The Sound Shore Medical Center completed another year with its middle school students research program designed for those interested in science and medicine. Since 1996, students from Isaac E. Young Middle School have been partnering with practitioners at Sound Shore Medical Center to learn about research and medicine.
Part of the experience is learning the knowledge of a topic, said Dr. Patricia Devine, who has worked at Sound Shore Medical Center as an obstetrician since the program began. They learn to interact with hospital staff. . They also learn how to present themselves in a hospitalhow to dress appropriately, so when they see a patient, they look professional.
Brianna Santobello is a 13-year-old student of Issac E. Young. Together with Dr Devine, they worked with ultrasounds and developed a four, three and two-dimensional ultrasound for Briannas final project.
I was able to shadow Dr. Devine to see what its like working as an obstetrician, said Santobello.
The program runs the span of an academic school year. Some students spend time with dieticians, others with cardiologists, pharmacists, and gynecologists. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students spend five months as mentees, proposing and researching their projects. In the second semester, the students spend time in clinical settings where they learn the real-world application of their research.
In order to qualify for the program, the student must maintain high grades, have reference letters, and propose a research topic that is accepted by one of the Sound Shore Medical Center physicians. Brianna applied to the program while in the 7th grade by writing an essay detailing her desire to be in the program. She found out last summer that she was accepted.
Santobello said, I learned a lot, and I definitely want to be in the medical field when I get older.
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