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Not My Last Month in New Orleans

Total Hours: 28 hours  Hello!  With mixed feelings, I write this post as we slowly approach the end of the program. However, I am also happy to say that this is not my last month in New Orleans as I will continue to work here in the city and hopefully apply to Tulane Medical School this coming cycle as an ED applicant. This program has enhanced my passion for medicine, public health, and so much more. I was able to interact and work with people who have similar goals as me and that enhanced my network with my peers and my professors. In addition to this, I was able to expand upon the knowledge that I had acquired in undergraduate coursework, only making me more excited about my future as I continue to do so.  This month, I continued to volunteer at Ochsner. My time at this hospital has also been transformative as I continue to work with patients and their families. Getting hands-on experience with those in for treatment as well as working with various providers ranging from nurse pract
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Spring in New Orleans

Hours: 8 Hello!  Spring in New Orleans is a wonderful time. The temperatures are just starting to rise again, the flowers are in blooming, the people are taking in the weather and sunlight in Audubon, and it feels lively. With it also comes the stress of the MCAT rapidly approaching, the medical school application process, and of course, graduation. While all of it is exciting with it being the next steps in my career, it understandably comes with uncertainty and tension. However, I am excited to be in the process and looking forward to graduation and completing this master's degree.  In regards to community service, I am ecstatic to have had the opportunity to continue with Ochsner. As in the past, my role as a volunteer has come with little change. The environment continues to be fast-paced with a wide variety of patients that I am able to help. However, this time I would like to talk about the network that I have been able to build in Ochsner. Through the various events and the
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Another Mardi Gras in New Orleans

 Hours: 8 Hi again!  February in New Orleans is unlike any other month in the city. As an undergraduate, Mardi Gras was one one of the many things to look forward to in the spring semester. This time around was no different however for other reasons. Over time, I have realized which parades I actually enjoy and so I was able to see a few of those. These include Muses, Endymion, and Rex. However, I also know that I need to relax during this time so I was also able to enjoy nights in and spend some time to myself to destress and prepare for the rest of the semester in this master's program and dedicate more time to MCAT prep.  In terms of my community service this month, I am excited to have been able to continue with Ochsner and help patients during the festival time. My role as a volunteer has not since changed but I saw the impact that the carnival season had on patients who were experiencing health issues. They were either nervous that they would not be able to travel outside the
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A Challenging but Rewarding Semester in New Orleans

Hours: 4 Hello, it's Ishita again!  Here we are, starting a new semester, our last semester of the program. With that comes challenges, happiness, and many more emotions. This semester is one I am looking forward to because there are electives that allow me to delve deeper into various aspects of pharmacology and understand the depth of the studies. However, this semester is also one in which I will have more difficulty in as I manage studying for the MCAT that I take in April and studying the coursework.  One of the things that I have to look forward to, however, is my volunteering shifts at Ochsner. These shifts allow me to interact and connect with various people ranging from patients to providers. This month, I have had the opportunity to work with Ochsner nurses and providers to provide indirect care to patients, taking one of the many steps to being able to provide direct care in the future. Not only has my volunteering helped in this aspect, but also by building my network w
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Spreading Holiday Cheer in New Orleans

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December hours: 6 Hi, it's Ishita again. Similar to the feelings evoked by Thanksgiving, with the holidays just around the corner, I felt excited to spread warmth, love, and cheer through volunteering in the community. I knew that the best way to do that again was to volunteer at the Second Harvest Food Bank. I went this past Sunday to, once again, build more boxes with non-perishable foods and provide a vast variety of meats for the holiday season. This ensures that families have enough food to feed their loved ones and focus on spending time together without worrying about their next meal. It was great to see everyone chipping in and bringing smiles to everyone's faces. The happiness and relief on the families faces were a great start to the beginning of my holiday cheer.  To add on to that, it has been a great semester with some great individuals and professors. I have seen growth in my knowledge and my passion from classes and work at Ochsner. I am excited and looking forwa
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Spreading Thanksgiving in New Orleans

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November hours: 6  It's Ishita again and it's finally Thanksgiving! For me, this is a time to spend with family, friends, and all our loved ones, gathering to appreciate all of them being in our lives. However, this is also a time during which many individuals, including me, reflect on everything we have, material or otherwise. As a result, during the holiday season, starting with Thanksgiving, I like to give back to the community to offer them the same chance at a wonderful time with their family and loved ones. This month I had the chance to volunteer at the Second Harvest Food Bank.  When I first entered, 6 employees and I were working for a couple hours to build boxes of non-perishables that included cooking oil, chips, microwavable foods, and others before the rush of individuals came in to grab their boxes. Following this, we took out the meat from the freezer so that it was ready to go once operations opened up. At around 11am, the doors opened and I saw a line of famili
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A New Orleans October

October Hours: 0 Hi! It's Ishita again. This month I attempted to volunteer with Planned Parenthood as I am passionate about reproductive health and women's rights. Volunteering with them, I believe, is a great way to combine my love for giving back to the community I live in and my passions. However, I am still in the process of interviewing with them and am hoping to begin this in the month of November. In the meantime, I have continued to look for organizations that have sporadic volunteer opportunities. However, I have failed to find any and therefore, was unable to volunteer in the month of October. As a result, this blog post will continue to discuss my transition and experience in the program.  As we progress in our classes, I am only loving the content more. We have begun to apply our knowledge of drugs to clinical studies and scenarios. As someone who is interested in going on to medical school, I think that this process of learning is extremely beneficial to my future
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