Most students in Katherine Foster’s anatomy and physiology
classes have hopes of one day pursuing a career in medicine.
”
These students are very bright and very motivated,
”
Foster said.
”
A lot of that comes from them wanting medicine and science as
their professions later in life.
”
Most students in Katherine Foster’s anatomy and physiology classes have hopes of one day pursuing a career in medicine.
“These students are very bright and very motivated,” Foster said. “A lot of that comes from them wanting medicine and science as their professions later in life.”
Doctors, physician’s assistants and medical office managers from the community provided a glimpse into the future, raised awareness and erased misconceptions about the career field this week at San Benito High School.
“I’m telling you right now, don’t go into medicine planning on making tons of money,” Dr. Marni Friedman said as she diminished any lingering stereotypes about “rich doctors.”
Friedman and six others made special appearances in Foster’s classes to inform the junior and senior students about their line of work and the diversity of careers in medicine.
Monica Hassler, a physician’s assistant who has been in the business for 20 years, talked with the students about her work at Dr. Aslam Barra’s office in Hollister and also her side work at Planned Parenthood in Gilroy. She explained to students the steps she took to become a physician’s assistant and why she chose the area of medicine she did.
“My passion is working with teenagers,” she said. “Planned Parenthood is a great place for young people who are sexually active, because it’s completely free and confidential.”
Hassler also told the students being bilingual is a plus.
“It definitely makes things much more comfortable for you and your patients when you can speak their language,” she said. “Knowing Spanish makes me very confident when I’m explaining things to my Spanish-speaking patients.”
After Hassler focused on the different careers, Friedman shared her story of costs, tests and the other challenges she overcame to achieve her goals.
“Once you’re done with medical school, you think to yourself, ‘great no more essays, no more application fees, no more paperwork,’ and then you learn you still have to apply for residency,” she said.
Friedman told the students about the stress of residency and the feeling of being owned by the hospital.
“You lose all your personal privileges,” she said. “You may not get sleep, you may not get meals, you may not get work, but that decision isn’t up to you.”
Jenna Hansen, 18, will be attending Cal Poly next fall as an animal science major. She plans on later attending veterinary school and said it was very interesting listening to Friedman speak.
“I was pretty surprised at all the things you have to do,” she said. “I didn’t realize there was so much schooling involved.”
After discussing the not-so-fun challenges of medical school and residency, Friedman explained to the class the joy of her work and what made all the time and energy worth it.
“The thing I love about my job is if I see four patients in an hour, I have changed four lives in that hour,” she said. “I’m extremely important in other people’s lives, and as a doctor I’m always on the side of good.”
Foster is very pleased with the willingness from the community members to take time out of their busy schedules for her students.
“All of these people has spoken honestly and enthusiastically, and have encouraged students to explore many careers they might not have otherwise,” Foster said.
Along with the visits from the community medical professionals, Foster’s class will be greeted by nurses, radiologists, pharmacists and many more when they take a field trip and tour of the labs and facilities at Hazel Hawkins Hospital later this spring.
