FEATURE
EXTERNSHIP REFLECTIONS from the
UofL Student Body
Recently, a handful of UofL medical students entering their second year were given the chance to work in a clinical
setting for a pediatric summer externship. Following this experience, these students wrote about what they had
learned from their work. Louisville Medicine is publishing three of the best recollections of these experiences. Enjoy,
as we did, the thoughts of these physicians-in-training.
Brandon Mudd
W
alking into the clinic on my
first day, I was unsure what
to expect as this was my first
shadowing experience in
outpatient pediatrics. I had
passed by the University of Louisville Pediatrics
clinic’s door several times throughout my first
year of medical school and wondered what it was like on the inside.
As I peeked in the empty exam rooms, I began to wonder how I
would apply the knowledge I learned during my first year of medical
school in this setting. Would I need to know the Krebs cycle which
had left my mind months ago? How was I going to apply the anatomy
I learned to the patients in the clinic? How much I would learn?
I quickly realized I would learn more than I could have ever
imagined. The knowledge I had gained during the first year of
medical school (other than the Krebs cycle) was put to use and
expanded greatly - only my clinical knowledge, but I also gained
practical skills. I also found that I applied anatomy knowledge in a
very interesting way: to the clinic itself.
I learned that the staff of the University of Louisville Pediatrics
clinic all have a heart for kids, and I could not help but compare the
clinic’s operations to the human heart. The clinic serves a unique
population of children who face many obstacles in life; these make
it difficult for the children and their parents to meet health care
needs. I was amazed by the services offered within the clinic, and
how well the different offices worked together to provide outstand-
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ing patient care.
The clinic’s two nurses’ stations reminded me of the atria of the
heart. They send patients to the exam rooms and pass them to either
the attending physicians or the residents, the ventricles. The WIC
office, dental office and doctors & lawyers office reminded me of
the coronary arteries. They support the heart and help it function
to its full potential. Each office serves a vital role in providing the
resources necessary for the clinic to serve its patients with the best
possible care. I was honored to have had the opportunity to help
carry out the wonderful work that is the heart of this clinic.
My time in the clinic provided me with an unforgettable expe-
rience that far exceeded my expectations. I was able to talk with
patients on my own during my second day in clinic which allowed
me to attempt, and then improve, my bedside manner. I saw a variety
of presenting illnesses from “shot checks” to ringworm to well-child
visits. In addition, I discovered the aspects of pediatrics that make
the specialty unique and so rewarding. I also learned a great deal
about how I see myself in practice as a future physician. I leave this
experience determined to become the best physician I can be in
order to serve the young people of my community as a pediatrician.
My time with University of Louisville Pediatrics has taught me
more than I could ever imagine and I am forever grateful to the
physicians, nurses and staff that make the clinic such a wonderful
place to learn and care for the even more wonderful children in
our community.