Students complete pre-health internships in Jamestown

Three Fredonia students gained valuable experience in the health care field during internships that were served in Jamestown and funded by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

Students served at least 40 hours in internships that enabled them to observe different health care professions. Each student earned one academic credit hour and received a stipend provided by the foundation.

Laurel Finson, a junior Biology major from Lakewood, completed her internship in January at UPMC Chautauqua WCA hospital, where she observed work in the orthopedic clinic, emergency room and radiology. The experience, said Ms. Finson, a pre-med student, “validated my interest in medicine, piqued my interest and gave me valuable insight into this career.”

In her report, Finson wrote about seeing how different physicians interact with patients and what she learned from these observations.

Tiffani Walker, a junior Biology major from Panama, N.Y., performed her internship at Great Lakes Physician Practice in the Spring 2018 semester. Ms. Walker, who plans to become a physician assistant, observed different professionals who specialize in internal medicine. In her internship report, Walker described learning about patient care and how a patient’s background and upbringing can impact his/her health

Brad Brown, a sophomore Biochemistry major from Jamestown, completed his internship at UPMC Chautauqua WCA in the summer. Mr. Brown is a pre-med student who has been accepted into the Early Assurance Program at Upstate Medical University. Through the internship, Brown observed physicians and other professionals in the operating room, emergency room, radiology and other areas.

In his internship report, Brown described the internship as a “great learning experience” that enabled him to learn about the benefits of working in a rural area such as Jamestown.