About Me
My name is Caroline Fitzgerald, and I am a senior at Newton North High School.
At the age of two I was diagnosed with type 1 juvenile diabetes. Although diabetes isn't an immediate life threatening disease, I did spend a large amount of time in the doctors office, which thankfully was Joslin Diabetes Center. With two internships, I decided to make the first one Joslin. Being a patient in the pediatric unit for 15 years has allowed me to grow and develop tremendous relationships with the nurses, doctors, phlebotomists, and most importantly the child life specialists.
Child life specialists play an important role in the health care of young children. They are an important support system for those children who are newly diagnosed and/or those who are not yet used to the poking and prodding that comes with having type 1 diabetes. Micaela, the head child life specialist at Joslin, has been by my side since I can remember, and I will never forget how she helped me cope with my enormous life change. These memories have caused me to wonder if being a child life specialist for those who I can relate to would be something I would want to do when I'm older, and this internship will allow me to find out.
I have always been interested in medicine more than anything. My interest grew from wanting to show my friends how I gave myself insulin shots, to watching real surgery videos, and now to shadowing a plastic surgeon (specializing in breast reductions) at Boston Children's Hospital. During my internship, I will be allowed to sit in on consultations and observe in the operating room. I am hopeful that this opportunity will solidify my passion to become a plastic surgeon.
At the age of two I was diagnosed with type 1 juvenile diabetes. Although diabetes isn't an immediate life threatening disease, I did spend a large amount of time in the doctors office, which thankfully was Joslin Diabetes Center. With two internships, I decided to make the first one Joslin. Being a patient in the pediatric unit for 15 years has allowed me to grow and develop tremendous relationships with the nurses, doctors, phlebotomists, and most importantly the child life specialists.
Child life specialists play an important role in the health care of young children. They are an important support system for those children who are newly diagnosed and/or those who are not yet used to the poking and prodding that comes with having type 1 diabetes. Micaela, the head child life specialist at Joslin, has been by my side since I can remember, and I will never forget how she helped me cope with my enormous life change. These memories have caused me to wonder if being a child life specialist for those who I can relate to would be something I would want to do when I'm older, and this internship will allow me to find out.
I have always been interested in medicine more than anything. My interest grew from wanting to show my friends how I gave myself insulin shots, to watching real surgery videos, and now to shadowing a plastic surgeon (specializing in breast reductions) at Boston Children's Hospital. During my internship, I will be allowed to sit in on consultations and observe in the operating room. I am hopeful that this opportunity will solidify my passion to become a plastic surgeon.