Year-long S.T.E.M. Internship
Before we began our internship, we had to create a proposal, and no not the
Bachelorette type. We were instructed to find a mentor to work with, create a
rational for the internship, as well as choose a discipline, write a
description, and make a timeline. We told were told to think out of the box,
because there was no box to think in. No rules, no guidelines, we were set free
to think of the most elaborate internship possible.
My proposal for the year-long internship:
As an ECMO (Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation)
patient and survivor, one of my interest is centered around the positive and
negative effects of ECMO on newborns, children, and adults. As with most areas
of research and advancement, today babies, children, and adults suffering from
respiratory failure receive different modalities such as ECMO, compared with
those that were available several decades ago. Although many studies have been
conducted regarding the best practices for such illnesses, my personal/intimate
relationship with ECMO leaves me wondering if my out-come would have been
different had the new course of treatment not been administered. I would like to
examine the question - is ECMO a more effective therapy for acute respiratory
failure than conventional therapy of mechanical ventilation with a respirator
(conventional breathing machine). The opportunity to research and collect data
pertaining to this subject matter will enhance my knowledge of ECMO, as well as
allow me to obtain more insight on the care of premature and intensive care
babies, children, and adults. My ultimate goal in life is to become a Pediatric
Anesthesiologist. This opportunity to immerse myself in this high pressured
environment, where the focus of the staff
is to administer timely and compassionate care to everyone they encounter will
be beneficial to my overall development and growth.
My mentor:
Because my discipline is science and medicine, I chose a mentor in that specific
field. My mentor and preceptor is Dr. Ivor Berkowitz. He is the Associate
Professor of Anesthesiology & Critical Care
Clinical Director, PICU at Johns Hopkins
Hospital.
My rational:
I am an ECMO patient, and I wanted to know: Is ECMO a proven benefit for
respiratory failure? Why or why not?