Pediatric Neurosurgery

An epileptic seizure is a sudden and temporary occurrence of physical signs and/or symptoms that result from abnormal brain activity. There are various types of seizures as well as many treatment options.

To read my analysis about the risks and various treatment options associated epileptic seizures, click here.

In addition to the usual research assessments, this week we focused on writing our first interview assessment as well as creating a rough draft of our display board. For me, writing the interview assessment was beneficial because it forced me to reminisce back upon my interview and remember the details of what was discussed. However, more than remembering the details or information I was able to absorb, I found myself remembering character traits of the individual doctor. Ultimately, through these reflections I will be able to narrow it down to a few doctors who I think will best be suitable for me as a mentor.

Through my Independent Study and Mentorship course this year, I would like to learn more about the medical field, particularly the field of pediatric neurosurgery. In addition to gaining exposure to the general lifestyle of a pediatric neurosurgeon, I will focus on the relationships established between pediatric neurosurgeons and their patients, the dynamics of the operating room, and the challenges and rewards presented by this specialized field.

All my life, I have enjoyed being around children. For the past three years, I have volunteered with children on a weekly basis every Wednesday night at a local church program known as Approved Workmen are Not Ashamed (AWANA). Despite the business and demands of high school life, I can honestly say that this is the highlight of my week. Unlike adults who are often preoccupied with the stresses and responsibilities that accompany everyday life, children truly know how to enjoy each moment and have such a worry-free mindset. Along the same thought, when a child is sick, they are robbed of that carefree mentality. Childhood is meant to be enjoyed and to be filled with laughter and smiles. But when a child is facing a terminal illness, there are no laughter or smiles. It truly is my ardor and joy to put that smile back on a child's face.

However, pediatric neurosurgery is not just about children; there is also a medical component. My interest in medicine began at a very early age. On my 7th birthday, I remember opening my presents and finding a doctors kit. Being a young girl who loved dolls and playing pretend, this was not the gift that I had been anticipating. Nonetheless, it was in that pivotal moment that I began to fall in love with the field of medicine. Simple as it may have been, the doctor’s kit I received that year instilled in me a genuine passion for medical field as it allowed me to realize that I could combine the fascinating world of science with the rewarding acts of helping others.

Fortunately or unfortunately, not every individual is suited to be a pediatric neurosurgeon as it is a very difficult career path. However, personally speaking, I enjoy the challenges it brings. I am not the kind of individual who shies away from obstacles, but rather one who prefer to tackle them head on. I understand that pediatric neurosurgery is emotionally draining, time-consuming, and requiring of many sacrifices. But compared to the ultimate joy and reward of seeing a child smile again, these seem like minimal prices to pay. Furthermore, I absolutely love to learn, particularly in a real-world setting. Although textbook based learning is very informative, kinesthetic learning is much more efficient and effective – an aptitude possessed by many skilled surgeons. Finally, I am a naturally curious and inquisitive person. The brain is essentially a black box and thus presents a vast amount of unknown, unmarked and undiscovered territories. There is not a single individual in the entire world who completely and thoroughly understands the brain and its complexities. To many this kind of ambiguity is intimidating, but to me, it is compelling and intriguing in the sense that I am excited about potentially discovering more information about the underlying connections within the nervous system. All in all, I truly believe that my assiduous personality, tendency to absorb as much information as I can, and natural curiosity will ultimately culminate in such a manner that more than adequately equips me for a career as a successful pediatric neurosurgeon.

This past week I had two very contrasting interviews. The first one took place early in the week and was with the Chief of Surgery at UT Southwestern. To be frank, I was slightly nervous for the interview considering this doctor's status and reputation. The interview did not start off as well as I would have liked. I would ask a question and he would answer with as little elaboration as possible. The long pauses of silence were awkward and it seemed he would rather be anywhere but there. However, I kept pushing for answers. At one point, he turned around me and challenged me with a question to which I did not know the answer. Although I was initially stunned for a moment, I realized something extremely important - as far as a mentorship is concerned, I need someone who is going to push me to the limit and ask me questions that I do not know the answer to. From there on, the interview went splendidly. The subtle sarcasm and witty retorts kept the interview itself interesting. It was interesting to note that this doctor had initially planned to be a pediatric neurosurgeon but decided to become a general neurosurgeon primarily because of the greater variety of surgical procedures. It had only been about thirty minutes before he had to leave for a business meeting and I was sad to cut the interview short. Beyond just gaining knowledge about the field of neurosurgery, I learned more about myself and what I needed in a potential mentor.

Later in the week, I had an interview with a very opinionated pediatric neurologist. Just based on the fact that this interview was twice as long as any of my other interviews, it is safe to say that this doctor had a lot to say. One thing I took away from this interview is that different doctors have very different opinions on the same matter. For example, this particular doctor was extremely opposed to ObamaCare and felt that doctors needs to be paid more. For him, money seemed to be a big motivator. Personally, I feel that when in such a career as medicine, it cannot be for just the money. You have to have a genuine passion and love for the field otherwise the numerous sacrifices and challenges will not be worth it.

In addition to these two interviews, I focused on writing my topic proposal. We have spend the last 8 weeks or so researching and scheduling interviews, and so the topic proposal allowed us to formalize into words exactly what we were expecting to gain out of this year. For me, this assignment opened my eyes up to the greater picture in a sense. It forced me to analyze why I was passionate about this field, why I was suitable for this career, and why I wanted to have this opportunity.

This coming week, I have an interview with a pediatric neurosurgeon. In addition, I plan on writing interview assessments for past interviews and writing thank you cards. I am also starting to think about possible ideas for my display board and portfolio cover.

The human body is innately run by a phenomenon known as the circadian rhythm, a 24 hour cycle in the physiological processes of living beings.

To read my analysis about the Circadian Cycle and its impact on the human body, click here.

Business Symposium presented a unique opportunity for high school students to interact and converse with business professionals in a semi-formal setting. It was comprised of a networking session in which students and professionals casually conversed with one another and an interviewing component in which business professionals conducted mock job interviews with the students. The event in its entirety allowed students to practice professionalism and answer interview questions effectively and efficiently.

During the networking session, I was able to interact with various professionals. Under normal circumstances, I am not the kind of individual who goes up to strangers and initiates a conversation. The weeks leading up to this event, we had practiced how to give a proper handshaked, introduce oneself and carry a conversation, but this was all done with peers. Business Symposium was an entirely different context and although we had the basic skills to talk to these professionals, it was still intimidating on many levels. Although I was not able to talk to many medical professionals, I still was able to gain valuable insight and information as a result of this networking time. As ISM is a career specific class, often times we limit our knowledge to our own field but this experience showed me that there are many other interesting career choices out there. One thing I gained specifically from this networking period is confidence. When one is in a situation in which he or she has no choice but to go up and converse with random strangers, a new sense of determination is discovered. More often than not, this courage is simply lying dormant within every individual and it is just a matter of finding that boldness and recognizing that one is capable of doing such a terrifying thing such as talking to business professionals. As a result of this experience, I can say that I am more confident in who I am because now I know that despite being just a high schooler, I am still more than able to carry an intelligible and meaningful conversation with almost anyone I encounter.

The other portion of the Business Symposium consisted of three mock interviews from three different professionals. My first interview was with a manager of a veterinary clinic. The interview itself was rather informal, and more of a conversation than an actual interview. The lady who questioned me shared with me what her job entailed and advised me to make sure that my social networking sites did not contain anything that would give me a negative image. The second lady that interviewed me was a retired actuary. Initially she critiqued my resume and gave me positive feedback as well as possible things I might consider changing. She asked me a few questions about myself and the field that I wanted to study. At the end of the interview she made a comment about how doctors needed to not only be book smart, but also socially smart and that based off of the way I had presented myself through the interview, she felt that I had good balance of both. My final interview was with a sales representative from Grande Communications. Although he seemed a little intimidating and gruff, my interview with him was actually quite pleasant. He was intrigued by my particular topic of study and asked me questions concerning my interest in it. His one main comment was that in my answers I often addressed any follow up questions he might have had. Whether this is a good thing or a bad, I am not quite sure. Personally, I think he was suggesting that I need to find a balance between not elaborating and elaborating too much when it comes to answering questions. Thinking back upon the interview portion of Business Symposium, I feel that the greatest benefit to me individually was being able to practice answering questions. Often times, interviewers will ask random and unexpected questions. One must be able to answer the question, no matter how absurd, in a cohesive and appropriate manner.

All in all, the Business Symposium was an experience that allowed me to grow as an individual. It gave me the opportunity to gain confidence in myself and practice carrying myself in a professional manner. In another sense, it taught me how to keep a conversation going no matter how uninterested or uninformed I may have be about the topic. Furthermore, it showed me the importance of answering interview questions promptly and thoroughly. Business Symposium as a whole taught me how to market and present myself appropriately in a manner that is geared towards whoever I may be interacting with.

This past week has been incredibly fulfilling. On Tuesday, I interviewed my first pediatric neurosurgeon, and it is safe to say that I was absolutely amazed. Prior to this I had been on an interview with a general neurosurgeon and although that interview went well, it was not nearly as gratifying or as memorable as the one I had with the pediatric neurosurgeon. I think the primary differences between the two lies in the atmosphere of the hospital and the attitudes of the staff. The moment I walked into the hospital, I was amazed about how it did not look like a hospital. Rather, it felt like I was walking into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. The walls were painted with bright colors and there were cheerful images all around. From the signs directing people places to go to the interiors of the elevators, everything was designed specifically with children in mind. As far as the actual interview is concerned, I was intrigued by the fact that those who work in pediatrics have an entirely different personality. Generally speaking, they are more empathetic and optimistic than neurosurgeons. Pediatric neurosurgeons have to develop relationships not only with the patient but with the entire family, and as such, it can be more emotionally wearing on an individual. You would think that after a long day of stressful work, the pediatric neurosurgeon would have been tired and drained; but, it was  quite the opposite. I was greeted by a cheerful and energetic smile, eager to answer any questions I had. Coming out of the interview, the main thing I have learned is that, whether it be neurology or neurosurgery, my topic of study this year must include pediatrics.

Another major event that occurred this week was Business Symposium. We had been preparing for this day from the first day of school itself, but nonetheless I was nervous. I am not the kind of individual who goes up to random strangers, introduces himself or herself, and starts a conversation. Although the first few times I introduced myself to people I was a little shy, it became easier and I began to gain confidence. During the networking period, I went around and talked to many different professionals and despite the fact that none were directly involved in the medical field, it was interesting to learn a little bit about the different career paths that are out there. Following this, I was interviewed by three different professionals. As a result of these interviews, I was able to practice answering questions effectively and efficiently without babbling too much. I also received feedback on my resume and composure as a whole. All in all, there are many things that I learned through Business Symposium that will help me be more successful throughout the year.

This upcoming week, I have an interview scheduled with a general neurosurgeon. I am looking forward to this interview because this particular individual also deals with the business side of the hospital and it will be interesting to see this aspect of a career in the medical field. I also plan on finishing up my topic proposal for this year, as well as any other assessments.

As more and more weeks go by, the more excited I become for this journey. It seems that every day, the fact that I am eventually going to have a mentor and gain actual experience in the field of neurosurgery becomes more and more real and words cannot adequately describe my emotions.