ACU '06 Alumni Biology Major wins Medical Student Clinical Vignette Competition

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October 4th: Big Splash In Austin

October 5th: Big Splash in San Antonio

October 16th-17th: ACU Homecoming

October 19th: Big Splash in Midland

October 20th: CMDA Speaker Dr. Poorman

October 25th: Big Splash in Amarillo

October 26th: Big Splash in Lubbock

Nov. 2nd: Big Splash in Abilene

Nov. 6th: Wildcat Day

Nov. 13th: Wildcat Day

Nov. 20th: Medical Mission Day/Body & Soul

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Body & Soul Shadowing Experiences:

After a student's first semester at ACU, Body & Soul students are matched with a Christian physician/dentist to get a first-hand "day in the life" experience. This provides an excellent way for students to evaluate their career choice and identify areas of greatest interest. To participate in this opportunity requires a 3.5 GPA as well as being part of the Body & Soul Program.

See what our Body & Soul students say about their Shadowing experience:

Lindsey Hannah, BioChemistry, pre-med: I am so grateful that I was able to be one of the freshman students to get the opportunity to spend over 20 hours on a day-to-day basis with a working medical doctor. This has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience that has been incredibly impactful to me. I am very thankful for the doctor allowing me to be his shadow for the past several weeks! In my shadowing experience, I was able to spend time in my doctor's clinic, following him through his daily routines. The doctor is an OB-GYN, so we often did routine check-ups on women both during and after their pregnancy. I was able to see many sonograms and even allowed to find the babies' heart beat while still in the womb. This became my regular duty during the check-ups! While not in the clinic, the doctor goes across the street to the hospital to do surgeries and deliveries. I was allowed to see several surgeries and procedures while in the hospital. He would always explain to me everything that was going on during these surgeries which was an incredible learning experience for me! I remember my first surgery quite well; it didn't go exactly as planned, on my part. I made it through the surgery just fine, but afterwards soon found myself opening my eyes as the doctors and nurses helped me to my feet from passing out. At first I was mortified and so embarrassed! I didn't know what happened! I felt fine during the surgery and it didn't make me queasy! But the doctors and nurses were incredibly understanding and kind to me. They made me feel so much better when they all started telling their stories of the times they've done the same thing! Apparently, it's completely normal. They made sure to not let me feel like I shouldn't be in the medical field for passing out during my first surgery. And just like they said, I observed many more surgeries after that and did just fine in all of them! The way they handled me in that situation made a huge impact on how I want to handle patients and others when I'm a doctor. Maybe someday I will have an embarassed shadowing student of my own that I can help feel better by telling them my story! On my last day, the doctor was so kind to get me set up with another doctor to shadow for a different kind of surgery. He went out of his way to get me the opportunity to see something new that I wouldn't have been able to see otherwise. It was just awesome to me that he would take the time to do that for me when he really didn't have to. While this experience didn't change my mind on what I wanted to do, (in fact it has encouraged me even more to pursue a medical career!) I believe it did change my life. Seeing surgeries and hospital life and how the doctor and the nurses handled different situations will stick with me. This experience has helped me to be encouraged in my studies so that one day I can reach my goal of being a doctor. I know it's a long road that I've just begun but with experiences like this, I hope to try to enjoy the journey just as much as the destination!
Katie M., Biology, pre-med: During the last month and a half I have had the opportunity to go observe surgery at Hendrick Medical Center and this has really been an amazing experience. Now, before you think that that sounds slightly unoriginal let me tell you why this experience has had such an impact on my life. The first time that I finally got to go shadow in the OR blew me away. All my passion and desire of why I am on this certain path came flooding back. I almost felt at home in the OR because I was around the people and in the environment that I have wanted to see myself in for a long time. Being a part of this experience showed me a good deal and reintroduced the passion I have for the medical field in a deeper way. This experience and the outcome in my life is something that I want to attribute to God because He reopened my eyes to the passion He has placed inside of me. I am most grateful for this experience and it has been cool how God has used an ordinary thing/activity, to some, to change thoughts of question into thoughts of understanding. God has taught me to never doubt your passion because it is something that God has placed inside of you for a reason, therefore take it seriously!
Marian Cabasal, pre-med: My favorite part of shadowing was getting to listen for the baby’s heartbeat and measuring bellies. The doctor told me that the measurement of the belly corresponds with how far along the mother is in her pregnancy. I really enjoyed finding and listening to the babies heartbeat. It took me a while at first, but I got the hang of it. I learned that as the baby grows the heartbeat slows down. There are many lessons that I learned in the doctors office. They range from interactions with people like the nursing staff and patients to being knowledgeable of the current issues in this field of practice. But what I learned the most is that the doctor shows her faith through her practice and cares deeply for each one of the patients and hopes and prays for the best. It taught me that I can live through faith in the medical field.
For more information about ACU's Body & Soul program contact Terri Aldriedge R.N., B.S.N., Body & Soul program coordinator.