by Kellen Gibson
Introduction
This summer, I had the privilege of continuing my work at the Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI) as a clinical assistant in the neurobehavioral unit (NBU). The NBU is dedicated to admitting children with behavioral problems like self-injurious, aggressive, and disruptive behaviors. Getting bite in my line of work is not uncommon. The unit strives to use applied behavioral analysis to identify each patient’s function (the reason for their behavior) and implement protocols to help reduce problem behavior. I started working at Kennedy Krieger last summer (2023). My role on the NBU was as a clinical assistant in which I was tasked with the care of one of our patients each day, ensuring the health and safety of the patient even in bursts of problem behavior. Additionally, I implemented behavioral protocols that reduced this problem behavior and facilitated the patients’ discharge. Additionally, as part of my summer experience, I shadowed several roles in the medical field to help determine what I want to do after undergrade.
Key Experience
Implementing Protocols at KKI
The main difference in my experience this summer was that I got to work the day shift which has several key differences from when I used to work only evenings. The main difference was I had the opportunity to implement behavioral protocols. Usually, the treatment teams only run treatments during the day and stop the treatment in the evening since they are present to answer questions during the day. They can also compare frequency data to determine if the treatment works. This summer, I learned three different behavioral protocols that helped kids return home, despite how much I loved to work with them. Through my continued work at Kennedy, I learned more about applied behavioral analysis and the role of each team member who is involved in each patient’s stay. Each patient works with multiple Cas and nurses, team members who run sessions, clinical specialists who design protocols, social workers, and doctors who all work together to provide patient care. This demonstrated how valuable communication and teamwork are within the medical field and their importance in patient care.
Medical Shadowing
Another thing that funding from the LDL enabled me to do was shadow various roles in the medical profession. I was able to shadow nurse practitioners, physician assistants, orthopedic surgeons, an anesthesiologist, and a pediatrician. A big decision I have been contemplating since I started undergrad was what I do after college. The first answer was to go to medical school to become a doctor. Then I got my job at KKI and discovered that the medical field is definitely what I want to pursue. With that, KKI opened my eyes to the possibility that there are multiple ways to work in healthcare other than going to medical school. KKI help[ed me answer the ‘if’ part of whether I was on the right path. Shadowing revealed to me the ‘how’ I want to go into the medical field. Through shadowing a wide range of professionals in different environments such as an anesthesiologist in the operating room, a PA who rounds with their patients in a hospital, or a pediatrician in a clinic doing general checkups, I found that the role of PAs and other allied health professions are equally appealing as becoming a doctor with significantly less schooling. Shadowing helped me determine my plans of applying to graduate school and PA school.
Learning through Experience
Learning New Skills and Knowledge
In addition to personally crafted experience, LDL ran an online course that taught me several important skills. The first was the importance of curiosity conversations, which are like networking but with a more holistic approach. By having curiosity conversations with my coworkers, supervisors, and the doctors, I was able to get better at building a network and building stronger relationships with people who already have a career that shares similarities with the career that I want. The practicum also helped me to realize my strengths which I could then incorporate into my goals (OKRs) for the summer. My strongest strength is my strength as a relator. Relators work best with the people they already know and find strength in tight-knit groups. While being a relator is a strength it can also be a weakness if I don’t include new people in my close circles. By being aware of this strength, I tried to make a point this summer of trying to get to know the people in my circle better and further improve this strength.
Making OKRs
Throughout my summer practicum, I set goals in the form of objectives and key results (OKRs). My first OKRs were to lean into my strength as a relator and meet more people by asking one person I am not close with to hang out at least once a week, having a conversation with the person I am on break on each shift, and expanding my curiosity conversation map once every two weeks by having a curiosity conversation. My second OKR was to learn what I want to do in the healthcare by shadowing various disciplines in the medical field, asking questions, and researching the qualifications for each of the positions I shadow. My last OKR was to become the role of leader of the NBU by using my strength of relator, reading each kid’s protocol so I can give effective feedback, and giving constructive feedback at least one time per shift.
By setting these goals, I was able to break down my summer experience into bite-sized chunks that were easier to get done throughout the summer. With that, my OKRs gave me direction with smaller sub-goals that helped me to accomplish my larger broader ones. The most impactful of these OKRs was my second one of trying to figure out what I wanted to do in the medical field. Not only did it help direct me through my summer experience, but knowing that I want to apply to PA school and graduate school will direct me into my career.
Finding Support
In my practicum, the key lesson that I learned was that I am are never alone in any path. This summer my goal was to figure out which career I wanted to have: Go to medical school or allied health. The process of making this decision included speaking with my family, my coworkers, my supervisors, any doctor or PA that I shadowed, and my friends. Each person contributed in its way to influence the decision that I ultimately made. Without the support and advice from these spheres, my decision would have been less informed and without a fuller picture provided by those close to me.
Future applications
In the future, I plan on continuing to use the tools I have learned to further my career. I plan on continuing to have curiosity conversations to expand my network and learn more about my role and the role of others. I will continue to cultivate my strength as a relator and use this strength to become a leader. I am excited. The chance to use tools all starts with applying to and interviewing for PA school and any graduate programs that I want to go into.
