Blog #1 - Pre-Project

 For my project, I will be spending 3 weeks shadowing Dr. Allison Schroeder at University Hospitals. She works in the Department of Orthopedics, Division of Sports Medicine, which is the field I want to go into when I am older. This, along with the countless injuries I have experienced including an ACL tear, inspired me to create this project because it is a perfect opportunity to experience what it is like being the doctor I want to become. In terms of what I have been involved in, the closest thing is my internship with our athletic trainer Sarah Royan in the fall of 2021. I shadowed her and helped with injuries at Hawken. However, I have never been a part of anything at this level, and I am definitely broadening my horizons by doing this. With that, I am a little nervous, but excited to see what it takes to be a doctor and experience it firsthand! I am someone who is more introverted when it comes to new experiences like this, but I am hoping to overcome that and take away an understanding of this job. I hope my project will open doors for me in the future in terms of connections and simply to learn new things. I also hope I will enjoy what Dr. Schroeder does everyday because if not, I will have to rethink my entire path through college. 

 My essential question is: what does the daily life of an orthopedic physician consist of and is this career path what I want to pursue in the future? 

I will be between UH Ahuja Medical Center, UH Green Road Clinic, and UH Mayfield Village Health Center with possible OR observations throughout my 3 weeks with Dr. Schroeder.