Gap Year (2015-2016)
A year to reconnect with important people in my life...
During my gap year before attending medical school, I worked as a Family Service Coordinator (FSC) at Seattle Children's Hospital. My main duties include checking patients into their appropriate appointments and make sure their insurance and healthcare information are up to date. Having previously gone to my grandmother’s appointments at her local clinic and my own appointments at SCH, I saw stark differences between how the patients were treated by the receptionists at the front desks. My interactions with them greatly influenced my views of the providers, hospital, and quality of care my family or I was receiving. During my clinic appointments at SCH, I felt safe and comfortable because of the positive initial interactions with the FSC. Now as an FSC, I am seeing another side of healthcare that is highly important, but often undermined and forgotten. I am learning how to efficiently navigate the hospital system, work with different departments within the hospital simultaneously, answer and help patients with their questions and concerns about insurance, and strive to make sure every patient feel valued. Most importantly, since I am one of the first people patients and families meet, I am representing the hospital, physicians, and providing the positive initial and lasting impression that they will have at SCH.
In addition to work, my gap year was a year of reconnecting with people. When I was in Rarotonga, I became friends with the most wonderful people from all across the world. I promised them that we would reunite... someday, somewhere, somehow. After being accepted to medical school, I decided now was the chance to reunite with them. In May, I took a backpacking trip around Europe to meet old and new friends from England, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Ireland, and Scotland. In August, I travelled to Hawaii to reunite with my supervisor and mentor from Rarotonga.
In addition to work, my gap year was a year of reconnecting with people. When I was in Rarotonga, I became friends with the most wonderful people from all across the world. I promised them that we would reunite... someday, somewhere, somehow. After being accepted to medical school, I decided now was the chance to reunite with them. In May, I took a backpacking trip around Europe to meet old and new friends from England, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Ireland, and Scotland. In August, I travelled to Hawaii to reunite with my supervisor and mentor from Rarotonga.