The Undergraduate Pre-Health Program provided me with a mentally stimulating environment, through Saturday Academies, where our cohort discussed issues affecting the healthcare system and underrepresented populations from diverse perspectives. Following the first portion of the program, my summer experience involved being placed in the Hospital Medicine Department at UCHealth with Dr. Amira del Pino-Jones as my preceptor. This immersive experience exposed me to multiple facets of the medical field including physician responsibilities through rounding, quality improvement (QI) by engaging in two QI projects surrounding patient-physician communication and the healthcare system through didactics with physicians. My preceptor also organized meetings with leaders at the Anschutz Medical Campus, which was one of my favorite aspects of this summer, as it allowed me to hear about the various possibilities beyond clinical practice (i.e. research, teaching and directing academic programs). Overall, this summer exposed me to the intersectionality and sea of opportunities within the healthcare system and made me realize that I do not just want to work within the healthcare system but also someday serve as a leader in medicine.
Adnan Syed
UPP Alumnae - 2017