Building Confidence
Ohio Wesleyan Student Completes Emergency Medicine Fellowship Mentored by Alumnus Physician
Name: Abrianna Hite '28
Hometown: Delaware, Ohio
High School: Rutherford B. Hayes High School
Majors: Biology and Pre-Medicine
Minors: Chemistry and Neuroscience
OWU Connection Experience: Internship at the University of Maryland Medical Center
Hite completed OWU's first Young/Gatz Academic Emergency Medicine Fellowship this summer, an immersive experience designed for Bishops who plan to apply to medical school and who would benefit from completing a clinical internship and conducting research at a major academic medical center.
Hite was mentored by David Gatz '10, M.D., an emergency physician and assistant professor at the University of Maryland Medical Center. (Fun fact: Both Hite and Gatz grew up in Delaware and graduated from Hayes High School.)
The fellowship is made possible by Gatz and by the Lawrence E. Young (Class of 1935), M.D., Endowed Fund, which supports summer experiences for students preparing for health-related careers.
'Incredible Mentorship'
"I completed a summer fellowship in Baltimore, Maryland, with the incredible mentorship of Dr. Gatz. I had the opportunity to cultivate a strong foundation in emergency medicine; I shadowed two clinical shifts per week at the University of Maryland Medical Center and attended weekly medical school conferences.
"I was able to integrate into the academic community by speaking with and gaining vital insights from current residents and medical students. I also had the chance to contribute to research, including collaborating on multiple simultaneous projects (with publication underway soon, hopefully!) as well as authoring and publishing my first independent clinical case study."
Beyond just the medical knowledge, this fellowship was so important to me because it really helped me build my confidence.
'Happy Surprise'
"Because I don't have any family members in medicine, finding ways to actually get inside a hospital and learn has been one of my biggest challenges as a pre-med student. I applied for this opportunity (not really expecting to get it, so happy surprise!) just hoping to get some clinical experience, but the program ended up not only giving me so many incredible shadowing hours but so many other aspects as well.
"Beyond just the medical knowledge, this fellowship was so important to me because it really helped me build my confidence. It proved to me that I am capable of reaching my goals and getting to where I want to be in the medical field."
My Favorite Moment
"My favorite part had to be the weekly conferences. Once a month, they would run a 'Code Blue' simulation where a few residents and one medical student would act out a tricky, real-life case. I loved it because at the end, the whole auditorium would collaborate on what went well, what could have gone better, and tips to keep in mind. Plus, it was during the breaks at these conferences that I had the best chances to talk one-on-one with the residents about their journeys into medicine."
Lessons Learned
"This experience allowed me to apply the scientific method skills I learned in the classroom to a real-world setting, specifically through retrospective research, which was brand new to me. I also gained a much greater understanding of what it takes to become a doctor. It's not just about getting top grades, but about having the dedication to make sacrifices to reach your ultimate goal. Overall, I walked away with a much clearer picture of how to get to where I want to be, and how to keep my sanity while doing it!"
Meaningful Research
"I worked on a research project looking at whether having a specific coordinator for hemorrhagic stroke patients helps them reach their target blood pressure within the critical first 60 minutes of arriving at the hospital. … Currently, we are working with a statistician to hopefully get the most significant results." *
"I also got to write my own case study on an incredibly rare condition called a catamenial hemopneumothorax. Essentially, it's a situation where tissue abnormally migrates due to hormonal changes during menstruation, causing one lung to leak air while the other fills with blood at the same time, all without any actual injury. … 'Young Woman with Shortness of Breath' has been accepted for publication in the Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open."
*Dr. Gatz adds the project involves patients with "an acute ICH, which is a type of brain bleed (i.e., hemorrhagic stroke). The University of Maryland Medical Center is what we call a Comprehensive Stroke Center and sees a large volume of both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. We are relatively unique in that we have a designated 'hemorrhagic stroke coordinator' who helps optimize the care of this critically ill population. Abrianna's project asks the fundamental question: 'Has the addition of a dedicated hemorrhagic stroke coordinator had an impact on the quality of our care for these patients?' The expectation is absolutely that by the end of this, she will help author a peer-reviewed research paper on this topic. We are also planning to publish a case report as well."
OWU Mentors
"Both Dr. TR (Laura Tuhela-Reuning) and Barb Wiehe were incredible mentors for me this past academic year," Hite says. "Dr. TR allowed me the opportunity to be her Intro to Microbiology TA (teaching assistant) both fall and spring semester, and Barb was my supervisor for my laboratory safety student-intern position. Both not only wrote letters of recommendation for me but also, through their willingness to believe in me, helped grow my confidence before this fellowship." [Tuhela-Reuning, Ph.D., is a member of the Department of Biological Sciences faculty and manager of the scanning electron microscope; Wiehe is OWU's Laboratory Safety & Chemical Hygiene officer and Edwin Moore Greenhouse manager.]
My Campus Involvements
Hite is an Admission tour guide, secretary for the new MEDLIFE (Medicine, Education, and Development for Low-Income Families Everywhere) student organization, and a Biology Student Board member.
Why I Chose Ohio Wesleyan?
"OWU wasn't in my original plan because I thought I wanted to go further away for school, but I wouldn't change ending up here for anything. I'm the type of person whose confidence grows through hands-on experience, and the sheer number of opportunities OWU provides, even outside of this fellowship, is incredible. I have so much love for this school because it has given me opportunity after opportunity to grow not just as an aspiring doctor, but truly as a person."
My Plans After Graduation
"I think that right now I plan to take a few growth years. During that time, I hope to land a job as either a medical scribe or get my certifications to become a patient care technician."