Job Shadow Day at BIDMC

Each year, Boston area high school students spend a day at BIDMC leaning about careers in health care. This year, we asked one of the students, Darywyn Nunez to relate his experience:

My name is Darwyn Nunez, and I am a high school junior at the John D. O'Byrant School of Math and Science. I have a great interest in the health care field, specifically surgery. I want to one day become a doctor because I enjoy helping others and being in medicine will give me a chance to do that.

So when I had the opportunity to shadow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on Friday, Feb. 3, I was very excited. But to be totally honest, I really didn't know what to expect. But by spending the day at BIDMC, I, alongside my fellow students, took advantage of a great opportunity to explore our career interests and meet some great people.

I had the pleasure of shadowing Margie L. Stuppard, Practice Manager, and Linda DiCenzo, Nurse Manager, in Surgical Specialties. During my job shadow, I got a chance to sit at the front desk and observe the operations part of Margie's job. I saw how they filed and organized the data received from patients. I learned about the three phases that occur when a patient comes in for surgery. Phase 1: They prepare the patient for surgery; Phase 2: The actual surgical procedure takes place, while the patient is sedated; and Phase 3: Post-surgery and when the family is allowed to visit the patient.

I was surprised by some of the daily tasks that Margie was responsible for such as managing the office operations, maintaining inventory and making sure the magazines in her section were not older than two months. She explained that this was about a patient's experience, so every detail is important.

As a result of my Job Shadow Day at BIDMC, I have become even more interested and inspired to pursue medicine. I also realized that there are many different areas of medicine and even surgery that I am now open to.

I asked some of my classmates about their shadowing experiences. High school junior, Saudy Luzuriaga, who shadowed in Cardiology, replied in a very happy tone, "It was great! I really enjoyed it and now have an idea of what my field of interest is like."

Another classmate, Gabriella Martinez, also a junior, said, "This was an amazing experience because I got to talk to my host about business and compliance. I didn't even know they had this type of work in hospitals!" Gabby shadowed in BIDMC's Office of Business Conduct and Compliance.

I also had some questions for Galia Wise, the program administrator in workforce development, who organized Job Shadow Day for my school and the hospital.

Darwyn: How long has BIDMC been sponsoring this program?

Galia: BIDMC has been partnering with the Boston Private Industry Council and the Boston Public Schools on Groundhog Job Shadow since 1999.

Darwyn: Why does BIDMC participate in Job Shadow Day?

Galia: The hospital is committed supporting its community and providing meaningful opportunities to the young people of Boston. This is a great way to introduce high school students to the dynamic careers that exist in health care and science. Our hope is that this experience sparks an interest and inspires young people to pursue a health career and to eventually join the workforce as health care professionals. This is especially important given that 19 percent of jobs in Boston are in the health care sector.

Darwyn: How many students participated this year?

Galia: This year we were able to host 44 students from the John D. O'Bryant and other Boston Public schools, the largest Job Shadow at BIDMC to date! Five of these students were able to shadow at the Bowdoin Street Health Center, which we have never done before. It is something we hope to continue to do in the future.

Darwyn: What departments did students shadow in?

Galia: We had a wonderful response from BIDMC employees from approximately 30 diverse departments. Some of the participating departments include: Central Processing; Communications; Distribution Services; Facilities; Gastroenterology; Human Resources; Interpreter Services; Maintenance; Pathology; Patient Care Services and Nursing; Neurology; Obstetrics/Gynecology; Orthopedics; Public Safety and Police and Security; Radiology; Research and Academic Affairs, and Surgery.

Darwyn: Thank you, Galia. The message I want to leave other students with is that Job Shadow Day is a chance to explore different jobs and learn about different career paths. I and the O'Bryant want to thank BIDMC for this wonderful opportunity and your participation in Groundhog Job Shadow Day.