Well done Healthcare Immersion Program class of 2020!

We're happy to share that our six-week, summer Healthcare Immersion Program for 2020 was a success! Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, we were able to modify the program to include both in-clinic observation and online study to make it as engaging and informative as possible for participants, organizers, and preceptors alike. 

Here are some reflections from our 2020 students:

• “By participating in this program, I have taken away so much knowledge about the field of orthopedics, and how to just be a kind person overall."
• “From orthopedic surgeons, FNPs, Pas and PTs, I have learned that treating patients with kindness and listening to them is the first step to recovery.”
• “I will always be thankful to JOF and all the work both Jacob, Kathleen, and the preceptors have done to get me involved in medicine. Being in clinic is truly one of the best ways to understand medicine.”
• “Having speakers on Zoom was very nice. I liked it when Dr. Slabaugh gave his talk about fractures, because he was very interactive and expected us to contribute. I like it when speakers have us try to pitch in because this helps me learn the information in a way that is unforgettable.”
• “From shadowing clinicians, I learned how to treat patients with the utmost respect, kindness and care. I learned proper treatment etiquette, including how to first greet patients, how to listen to their concerns, and how to appropriately address their issues."
• “I learned how to talk to professionals in a hospital setting. I learned through out the program when it is the appropriate time to ask questions, and when it is the appropriate time to observe.”
• “Being able to talk to various healthcare workers and understand their roles has been a good experience for me, because I have truly learned from them and understood how positive their impacts are on health.”
• “I can say from this experience that working in a clinic has made me more comfortable and has given me the gist of what it feels like to be a healthcare worker.”
• “I look forward to working in medicine, and my experience with JOF has given me the much-needed perspective I was looking for.”
• “Because this program was extremely well-structured, and led by passionate clinicians, learning the content came seemingly naturally and was easy to grasp.”

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Expressing our gratitude

Under normal circumstances, our Healthcare Immersion Program requires  time, dedication and commitment from our talented team of volunteers and preceptors. This year, however, with all the professional and personal challenges that COVID presents, they truly went above and beyond the call of duty. Please join us in thanking them for their unwavering support and professionalism:

Our preceptors:

• Thomas Peatman, MD
  Webster Orthopedics
• Cindy Keane, FNP
  Bay Area Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine
• Nicole Young, PA-C
  Bay Area Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine
• Angela Traverso, DPT
  Spine & Sports Physical Therapy
• Ross Talarico, DPM
  Webster Orthopedics
• Stephen W. Hill, Ph.D.
  Motion Analysis Research Center, Samuel Merritt University
• J. Theodore Schwartz, Jr., MD 
  Webster Orthopedics
• Pete Slabaugh, MD
  Webster Orthopedics
• Melissa Allen, NP
  LifeLong Medical Care​​
  
• Stephen Powers, PA-C
  Webster Orthopedics
• Julie Cragholm, PA-C
  Sr Physician Assistant - Orthopaedic Surgery at UCSF Medical Center
  

Finally, a special thanks goes out to Jacob Geier, M.Sc., our Instructor & Health Immersion Program Coordinator. Thanks again Jacob for all you do... your ability to organize and manage the program, as well as provide inspiration, leadership, and guidance to our students is second to none!