Medical Student Perspective: Growth and Advocacy through Innovation and Research
When I first started working with Dr. Jacob Jaremko’s team two years ago, I was interested in the artificial intelligence (AI) ultrasound that the team was working with. I was assigned to scan infants in rural and remote communities using the portable ultrasound as a new way to screen for infant developmental hip dysplasia (DDH). It then sparked a love for infants, advocacy work, and communicating with patients.
When I joined this research group, I anticipated loving the technology, but what surprised me was how much I came to adore working with babies and families. There's something truly special about a baby grabbing onto your finger, evoking an overwhelming sense of love and honor in caring for their health. Conversing with families about their children has been equally rewarding, witnessing firsthand the care and affection dedicated to parenting. Parents have warmly embraced the new technology, often joking that their babies are already contributing to science and the world around them!
Through this project, I had the opportunity to interact with families in rural areas and directly observe the impact this technology had on their lives. Seeing how parents appreciated the innovative approach to their child's care reinforced the importance of communication and patient-centered care. I didn’t expect to become so deeply attached to the families I worked with, but every interaction enhanced my empathy and ability to connect with patients. These encounters reminded me that effective healthcare goes beyond technical expertise—it requires compassion and understanding.
Moreover, observing how large healthcare institutions adopt new screening methods taught me the significance of navigating healthcare systems. Whether at the level of individual clinicians or large organizations, implementing innovative technologies requires more than scientific evidence; it requires collaboration and advocacy within the medical system. This aspect of the project helped me appreciate the complexity of healthcare delivery, giving me the confidence to tackle systemic challenges in my future career.
The second key takeaway from this project was the importance of advocacy in medicine. It is very interesting to be involved in cutting-edge research that directly impacts a historically underrepresented and overlooked population in research (babies)! Infants and individuals from rural and remote communities have historically been underrepresented in health research, and often lag behind in their access to care. With the rapid emergence of AI to a wide variety of applications, there's a risk higher-end technology only becomes available to urban centers, but there’s also an opportunity to ensure these technologies reach all populations. Healthcare should be equitable and sustainable for everyone, regardless of age or location. Envisioning a future healthcare system means ensuring that babies and rural communities receive the same access to new technologies and standards of care as anyone else. This research is crucial as it reflects societal concern for vulnerable populations and advocates for technology to improve quality of life across all stages of life.
In summary, having a clinical research project provided invaluable growth opportunities as a medical student. I not only became more confident in my technical and patient-care abilities, but I also realized the power of advocacy in healthcare. As a medical student and future physician, this inspires me to give back and support my patients and community wholeheartedly, fostering a mindset that integrates patient care and research on a broader scale. By integrating advanced technology with compassionate care, projects like this demonstrate how healthcare systems can evolve to provide equitable access, ensuring that all communities, regardless of location, benefit from the latest advancements in medical science.
