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Exploring Career Paths in Italy, Leaves Lasting Impression

Elmira, NY (08/03/2018) — This weeks #SoaringToSuccess features Caroline Connolly '19. Caroline is a biochemistry major with a concentration in pre-health. Caroline recently had the opportunity to enroll in the Atlantis Fellow as a part of the Atlantis Project in Italy. Let's hear more about Caroline's experience:

This summer, I spent two weeks in Bergamo, Italy, with the Atlantis Project. As an Atlantis Fellow, I had the opportunity to shadow doctors at the local hospital, L'Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII. This Lombardy region hospital is highly regarded in the medical world in Italy and other foreign countries, especially those throughout Europe. In Italy, their healthcare system is universal. The system is linked with that of the EU, allowing anyone to go to any hospital in the European Union. Therefore, patients will travel far to go to the best hospitals for their ailments. Additionally, patients from impoverished nations outside of the European Union can take advantage of the EU healthcare system. A pro of this system is that everyone has healthcare. A con of this system is that it can take an extensive amount of time, possibly months, to get an appointment.

I shadowed in a variety of departments during my time there. I spent some time in the radiology department. I observed different types of imaging, including x-ray, MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, and interventional radiology. In radiology, I learned about positioning the patient, using contrast medium, and analyzing the images. The staff allowed me the opportunity to guess what I believed was wrong with the body systems in the images before they explained the actual diagnosis to me. After a while, I began to recognize similar injuries and illnesses.

In urology, I observed doctors in surgery. I watched laparoscopic full-kidney and partial-kidney removals. These kidneys were removed due to cancerous tumors. Once removed, the doctor allowed me to feel the difference between cancerous and non-cancerous tissue in the kidney. I also observed a catheter replacement that used x-ray imaging and a prostate removal. From this experience, I learned that smaller incisions are better for the patient because they cause less pain and heal faster.

While shadowing in pediatric surgery, I saw procedures for surgery and anesthesiology. Samples of blood and bone marrow were taken for a biopsy. An inguinal hernia surgery was performed to repair tissues and move the bulging tissue from the area back into place. I also observed the removal of a mole that may be cancerous and the stitching of a laceration on the forehead. I learned that during surgeries on child patients, they try to give the patient as little anesthesia as possible. Thus, the patient would move a lot during surgery and would have to be held in place sometimes.

Although I spent a lot of time with the doctors who were the heads of their departments, I also spent time with the residents. The residents informed me about their educational system, which is run differently than in the United States. The most interesting fact about their medical schools is that all their textbooks are in English because it takes too long to translate the books, and by the time the book is translated, there is a new edition in English. Therefore, Italian students must have a certain proficiency in English to apply to medical schools.

I learned a great deal from the different medical staff in the hospital. I truly enjoyed my time as a fellow with the Atlantis Project at L'Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII. This opportunity allowed me the chance to expand upon my knowledge of the healthcare field and reflect on what path I want to take in the future.

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Caroline Connolly '19, a biochemistry major with a concentration in pre-health, traveled as a Atlantis Fellowship recipient, gaining experience in the Italian healthcare system.

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