Document Type

Article

Domestic/International

Domestic

Location

Burlington, MA

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

This paper reflects on my summer 2025 internship as a Posse Surgical Student Intern in the Ophthalmology Department at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center. Through shadowing surgeons in clinics and operating rooms, engaging in hands-on labs, and receiving intentional mentorship, I gained direct exposure to more than twenty surgical specialties. This experience illuminated how teaching hospitals foster learning environments, work towards diversifying the surgical workforce, and connect clinical practice with broader questions of health equity and community responsibility. Drawing on my training as a PICA scholar, I analyze how systemic structures such as institutional policies and mentorship programs shape opportunities for underrepresented students in medicine. This internship was a deeply reaffirming experience that expanded my professional skills and solidified my passion for pursuing a career in medicine as a surgeon.

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The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.