mazzola and her staff carefully explained how they were making decisions, taught me about neurosurgical conditions and treatments, and happily answered all of my questions.  With their dedication to education, every activity was a learning experience. Through observing patient visits, rounding at the hospital, and observing surgeries, I learned a great deal about clinical pediatric neurosurgery. I came to understand the different roles that are played in an operating room setting, and how the successful performance of each role is essential for a successful surgery. I also saw how doctors of different specialties and other hospital employees communicate and work together to treat patients.  I learned that doctor-parent and doctor-patient communication is of utmost importance, despite its challenges.

Writing and submitting a case report in collaboration with Dr. Mazzola and her colleagues was an especially rewarding and useful project.  I learned how to comprehensively review and record the details of a case, how to evaluate its implications, and how to relate a case to other medical literature.  I gained familiarity with the writing style and format of such publications, and how to properly cite other works.  I came to understand how multiple revisions can elevate the quality of the report.  These are skills of great life-long value, and I appreciate the opportunity to have learned them.