THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN HEALTHCARE: REFLECTIVE INSIGHTS FROM SHADOWING HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

Abstract

My shadowing experiences created ways in which I was able to explore the healthcare field. In my clinical rotations, I had the unique opportunity to shadow diverse healthcare professionals, including a sports medicine physician, an internal medicine physician, a general surgeon, and a nurse practitioner. Each encounter provided me with a distinct perspective on patient care and the multidisciplinary nature of health services. I came into the program with an interest in the health field, and thus, I am privileged that the experiential learning component offered such comprehensive exposure to different medical specialties. In every health facility I visited, I observed the critical roles these healthcare professionals play and gained insights into integrating the science and the art of medicine. I began to develop the ability to take content learned in the classroom and apply it in the clinical setting. I gained an appreciation for learning how to frame clinical questions so that I can effectively search medical literature to answer these questions. Moreover, I learned also about the impacts of effective communication on patient outcomes and social determinants of health through real-world interactions with teams and patients. These experiences have further fueled my interest in pursuing a medical career.