The Mentor Connection Blog

Journal Entry 3 - Ivonn Otavalo

2010-05-24T11:24:00.002-04:00

This week in my placement I continued reading a prenatal book. While reading it, I realized how helpful it will be for my research paper. This book is full of useful information, so useful that I decided to take notes on it while reading. I had a chance to tell Miriam how my essay will be planned and what topics I might include from the book. I found the following topics to be interesting:

Breech - when the baby is not in the right position when the woman is about to give birth.

Relaxation Methods - Methods that will allow the future mom to stay calm and patient when experiencing contractions and when she is about to give birth.

I also came up with topics my essay might include including prenatal exams in detail, pregnancy concerns, a healthy baby, do and don't during pregnancy, eating healthy during pregnancy, cravings, sex during pregnancy, breech and relaxation methods.

Journal Entry 2 - Ivonn Otavalo

2010-05-04T15:25:00.002-04:00

This week at my placement I continued typing the "Newborn" packet which was assigned to me. While typing, I realized how important the mental development of a baby is. I also realized that parents should be very attentive to their children.

Baby Facts:

- Like adults, babies need love and caring
- Babies love attention and are said to be very observant
- Babies are so intellectual and their intellectuality depends on the care of a parent from the day they are born.

Journal Entry 9 - Zaire Smalls

2010-05-04T14:38:00.002-04:00

I'm part of an organization called global kids. At global kids we hold an annual youth conference. The goal of Global Kids is to make NYC youth global citizens, making them aware of the issues the world around us faces and what we can do to help. So every year there is a different topic. This year our topic is "Child Rights." Since the US and Somalia are the only countries of the United Nations who haven't ratified the "Convention of Rights of a Child" (CRC), we used this as our purpose.

Our focus was to use the CRC to show the rights children should have compared to the rights they actually have in the world. In the workshop I created and lead, "Children's Health," we took a look at Zimbabwe, China, Britain and India's health care systems and what services children receive as well as how they are paid for. Why they dont match up wtih the CRC and how we can change this. It was a good workshop, people learned a lot.

The wholoe conference was wonderful and there was a petition and videos about the ratification of the CRC in teh US. Rosario Dawson came to the conference and spoke about her direct role in l I Am an Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls Around the World, written by the same woman who authored the Vagina Monologues.

Journal Entry 9 - Tenzin Lhamo

2010-05-04T14:35:00.002-04:00

This week me and my mentor were working on our final project. My topic is on Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and the reason why I picked this topic is because one of my family members has similar symptoms but the one she has is an unknown disease. There is some information I learned about RA:

- RA is a long term disease that leads to inflammation of joints and its surrounding tissue
- This disease is genetic
- This disease requires lifelong treatment

Journal Entry 9 - Faith Fordjour

2010-05-04T14:32:00.002-04:00

I did a lot of shadowing this week. Since I am having my final project on Hematology/Oncology, Sonia, my mentor allowed me to shadow two nurses on the HemOnc unit. I learned a lot about Hematology/Oncology. Hematology is the study of blood disease. Oncology is the study of cancer. The reason why they are put together is because they are kind of related. Even though I had a lot of information from the two nurses, Amy and Tenesha, there is a lot of research I need to do myself.

Some of the things I learned are that Hematology consists of Hemophelia, Sickle cell, Leukemia and vWD. These are all bleeding disorders except for Sickle cell which is a blood disease and Leukemia which is a blood cancer.

Journal Entry 8 - Zaire Smalls

2010-04-12T11:22:00.002-04:00

At my site I have been assigned a project to make and manage the resource books for all the social workers. This is a bit of a task - it is not hard but it is a little tedious. I have to put them in categories then make copies if the document fits into more categories. I did this for two binders and then put copies in 7 binders.

The interesting part of this is to see all the different organizations and their functions. Most of the organizations are in Brooklyn as well as Manhattan. They each do something different than the last, but having said that, there are many similar organizations as well. Honestly, I am fascinated.

Journal Entry 8 - Tenzin Lhamo

2010-04-12T11:09:00.004-04:00

This week my mentor taught me what I need to do in on order to get ready for college. The first thing she taught me was how to stand out from my other competitors. In order to do that she told me to write all the programs and all the after school activities I have attended so far. So I have made a list full of programs I have attended in the last 3 years along with the description.

Journal Entry 7 - Sherlyn Aldas

2010-03-11T17:17:00.002-05:00

Emelin was absent due to jury duty so I worked at the Audobon clinic with one of the foster grandparents. I read to a kid and then he read back to me but he was not so sure about the words so he made it up. He had a very vivid imagination and he made me laugh.

Later on, a lady with a child asked me to help her translate. I felt great being able to help her, especially since I haven't translated for my mom in a while and it made me feel useful. I also have been thinking of an idea in order to get people interested in participating in my book donation. I was thinking of offering a prize as more people would be interested in donating more books.

Journal Entry 8 - Faith Fordjour

2010-03-11T17:12:00.002-05:00

Although I thought I would finish shadowing Dr. Davis, she ended up being very busy. I was disappointed but I decided to look at the bright side; I got to spend more time with the patients. Monday was the best day at Mount Sinai this week. I met a lot of interesting kids. I met this boy who said he was a "mermaid boy." It was quite funny, plus, he had a lot of energy. There was another child who got so attached to me that he wanted me to sit right next to him and give him all my attention. He only knew a few words in English and he kept shouting "nice!" every time he scribbled something on the paper.

Kids are the cutest.

The other two days were a bit less exciting. on Thursday I met with a girl who read to me. She was a second grader and she was quite a good reader. I was very impressed.

Journal Entry 1 - Ivonn Otavalo

2010-03-11T16:56:00.004-05:00

This week in my placement I was very busy, something I enjoyed. I have been re-typing prenatal handouts in order for them to be clear for future moms to read. While re-typing, i learned certain things I was not aware of. I learned that even though a woman is pregnant, she is still allowed to have sex as long as she feels fine and takes precautions. I also learned that pregnant women need to have a balanced diet while being pregnant and must have certain amounts of milk or cheese, rice, beans, eggs and wheat. Something that really surprised me was learning that even though a woman is pregnant, she can still exercise and stay active unless there is a serious problem that prevents her from doing so.

Journal Entry 7 - Zaire Smalls

2010-03-09T13:53:00.003-05:00

After looking at insurance claims this past week, I began to wonder about the assistance programs for people who do not have health insurance. I learned that people can get limited or temporary health care. Temporary health care is about 90 days.

But what do you do after that?

I decided to look into the assistance programs to get a better picture. I want to find out what programs there are and who they apply to. Is there an age range? How do you qualify? Where the services you would be assisted with and what is the possibility of implementing these services into intake. I will speak with my mentor on about this as it is something I am interested in.

Journal Entry 7 - Tenzin Lhamo

2010-02-17T14:37:00.011-05:00

This week my mentor taught me about general information and what physical therapy looks like when a patient first comes to visit. This is called an evaluation. I watched and learned as she evaluated a foot.

1. Strength: how strong is the leg? Is the leg working regularly?

2. Range of Motion: Is the leg working properly, is the range of motion the same as it is in uninjured individuals?

3. Flexibility - Can the patient move as smoothly as an uninjured person?

4. Gait - How is the person's ability to walk?

5. Joint mobility - Is the patient's muscle joint at the right or the back?

6. Balance - Can the patient balance like an uninjured person?

7. Posture/positioning of foot - Does the patient have normal flat feet? Do they arch? Is there swelling/

Faith Fordjour 8 - Journal Entry

2010-02-17T14:34:00.002-05:00

This week was alright. I was supposed to shadow a doctor but they were all very busy. Sonia, my mentor was asking nurses to allow me to shadow them like I did the last time. The nurses were also busy so I went back to helping the kids read and color. This was good for me because we have been so busy, I haven't done this in a while!

One time I helped another volunteer clean up Sonia's Office. Sonia's office is like a closet filled with books so Paul, one of the volunteers, and I decided to clean it out. It was a lot of hard work and organization but we did it. We made the office look half empty by the time we were done. We sorted out the books and placed them in categories. this was a good lesson to me because i learned not to wait until things pile up to start them!

Journal Entry 6 - Zaire Smalls

2010-02-17T14:32:00.003-05:00

This week at my site, Lauren and I went to the MediCaid office. Lauren showed me how to hand in the form for presumptive and regular medicaid applications. This was very interesting to do because it is so simple. Not in a bad way though, in a good way: You show your ID and go to a window just for health care workers and hand the form in. You also pick up any form that needs to be approved or denied.

After this, I got to spend some one on one time with my mentor, which was awesome. It was a nice day in general.

Journal Entry 6 - Viviana Sanchez

2010-02-17T14:28:00.003-05:00

This week, I completed an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) training. I went with Fay and with another worker. The whole purpose of this training is to learn how to put a patient's medical records on a computer instead of keeping them in written medical files. The whole procedure was a lot to absorb. There were parts that were more difficult than others. I go to this computer training every Monday. Fay told that later she will teach me more about EMR procedure because I will be doing it later on.

The next day I came in and we were talking about the training that I wen tot. We started doing supervision worksheets. She taught me about supervision and when and where it is used. The purpose of these worksheets is just to get together with Fay and tell her about my work and whether I have any questions or need help so she can help me with anything that I need.

Journal Entry 6 - Sherlyn Aldas

2010-02-17T14:25:00.003-05:00

I have not spent a lot of time at my externship due to schedule changes. However, I did not just spend time doing nothing. I decided to start working on a new way to get more books for the Reach Out and Read program.

I also got evaluated by Emelin, my mentor for my performance review. Although she mostly had positive things to say, she wants me to converse more and be a bit more outgoing. I shared with her the idea of extending the book drive and she told me I should go to her in case I need more help but to mostly try to solve the problems immediately and face on.

Journal Entry 6 - Tenzin Lhamo

2010-02-17T14:19:00.004-05:00

This week my mentor taught me about the upper part of our body. The sternum, which is also known as the breast bone is connected to our ribs, although not all of our ribs are connected to the sternum. The upper sternum is called the Manubrium and the lower is called the Body. Both the Manubrium and Body are connected with only 6 ribs even though we have 10 ribs. It is because some of our ribs are connected with other ribs, through the Costal (hyaline) cartilage.

In total, we have 20 ribs, 10 in each side, both left and right. We have ribs because they protect our lungs, heart and kidneys. It is amazing to find out how important our ribs are.

Journal Entry 7 -- Faith Fordjour

2010-02-17T14:15:00.002-05:00

This week was so wonderful. I finally got the chance to shadow a nurse. But that was on Friday. Before that I went to my placement and my mentor was not there so I busied myself with cleaning and tidying the tables with crayon marks on them. On Friday, it was very interesting. We had to ask the kids to help us make Thank You! cards for an organization that donated books for the kids. It was amazing what some kids made. It was art. After that, Sonia asked one of the nurses if I could shadow her. Her name was Diane and she was very nice. We talked about her job, what education is required and how long you have to be in school. I walked with her and she gave this girl asthma medication which helps her breathe better. She also gave this six month old her first flu shot. It was cute. I found out that babies get their shots on their thighs where their biggest muscles are.

Journal Entry 5 - Viviana Sanchez

2010-02-17T14:11:00.005-05:00

I interviewed my mentor Fay this week adn I found out some interesting things about her. I found out that she went to Lehman College for her undergraduate and for her graduate she went to Hunter College. During her undergraduate years, seh participated in different types of internships about social work. But it was her last internship that really incluenced her career decision. The last internship was on HIV prevention. This is how she decided to make her career all about HIV prevention. I feel like I know a lot more about her now.

Journal Entry 5 - Zaire Smalls

2010-02-17T14:06:00.002-05:00

This week at my site, I went over what is a Mental Helath Assessment is and why social workers have to do them. Mental Health Assessments are done to determine the status of the patient before, during and after tereatment and whether a person needs teratment or counselling and a diagnosis if neccessary. It's a series of about 15-20 questions and you are given it if you are referred to a social worker by your doctor.

Journal Entry - Sherlyn Aldas 5

2010-02-17T14:03:00.002-05:00

On Thursday, I went to New York Presbyterian Hospital to see Emelin after a long break. I learned a lot about her after asking her questions for the Mentor of the Month survey. She gave me advice which I intend to follow. After that, I went to Audobon Clinic to read to the children but it was mostly filled with infants so I instead began talking with one of the foster grandparents and we discussed the Haiti earthquake. I was a bit inspired because she told me that she was planning to donate to the Haitians.

Journal Entry 5 - Tenzin Lhamo

2010-02-17T13:56:00.003-05:00

This week I learned many things about my mentor. I interviewed her and I learned that she stayed in college for seven years. In her college years she was a very active students, joining many sports, doing many extracurricular activities. She also told me that one of our AHEC board members was her professional mentor. She gave me advice saying "you can achieve anything as long as you put your mind to it! Stay positive! Keep your eye on the prize!!"

HealthTopics: Obesity

2010-02-08T16:21:00.002-05:00

Pushback on Obesity: An African-American View
Written by Barbara Hesselgrave

Children who now spend more time in front of a screen (usually snacking) than on the playground can't help but pack on the pounds and reports of childhood obesity have reached epidemic proportions.

The statistics are especially dismal for African-American girls; studies show they start out life at the same weight as their white counterparts but see their body mass index blossom in adolescence.

African-American women between the ages of 12 and 19 are nearly 60 percent more likely to be overweight; less likely to eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains and less likely to be physically active than white women in the same age group.

And the long-term results can be deadly. An overweight child has an 80 percent chance of becoming an overweight adult, and with that comes an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other weight related problems...

Mentor Informational Interview - Ivonn Otavalo

2010-01-25T15:57:00.013-05:00

This is an informational interview between Mentor Connection student, Ivonn Otavalo and one of her mentors, Dr. Robert Tasca. Dr. Tasca is a dentist at the Ryan Center.

Ivonn: What is your official title?

Dr. Tasca: Dental Coordinator.

Ivonn: What were your goals when you were 17?

Dr. Tasca: At the age of 17 I wanted to be a veterinarian.

Ivonn: Have these goals stayed the same throughout your life?

Dr. Tasca: My goals have not stayed the same throughout my life. I knew I wanted to go into medicine, however, I was not sure which field.

Ivonn: Why did you choose to pursue your career?

Dr. Tasca: I decided to become a dentist while in veterinary school. Most of my studies dealt with animal teeth or animal dentistry. I found it so interesting that it lead me to the field of Dentistry - but in humans.

Ivonn: What books/movies have influenced your career goals and choices?

Dr. Tasca: My work was not influenced by a particular book or movie.

Ivonn: What qualifications, courses, experiences or work did you do before going to university?

Dr. Tasca: I got a bachelors degree in physiology (pre-med courses).

Ivonn: What is the name of the school you went to?

Dr. Tasca: I went to NYU as an undergraduate and SUNY Stony Brook for Dentistry.

Ivonn: How many years have you been in school after graduating from high school?

Dr. Tasca: I remained in school for about 10 years after high school. 4 years of Bachelor education, 2 years of premed and 4 years of dental school.

Ivonn: Was tuition an obstacle? What advice can you give me about this?

Dr. Tasca: Tuition was not an obstacle as I got a scholarship at NYU. However, I had to take out loans for dental school. In order to be a dentist, or in medicine in general, it is important to take bio and chemistry courses as they are considered very important.

Ivonn: How do you handle obstacles/road blocks?

Dr. Tasca: The best way I handle an obstacle is to stay calm. If you are not calm, there is no way to solve the problem.

Ivonn: Did you confront many obstacles to become what you are today?

Dr. Tasca: Not too many, however, I had to be very disciplined as it takes a lot of hard work to become a doctor. I also had to learn how to manage my time.

Ivonn: What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Dr. Tasca: My strengths are that I am a very conscientious person and I always try to do my best. However, like all other human beings, I have weaknesses which include the tendency to be overconfident when it comes to knowing what is best for others.

Ivonn: Who is your hero?

Dr. Tasca: My hero is Ram Dass. Ram Dass was a Harvard professor of physiology. I was inspored by his writing. After teaching at Harvard, Mr. Dass became a monk.

Ivonn: Who do you take advice from?

Dr. Tasca: I take advice from Dr. Platt at the Ryan Center and of course, my wife.

Ivonn: Did you have any professional or personal mentors?

Dr. Tasca: Dr. Tinkler, a dentist who was very interested in my career.

Ivonn: What general advice can you give me in terms of the career I want to pursue?

Dr. Tasca: Make sure to like what you do and to take advantage of every opportunity you have to see what working is all about.

Mentor Informational Interview - Viviana Sanchez

2010-01-25T15:08:00.010-05:00

This is an informational interview between Mentor Connection student, Viviana Sanchez and her mentor, Fay Barrett, MPH. Ms. Barrett is in charge of Prevention Education services at the Ryan Center.

Viviana: What is your official title?

Fay: I am the Coordinator for Prevention Education and Outreach Services at the Ryan Center.

Viviana: What were your goals when you were 16?

Fay: I wanted to help people but I didn't know in what capacity when I was in high school.

Viviana: Have the goals stayed the same throughout your life?

Fay: Yes, my goals did stay the same. When I graduated from high school and went to college, undergraduate major was in social work. I went on to graduate school for a Masters degree in Public Health.

Viviana: Why did you choose to pursue your goals/career? A certain event?

Fay: Well I did internships during my undergraduate college experience. Some of these internships were working as a social work intern and my last internship was working in an HIV unit. This last internship got me interested in HIV and I decided to pursue a job in HIV prevention.

Viviana: What books/movies etc. have influenced your career goals and choices?

Fay: A movie called " And the band played on" influenced my career goals and choices. This movie is about the spread of HIV.

Viviana: What qualifications, courses, experiences or work did you do before going to university?
Fay: I did my internships in the HIV unit during college. I also worked in a doctor's office and did volunteer work with the underserved community.

Viviana: What university did you go to?

Fay: I went to Lehman College for undergraduate and Hunter College for graduate school.

Viviana: How many years have you been in school after graduating from high school?

Fay: I remained in school about seven years after high school.

Viviana: Was tuition an obstacle? What advice can you give me about this?

Fay: Yes, tuition was an obstacle. I worked to overcome it while going to school. I got scholarships from TAP and PELL grants in order to help me with financial aid.

You can start applying to different colleges and see what financial aid they offer. You also need to make sure to keep your grades up. You can also try working for different organizations. For example, AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps is an organization that will give you scholarships towards college tuition.

Viviana: How do you handle obstacles/roadblocks?

Fay: I try to see what obstacles are holding me back. I list the different things I need to do in order to remove the barrier from reaching my goal.

Viviana: Did you have to confront any obstacles on your way to becoming what you are today?

Fay: I would say yes. Like the challenges of working while going to school. Also the stigma of working in HIV prevention.

Viviana: What are you strengths and weaknesses?

Fay: My weakness i that I try to do too many things all at once. My strength is the ability to see what is important to tackle first.

Viviana: Who is your hero?

Fay: My mother is my hero because she is a very strong Caribbean woman.

Viviana: Who do you listen to? Who do you accept advice from?

Fay: I listen to my mother and my husband. I first listen to what everybody has to say but I take what is beneficial for me.

Viviana: Did you have a personal or professional mentor?

Fay: Yes, one of my supervisors while I was doing my last internship.

Viviana: What overall advice do you have for me in terms of the career I want to pursue?

Fay: You really need to stay focused and enjoy what you are doing because it prepares you for the future. You need to ask for help and guidance as you go along. You also need to ask for extracurricular activities to do in biochemistry. Do volunteer work in that area. Find someone who is a biochemist in order to shadow and observe them to see what type of biochemist you want to become.

Mentor Informational Interview - Zaire Smalls

2010-01-25T12:11:00.008-05:00

This is an informational interview between Mentor Connection student, Zaire Smalls and her mentor, Lauren Kershinover, LMSW. Ms. Kershinover is a licensed social worker and the coordinator for the Single Stop Program at the Institute for Family Health.

Zaire: What is your official title?

Lauren: I am an LMSW and the Single Stop Program Coordinator. Single Stop is a case management program that we received a grant for.

Zaire: What were your goals when you were 17?

Lauren: My goals were to go to college and become a social worker so I could provide therapy for children.

Zaire: Have your goals remained the same?

Lauren: No, they are currently to expand the Single Stop Program and to try to make changes with health care reform and help as many patients as possible.

Zaire: Why did you choose to pursue your career/goals?

Lauren: I felt that it was my calling and that I have always had a gift of being in tune with peoples' needs.

Zaire: What books or movies have influenced your career choice?

Lauren: Elie Wiesley's "Night," a book about the Holocaust and Ann Franks Diary inspired me to get involved with social change. The Color Purple and Bastard Out of Carolina also inspired me.

Zaire: What qualifications, experiences or work did you complete before university?

Lauren: I was a peer leader helping athletes. I did peer education mediation for youth who were athletes.

Zaire: What University did you go to?

Lauren: SUNY New Paltz for my BA and SUNY Albany for my Masters.

Zaire: How many years of higher education do you have?

Lauren: 6 1/2 years.

Zaire: Was tuition an obstacle? What advice can you give me on this subject?

Lauren: You should apply for scholarships, financial aid and loans. I did a work study and had a part time job.

Zaire: What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Lauren: My strengths are my compassion and passion for my job. My weakness is that I can't say no.

Zaire: Who is your hero?

Lauren: It is not one specific person but a type of person: someone who addresses injustice and who is giving.

Zaire: Who do you take advice from?

Lauren: Friends, family, colleagues and therapist.

Zaire: Have you had any personal or professional mentors?

Lauren: My women's studies professor and another professor who was a physiologist who worked with homeless youth in San Francisco. A clinical supervisor upstate is also a mentor.

Zaire: What overall advice do you have for me in terms of the career I would like to pursue?

Lauren: Do something you feel passionate about and love. Make sure you take care of yourself in this field.

Mentor Informational Interview - Sherlyn Aldas

2010-01-25T10:56:00.014-05:00

This is an informational interview between Mentor Connection student, Sherlyn Aldas and her mentor, Emelin Martinez. Ms. Martinez is the Reach out and Read coordinator at NY Presbyterian hospital.

Sherlyn: What is your official title?

Emelin: Reach Out and Read Coordinator.

Sherlyn: What were your goals when you were 16?

Emelin: My goals were to graduate high school, go to college and get my first car!

Sherlyn: Have the goals stayed the same throughout your life?

Emelin: No, they have changed.

Sherlyn: What are your current goals?

Emelin: Well now I want to go back to college and get a Masters degree in social work and start a community pre-school.

Sherlyn: Why did you choose to pursue your goals/career?

Emelin: I like to help children, especially those who are underprivileged.

Sherlyn: What books or movies have influenced your career goals and choice?

Emelin: The Purpose Driven Life.

Sherlyn: What qualifications, courses, experiences or work did you do before going to University?

Emelin: I worked at a pre-school for two years and I also worked in a camp.

Sherlyn: What university did you go to?

Emelin: Fort Lauderdale College for pre-law and I got a Bachelors in Human Services at St. Thomas University.

Sherlyn: How many years have you been in school after high school?

Emelin: 6 years.

Sherlyn: Was tuition an obstacle? What advice can you give me on this?

Emelin: It was hard to get financial aid. Do not get a student loan unless absolutely necessary and be sure to look for scholarships.

Sherlyn: How do you handle obstacles/roadblocks?

Emelin: I face my problems head on and find a solution or an alternative. I also pray to God to help me.

Sherlyn: Did you have to confront any obstacles to become what you are today?

Emelin: Not really.

Sherlyn: What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Emelin: My strength is that I am cooperative, empathizing, organized, compassionate and persistent. My weakness is that I am a perfectionist and very sentimental.

Sherlyn: Who is your hero?

Emelin: Jesus Christ.

Sherlyn: Who do you listen to? Who do you accept advise from?

Emelin: My mom or anyone who is an expert in the situation I need help in. It varies.

Sherlyn: Do you have personal or professional mentors?

Emelin: My personal mentor when I was in high school was Shermaine Brown, who i worked in the pre-school with.

Sherlyn: What overall advice do you have for me in terms of the career I want to pursue?

Emelin: Make sure your career is something you love, that you would do for free. That is how you know you love it. Find what you are passionate about and enjoy, no matter what obstacles come along.

Mentor Informational Interview - Tenzin Lhamo

2010-01-22T16:20:00.011-05:00

This is an informational interview between Mentor Connection student, Tenzin Lhamo and her mentor, Crystal Thomas, DPT, CSCS. Ms. Thomas is the facility manager at SportsPT located in the Equinox gym.

Tenzin: What is your official title?

Crystal: Dr. Crystal D. Thomas DPT, CSCS Facility Manager/Senior Physical Therapist.

Tenzin: What were your goals when you were sixteen? Have the goals stayed the same throughout your life?

Crystal: When I was sixteen, I wanted to obtain a degree in Medicine or a Health care profession field (Dentist) so I participated in a program called the Summer Youth Health Careers program at Stony Brook University. It was there that I mentored with a dentist and realized that dentistry was not all that I expected.

Tenzin: If not, what are you current goals?

Crystal: Since Dentistry wasn't what I expected, I was introduced to physical therapy (P.T) while I was in the program and it stood out the most for me.

Tenzin: Why did you choose to pursue your goals/careers? A certain event?

Crystal: I like P.T because it has many different specialty areas such as Pediatric, Sports/Orthopedic, Rehab, Cardiopulmonary, Neurology and Animal P.T incorporated into one profession.

Tenzin: What books/movies etc. have influenced your career goals and choices?

Crystal: Even thought I can't recall the name of the book, I do remember a book where the main character dove in to a pool and hit her head. She fractured her neck and became paralyzed from the neck down. So in order to pass the time she discovered how to paint using her mouth.

Tenzin: What qualifications, courses, experiences or work did you do before going to university.

Crystal: I volunteered in P.T clinic and obtained a bachelor of science from Hampton University in Virginia. My courses included Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, Physics, Abnormal Psychology and Calculus.

Tenzin: What universities did you go to?

Crystal: Hampton University - Bachelor of Science
Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University: Doctoral Physical Therapy

Tenzin: How many years have you been in school after high school?

Crystal: 7 years total.

Tenzin: Was tuition an obstacle? Can you give me advice on this?

Crystal: Tuition was not a major obstacle. I received scholarships and student loans. My advice is to study hard, participate in extracurricular activities and community service and apply for as many scholarships as you can!!!

Tenzin: How did you handle obstacles/roadblocks?

Crystal: Research was one of my main obstacles. I handled this obstacle by asking questions to my guidance counselor, mentors, teachers and classmates. I researched and looked up things on the Internet and attended college preparatory/class seminars at the library, local universities and churches.

Tenzin: Did you have to confront any obstacles on your way to becoming what you are today?

Crystal: NO obstacles. NO EXCUSES. FIND A WAY! JUST DO IT!

Tenzin: What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Crystal: My strengths are that I am goal oriented, dependable, reliable, outgoing, charismatic and energetic. My weakness is that I am a very anxious person.

Tenzin: Who are your heroes?

Crystal: My mom, dad and sisters.

Tenzin: Who do you listen to? Who do you accept advice from?

Crystal: Mom, dad sister and from my mentors, teachers and friends.

Tenzin: Did you have personal or professional mentors? Who?

Crystal: Yes, my personal mentors are my parents and sisters. My professional mentors are Afriqiyah Woods, P.T and Seyal Vyas, P.T.

Tenzin: What overall advice do you have for me in terms of the career I want to pursue?

Crystal: You should find a career that makes you excited: stimulate your interests! You can acieve anything as long as you put your mind to it!! STAY POSITIVE! and KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE!

Journal Entry 6 - Faith Fordjour

2010-01-19T12:52:00.008-05:00

This week was interesting in a way. I got the chance to interview my mentor Sonia Lugo. I learned a lot from her life experience. The main point of the interview was to get to know our mentors and that is what I did. I got to know my mentor on a personal level and she was very open to my questions. At the end of the interview, she gave me some advice on my career choice. She told me to never give up on my dreams and to not let anyone stop me from achieving my goals.

I also gave my mentor a card for Mentor Month in order to thank her for mentoring me. She was so happy to receive it. On Monday, I was visited by Sarah at my placement at Mt. Sinai. I was happy to see her and I showed her around my work place. After she left, there was this boy, Jose who came and started coloring. He left to see the doctor but he kept coming back to color. I got really fond of him and I even saw him when I was leaving. He came to say goodbye.

Writing Workshop - Sherlyn Aldas

2010-01-13T11:45:00.003-05:00

Exercise: Learning Log on Resident Dr. Blair Heinke's lecture on diet and exercise.

On Wednesday a resident, Dr. Heinke, came by to discuss diet and nutrition with the group. She asked us how we exercise and she gave us some ideas on how to continue. An example was using a pedometer and to make a goal in order to encourage exercise. She also told us that when making goals, to be sure to make them realistic goals. Fore example, we can not expect to lose 20 pounds in a month and if we do and fail, it will only make us give up. Another topic Dr. Heinke informed us of was about artificial preservatives and trans fats. Artificial preservatives are chemicals placed in foods in order to prevent spoiling, which can usually happen a lot quicker without it. However, these chemicals are very foreign to our bodies so it makes it hard to break them down. Trans fats are also similar; they are added in order to make food taste better but they are also hard to digest. Dr. Heinke recommended eating more organic food and healthier food as well such as vegetables and fruits or whole grain break. Even though Dr. Heinke gave us lots of information, I wish to learn about the chemicals and other things added to fast food which makes people addicted to it.

Writing Workshop - Viviana Sanchez

2010-01-13T11:37:00.003-05:00

Why would I be a good Biochemist Technician?

What a biochemist technician basically does is do a lot of investigative lab work on human micro organisms (take samples) such as blood, check cellular structure, bowel movement, urine, gastric juices etc. They are doctors who are really interested in the wonderful science of the human body and its functions. The need to have pretty good critical and realistic skills is very important. They need to use their thoughts and ideas in order to connect with their analytical research and the issues/problems that they may confront in the future. With all information gathered they need to have knowledge about scientific methods in order to experiment and come up with resolutions. They too need to know how to keep lab equipment safe and in proper shape. They need to know how to use it as well.

I think I would be a good biochemist technician because first of all I like learning about the human body and learning about lab work seems very interesting. I have been interested in this topic for a while now and I find it fascinating on how biochemist technicians gather research information on analyzing human micro specimens and how it affects the human body. They do this with proper lab equipment which they need to know how to take care of. I think I have known ever since I was young that i had an investigative and inquisitive mind/spirit especially when it comes to the functions of the human body. I am very organized and I am a very good listener and a good critical/logic thinker. I know that these are my strengths that connect to the skills that a biochemist technician needs.

Writing Workshop - Faith Fordjour

2010-01-05T17:05:00.007-05:00

Exercise: Profiling an Obstetrician/Gynecologist using the My Health Career website. Faith would like to be an OBGYN so she answered the question "Why would you be a good OBGYN?"

Obstetricians and Gynecologists are two different types of physicians put into one due to the reproductive system. It is mostly simplified as an OBGYN. The Obstetrician specializes in the woman during pregnancy. Their job is to make sure that the woman is healthy and in good condition and also will come out as healthy as possible. That is where the Gynecologist comes in. The Gynecologist specializes in the woman's internal and external reproductive systems and how well it is or what they can do to make it better and/or healthier.

I would be a very good OBGYN. This is because I have the study of human anatomy and how the body works. Plus, as an OBGYN, I have to work with pregnant women and babies which is where my interests lie. I will have to be able to learn in a way that others will not have to and that works for me fine. What interests me the most is the fact that I am a female and I would like to learn about how my own body works and why it is what it is sometimes. Plus, as a female I be able to connect with the women. Most women would not like a man to be their OBGYN, as I wouldn't, so as a female OBGYN, it will help most women feel more comfortable and at ease so they can get the help that they need; whether doing during pregnancy or to make sure their reproductive systems are functioning well.

HealthForum

2010-01-05T11:57:00.005-05:00

This September 2009 study, commissioned by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and carried out by leading researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, provides important insight into how much of a financial burden racial disparities are putting on our health care system and society at large.

The researchers examined the direct costs associated with the provision of care to a sicker and more disadvantaged population, as well as the indirect costs of health inequities such as lost productivity, lost wages, absenteeism, family leave, and premature death.

What they found was striking. More than 30 percent of direct medical costs faced by African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans were excess costs due to health inequities – more than $230 billion over a three year period. And when you add the indirect costs of these inequities over the same period, the tab comes to $1.24 trillion.

As legislators look for ways to make health reform pay for itself, it appears that eliminating health inequities can provide an important source of savings.

HealthTopics: Diet & Exercise

2010-01-05T11:40:00.005-05:00

Prevention: An Apple-a-Day Isn't Gonna Cut It

by Naomi Freundlich
December 11, 2009

There is much to be hammered out before a final health reform bill emerges from Congress. Disputes over the public plan, abortion, financing and when reforms will actually take effect continue to delay progress. But on one thing, apparently, there is broad consensus: Nearly everyone supports prevention. In fact, a recent poll found that 71% of Americans favor increased investment in disease prevention and believe it will save money in the long run.

Prevention is a broad concept, encompassing everything from flu shots to prostate screening to smoking bans to confronting racism...

...Because the truth is, prevention does not always pay off—both in terms of health consequences and in economic terms. You can invest in community health centers and send out a legion of health educators to tell folks about diet, exercise, quitting smoking and having safe sex—but you might only have a minor impact on preventing disease. If there is nowhere to exercise safely in the community, if fresh produce is expensive and hard to find, if people are unemployed, suffering mental distress, facing the threat of losing their homes, confronting language barriers or cultural incompetence from providers, these interventions will have limited effect...

Tweeting

2010-01-04T15:49:00.007-05:00

Hello Everyone,

We have started a Twitter account so you can keep up with our daily happenings. It also provides a place for students to check for last minute changes or details.

http://twitter.com/msiconnect

ou can just click on the sidebar of this website if you do not have a Twitter account.

MSI AHEC is also tweeting!

http://twitter.com/MSIAHEC

Writing Workshop - Khmran Malik

2010-01-04T14:59:00.005-05:00

As January is National Mentoring Month, we will be devoting many of our Writing Workshops to mentors. As gaining as much information on our mentors' education, life experiences and background that lead to their chosen career is an important part of the mentoring process, students will shape their work around these issues.

Exercise: Journal Entry on Mentor Placement.

Journal Entry: Journal writing is primarily done drawing on an individual's personal experiences. However, it can also draw on articles, situations and events that affect or provoke a response from you. Journal entries can also be written in many different forms, including an unsent letter. An unsent letter can be a great way to reflect on the purpose of seemingly mundane, everyday chores (Writer's INC, 2001).

Khmran has written an unsent letter to his mentor doing just that. The aim is for this to help him uncover what he would like to ask his mentor during the next few visits.

"Dear Mary,

My recent experiences at the hospital have been very fun and are chances for me to learn how a hospital works. I have learned that you always knock before you enter a patient's room as well as give your name. Speaking with respect to patients even if they are not respecting you is very important. I also learned that beginning on time is very important for both yourself and staff. I was surprised to find out that the nurses have their own list of patients to look after. I thought the nurse's could look after anyone. I was also surprised to see that there were so many lists of patients that change hour to hour, day to day. I wonder if the patents have to have a surgery or something done to them even if they don't want to. Do you have to do it? I hope these experiences will help me pursue my dream of becoming a Physician's Assistant or Occupational Therapist. I wish these moments will help me in the future, working in a hospital.

Thank you,

Khmran"

Welcome to 2010 and a very special January National Mentoring Month!

2009-12-29T16:24:00.008-05:00

January is officially National Mentoring Month

The U.S Senate has just passed official recognition of January as the National Mentoring month. Some of the language includes:

"Whereas mentoring is a longstanding tradition in which a dependable, caring adult provides guidance, support, and encouragement to facilitate a young person’s social, emotional, and cognitive development;

Whereas further research on mentoring provides strong evidence that mentoring successfully reduces substance use and abuse, academic failure, and delinquency;

Whereas a month-long celebration of mentoring will encourage more individuals and organizations, including schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations, faith institutions, and foundations, to become engaged in mentoring across the United States; and

Whereas National Mentoring Month will, most significantly, build awareness of mentoring and encourage more people to become mentors and help close the mentoring gap in the United States: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate— (1) designates the month of January 2010 as ‘‘National Mentoring Month’’; (2) recognizes with gratitude the contributions of the millions of caring adults and students who are already volunteering as mentors and encourages more adults and students to volunteer as mentors; and (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe National Mentoring Month with appropriate ceremonies and activities that promote aware- ness of, and volunteer involvement with, youth mentoring."

A warm thank you to all of our 2009-2010 Mentors!

More Christmas Pictures!

2009-12-29T12:55:00.011-05:00

Faith and Tenzin

Khmran and Sherlyn

Ivonn

Viviana

Zaire

2009 MSI AHEC Christmas Party!

2009-12-29T12:44:00.012-05:00

Happy Holidays!

We would like to thank all those who made it out to our first MSI AHEC Holiday Party!

We munched on an entirely homemade, astounding feast which included Caribbean goat curry, latkes, macaroni and cheese, cheese enchiladas, shrimp pasta, low mein, collared greens, Chinese chicken salad and Tibetan dumplings made from scratch by our own Mentor Connection student, Tenzin Lhamo! For dessert we had marble cheesecake and a Red Velvet cake made by Mentor Connection student, Sherlyn Aldas, who got up at 4 am to bake her delicious contribution.

All of this was accompanied by an intense but laugh-filled game of Taboo! Check out Faith's victory dance! We would like to share with you our festive holiday pictures as well as wish you a very merry and safe New Years from our growing MSI AHEC family!

Writing Workshop - Faith Fordjour

2009-12-28T16:17:00.002-05:00

Exercise: Learning Log on Resident Mandy Sacher's Depression/Anxiety presentation.

A Learning Log is a notebook in which you can "dig deeper" into what you have learned from classes, lectures, seminars, projects, etc. Some components include a summary, new ideas and concepts, things you want to know more about and arguing for or against a topic (Writer's Inc, 2001).

I learned a lot about Depression and Anxiety last week with the doctor. I learned that depression and anxiety go together but they are two totally different types of diagnoses, but one can lead to the other. I thought depression was just about someone feeling sad about themselves and anxiety was when someone got a panic attack but it goes further than that. There are many forms of depression and anxiety and they can destroy somebody's life. For example, when someone has an extreme form of anxiety, it stops them from doing the normal things they used ot do. That is when it turns into depression. Depression can = Anxiety.

Depression + Anxiety = A very bad situation.

The question is can all people that feel depressed or anxious be diagnosed?

The answer is no. This is because normally everyone experiences some type of depression or anxiety. The doctor has to know when it is so serious that it needs to be diagnosed and treated. When the depression/anxiety are left untreated they can be fatal. One very important thing to know is what type of diagnosis you have and to treat it with the proper medication or therapy before it is too late.

HealthTopics: Anxiety and Depression

2009-12-28T16:15:00.005-05:00

Current Event Article:

Nearly Half of America’s Youth Have Untreated Mental Illness

By Madeline Ellis
Published: Tuesday, 15 December 2009

It’s usually easy for parents to identify their child’s physical needs, such as warm clothes when it’s cold, nutritious food, and bedtime at a reasonable hour. However, a child’s mental and emotional needs aren’t always as obvious. In fact, mental disorders severe enough to hinder kids from learning or developing properly are quite common, affecting about one in five of America’s youth...

HealthTopics: HIV/AIDS

2009-12-28T16:06:00.003-05:00

Current Event Article:

Harlem Organization Takes New Approach to Fighting HIV/AIDS
By Sam Petulla on Dec 16th, 2009

Mary sits calmly, her jeans are clean and well-made, her hands compact — never fidgeting — and she’s telling anecdotes about all the men she’s dated. She has lots of advice for what to look for in a man, and she can tell you how to leave a man and confidently move on, independently, for yourself. The night before, she broke up with her boyfriend. She’s alert, can take a joke, and holds her ground, and she has lived with HIV for 16 years.

Mary, just by appearances, could be misperceived as uninfected. She goes shopping, meets friends for lunch — she’s even about to go to a recently opened “HIV Only” club downtown, where she can dance and meet other singles. “I haven’t experienced the things people experience,” she says. “I have never been to a hospital.” ...

HealthTopics: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

2009-12-28T14:31:00.007-05:00

NYC Condom Competition!

The NYC Condom label is getting a makeover and you could be the chosen designer! NYC Condom was introduced on Valentine's Day in 2007 and has not only provided a free method of contraception but has also encouraged more candid and widespread conversation regarding safe sex. This is an opportunity to design a limited edition wrapper that will allow you to express your creative side!

Please enter following the link above - The competition lasts until January 22, 2010!

HealthForum

2009-12-28T14:09:00.004-05:00

What is wrong with this picture?

Photo Credit

HealthForum

2009-12-28T14:08:00.003-05:00

Encouraging active discussion and provoking thought exchange are invaluable teaching tools we use regularly in our program. The HealthForum section of the Mentor Connection blog will consist of pictures, questions, ideas, etc. posted by various members of our health education community. This includes students, administrators and staff that simply want to continue the discussion outside of the classroom.

Please contribute!

HealthTopics: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

2009-12-28T12:59:00.007-05:00

Current Event Article:

One in four teen girls have STDs

By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Nov. 23 (HealthDay News) -- As many as one in four U.S. teenage girls have had a sexually transmitted disease (STD), many infected soon after their first sexual encounter, a new government report shows.

"The high burden of STDs among teen girls reminds us that we can't ignore this," said study author Dr. Sami L. Gottlieb, from the division of sexually transmitted disease prevention at the U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention...

HealthTopics

2009-12-28T11:57:00.009-05:00

Every two weeks the Mentor Connection students will focus on a particular health topic on which their work and seminars will be based.

The aim is to make the two weeks as immersing, enriching and multi-faceted as possible while keeping it relevant, applicable and accurate.

Keeping it Relevant:

We start off with with individual research where the students will find and bring in current event articles relating to the health issue. They read the material on their own so they can present it to their classmates in a seminar style session. The articles are invariably diverse and tend to bring into discussion the many aspects and populations affected by the disease. It has proven an excellent way to make issues that may seem removed from the students to something they can relate to. It also encourages good research, reading, speaking and analytical skills.

Keeping it Applicable:

While one of the main concerns of the program is to disseminate information and expose our students to a wide range of health topics and disparities, we understand the rigors of being high school Juniors and are committed to aiding in academic success. As most of us know, the SAT is something that causes a great deal of anxiety. On top of this, the opportunity to enroll in prep programs is more available to some than others. Subsequently, it is our goal to facilitate and aid in the learning process and one of the best ways to do this is by enhancing vocabulary.

Every other week, while reading their articles, the students will each find three words they are not familiar with. They will then look up the definitions along with the parts of speech and copy these onto index cards. They will make a set for each of their peers and exchange them in class. The students are responsible for learning all 21 words and are tested on them the next week.

This is a great way for the students to become engaged readers as well as encourages dictionary use and vocabulary and part of speech retention.

Keeping it Accurate:

After an introduction to the basic parts of the health topic, we invite the residents from Beth Israel to come in and answer any questions the students have about the disease. They also provide an expert opinion and relevant first-hand experience that is invaluable to the learning process.

Journal Entry 5 - Faith Fordjour

2009-12-23T11:07:00.002-05:00

This week I helped my mentor a lot. I had to go to the other side of the hospital to get some packages for Sonia. It was kind of fun because I did not know the way to the mail room and I had no map to show me the way. I had to follow the blue dots. It kind of reminded me of the Wizard of Oz.

On Monday there were not a lot of kids around to read to so it was a bit slow. The kids wanted to color or play and in these situations I walk around until I find something to do. My goal for when I go back after this holiday vacation is to talk more to my mentor.

Residents

2009-12-22T16:47:00.005-05:00

This year we get to have Residents from the Institute for Family Health and Beth Israel come in to talk to Mentor Connection about health issues and disparities. Every other week we center our work around one health topic and ask the Residents to come in and address the questions only experts have answers to. Afterward, some of the students will write reflections on the session, bringing the session together. We are very thankful for their time and energy and look forward to the upcoming year!

Writing Workshop - Khmran Malik

2009-12-22T15:57:00.011-05:00

Exercise: A Dialogue Journal on being a Pharmacist

In a Dialogue Journal an individual carries on a written conversation with a partner regarding experiences, books/articles and a variety of topics (Writer's INC, 2001). This week Khmran used the My Health Careers website to research what a Pharmacist does as well as what skills contribute to success in this profession.

sk: Hello Mr. Malik, I am a student and I would like to learn about Pharmacy!

mk: I am very glad that you want to learn about Pharmacy. To become a Pharmacist you have to have a Bachelor's degree and a Pharmacy program.

sk:Does your Bachelors need to be in a specific field?

mk: Yes, in Pharmacy.

sk: To become a Pharmacist, do you need to go to a special school?

mk: Yes, an accredited Pharmacy school.

sk: So what skills does a Pharmacist need?

mk: The skills a Pharmacist needs is to be good at science and problem solving.

sk: So how do you use these skills on a daily basis?

mk: You can use these skills on a daily basis by giving medications to patients who need them. You can check whether they need the medications or not.

sk: Do you get to work with patients a lot?

mk: Yes, you get to interact with them a lot.

sk: Well that seems pretty easy! Can anybody be a Pharmacist?

mk: If you want to be one you need to know the new and old medicines.

sk: Okay, well not so easy! Do how much does a Pharmacist make?

mk: On average...87,290 per year!

sk: Wow! Are you usually working in hospitals?

mk: It depends, you can work in hospitals or in a pharmacy.

sk: Cool! Thanks Mr. Malik!

My Health Career

2009-12-22T12:12:00.007-05:00

My Health Career is a free comprehensive website providing information about careers in the health field. Its facets include:

1. Career Exploration - Use Skill Assessment programs as well as the Interest Profiler to identify and compare interests, exploring over 200 health related occupations.

2. Programs and Continuing Education - Learn about Internships, Enhancing College Level and Technical Training Programs, as well as scholarships, grants and loan programs available to students.

3. Academic Opportunity - Search our database of NYC colleges, universities and trade schools.

4. Employment - Search for positions in the health care industry.

5. Career Builder - Prepare for job placements and use our resume builder.

Mentor Connection students will be using this website to learn about the hundreds of health professions listed on the website. They will use this information to explore different modes of writing, including Personal Writing, Subject Writing, Creative Writing, Persuasive Writing and Academic Writing (Writer's INC, 2001).

These exercises will prepare them for their end of the year project which includes an essay and presentation, in front of friends and family, on a selected health topic or profession!

Journal Entry 4 - Tenzin Lhamo

2009-12-21T16:51:00.001-05:00

My mentor has lots of patients everyday and she introduces me to every new patient she sees. When she does have a new patient she always tells me what problem they are having and why they are coming to physical therapy. In my externship there are five therapists in total and they are named Joe, Ray, Mark, Tracy and Crystal, my mentor. Everyday we have a maximum of 15 or less patients in total. Also, my mentor has a helper whose name is Joe. He helps take care of the patients and cleans up after. He is a very funny person.

Journal Entry 4 - Viviana Sanchez

2009-12-21T11:05:00.001-05:00

I have been doing paperwork for the past month and for those who are curious, my filing of office work is all about checking the other employees attendance. I file what is called "time sheets" which shows the dates that workers are working and the days that they are getting paid. I put these time sheets in order from past to present time. I put the very old documents/time sheets in a separate folder. I have very good work organization skills and I'm very proud of it.

Journal Entry 4 - Sherlyn Aldas

2009-12-18T16:07:00.002-05:00

Today I went to the Audubon Clinic where I was going to meet Emelin. It was pretty slow at first since there were only a couple of infants and most of the children were sleeping. Later on some kids came in but I found it hard since usually one of the foster grandparents is there to help me out but it turns out that one of them left early so I was on my own. However, in a couple of minutes a bunch of kids came and began to play so it was difficult to get them to stray from there. Luckily, Emelin came by to see me and helped me out by saying I should ask a kid first if they are interested in reading. I began to read a book to a little boy who had to leave because he was going to get checked and weighed in. Emelin then called me to go read to this little girl a story. The story was in Spanish so it wasn’t that difficult but I won’t pretend I didn’t have my clumsy moments, such as stumbling upon long words since it has been a while that I read out loud in Spanish (3 years ago to be exact). However, I am pleased to say that she enjoyed the story and kept asking me to read until she got called in to see the doctor. After discussing a couple of things with Emelin, she left and once again I was alone. Then a mother came in with her two children and asked me to read to them. She was there too so I was a bit nervous since I was scared how I would seem pronouncing words and the tone of my voice. She seemed to enjoy the stories; she laughed and asked her kids what they thought about them. One of them didn’t enjoy the ending to Henny Penny since the hen and her poultry friends end up being gobbled up by a tricky fox. I didn’t know how to avert that situation so I learned that I must be able to think more quickly off my feet. Overall this week was very enjoyable and I hope to experience the joy I get from entertaining the kids with stories.

Journal Entry 4 - Zaire Smalls

2009-12-17T15:37:00.000-05:00

This week at my site I got a chance to review Lauren's pyscho-soical intakes, which are evaluations of people who want or need mental health services. It was very interesting to read her notes and see the diagnosis and all the different medications. To see all the different types of therapy was very cool. It was a fun experience.

Journal Entry 4 - Faith Fordjour

2009-12-16T16:48:00.003-05:00

This week was interesting. Like last week, I didn't sit or read with the kids. We had a Christmas party for the kids. I helped set it up and helped the kids settle down at the party. We had so many gifts that we had plenty left after the party. The party was interesting. The kids were making masks and decorating them. That was what I was helping with. We had the tattoo station where the kids got to spray on tattoos.

Since the party began when I was about to leave and they needed my help with the party, I stayed until 5:30. On Monday I went back to my usual routine and read to the kids. I kind of miss the kids after not working with them for two weeks. But I was glad I had a change at Mount Sinai for a while.

Journal Entry 4 - Khmran Malik

2009-12-16T16:42:00.002-05:00

This week I did some paperwork and did my rounds. I also helped patients get their things from the security office. They were getting discharged. I met a Muslim student who had a stomach problem. The patient needed pain medications so he was laying down with pain. I told the nurse who was in charge to give him the medication. I also went to the CAT scan room which was pretty cool. I needed to get a drink for the patient. They were comp

Journal Entry 3 - Faith Fordjour

2009-12-16T16:38:00.004-05:00

This week was different from the other weeks. One thing was that I didn't get to read to any of the kids. Well, it's like they would rather play than read. But there was this one boy who actually didn't want to play, he wanted to read! Not me reading to him but him reading to me. He read me this book called "Before the Dinosaurs." I was so amazed by how good his reading was. But then, he didn't finish reading because Sonia, my mentor asked me to do something for him and when I came back, I guess the doctor had called him in.

Well on Friday and Monday my regular routine changed. I was helping with the set up of gifts for the children's holiday party. I had to transfer boxes of donated gifts from the closet to this room. Then we had to open the boxes, take out all the toys and bag them according to gender and age. So for two days that is what I did, putting gifts together for the Christmas party on this coming Thursday.

Journal Entry 3 - Zaire Smalls

2009-12-16T16:33:00.003-05:00

This week I was able to look over psycho-social intakes. It was a great experience to see the different disorders, medications and how the lingo is used. They tell stories within themselves and through that they tell each patient story. That is how I looked at all of the intakes.

I wonder what qualified each patient to have the disorder they were diagnosed with and I want to go inside their minds and pick it until I find what makes each disorder come about. It was interesting and fun to read. I can't wai to toned day conduct my own psycho-social. I think social worker is it for me!

Journal Entry 3 - Sherlyn Aldas

2009-12-16T16:31:00.003-05:00

On Monday, I began my day by working at the Audobon Clinic. However, I was alone since none of the foster grandparets were present at the moment. Although there was a small amount of kids, I was not able to read to any of them since they were so into playing with toys. I couldn't really interact with them at all. Hopefully next time it will be easier.

Journal Entry 3 - Tenzin Lhamo

2009-12-16T16:23:00.003-05:00

Working with therapy is great as it is not only helpful to others but also helpful to yourself. My mentor has taught many ways to ease your pain, i.e exercise and massage. This week I learned what Quadricep muscles we have:

1. Vastus Lateralis
2. Vastus Medio
3. Vastus Intermedius
4. Rectus Femoris

Being a physical therapist is not only massaging or helping people get better, it is also keeping track of patients. Common questions asked are:

1. How is she/he doing today?
2. Is the patient getting better?
3. Did you see any new patient?
4. Do you have any complaints?

They have to keep track of these things so they can be reimbursed for insurance and make sure they can respond to any complaints.

Journal Entry 3 - Khmran Malik

2009-12-08T10:39:00.003-05:00

This week was fun. I got to meet with new patients and got a chance to help them. There were some patients that were getting discharged so I had to remove their paperwork from their binder. I was surprised that there was a sequence to take out their paperwork when a patient is discharged. I was like wow! I also got to talk to a nurse that was from India. She is Christian. We talked about the different religions in India and what our favorite Indian food was. I also learned how to use the fax and copy machines. This week was half paperwork and half interacting with patients and assisting them with whatever they needed. I liked it because I had a chance to learn from two different points of views. It was interesting.

Journal Entry 2 - Tenzin Lhamo

2009-12-04T16:08:00.003-05:00

I have learned so many things in my externship that are helpful for me and people who have pain in their body. My placement is so exciting. Everyday there is always something funny happening and the best part is I get to learn more about my career choice.

This week my mentor taught me about the spine. The spine has three main areas:

1. Cervical - has 7 vertebrae
2. Thoracic - has 12 vertebrae
3. Lumbar - has 5 vertebrae

Then there are the two other parts of the spinal cord:

1. Sacrum - a triangular shaped bone right next to the Lumbar
2. Coccyx - the tailbone

Journal Entry 2 - Zaire Smalls

2009-12-04T16:03:00.003-05:00

This week at my site I was told to approve MedicAid and presumptive insurance applications. To do this, I went into EPIC, the electronic medical records system, to look them up, put in a chief complaint and a follow up note. Even though the EPIC training was easy and I remembered everything I had heard, I began to get frustrated because the technology was not agreeing with me but in the end I figured things out with a little reminder. As easy as EPIC looks, it is actually quite difficult. If you are searching for a patient name in the wrong spot, you won't find it even though it is all there. This is same with patient records and encounters. However, after this, I got a better sense of how to work EPIC and will complete my work this week much faster.

Journal Entry 1 - Tenzin Lhamo

2009-12-04T15:53:00.005-05:00

My Externship is at Sports Physical Therapy and as the name says, we work with patients who have physical problems. My externship mainly focuses on bones and muscle (bones that are broken and muscle/bone pain). Working in physical therapy is very helpful to me as I am an athlete and get injured almost everyday. When this happens in the future, I will be able to use my experience to know what is going on.

My mentor, Ms. Thomas who is a great teacher and an awesome therapist has taught me many things. Take this week for example. I have learned so many different body parts:

1. Ligament - which connects bone to bone
2. Tendon - which connects bone to muscle
3. Humerus - bone in leg
4. Forearm bones - Ulna - near your pinky and Radius - near your thumb
5. Carpal bone - There are eight carpal bones and there are four main parts - scaphoid, lunate, triquetral and the pisiform.

The other staff who work with my mentor are very nice, helpful and funny too!

Journal Entry 2 - Sherlyn Aldas

2009-12-04T15:42:00.005-05:00

On Monday, Emelin had me continue stocking books to finish up before winter break starts. I'm getting better at remembering the sticker color and age group now. The day went quickly and soon the day was over.

Tuesday was the day that I was going to go to the Audibon Clinic along with a new volunteer. Emelin was very ecstatic to finally have us read to children. Unfortunately when we arrived to the clinic, the reading table was removed and the staff could not bring it back. Emelin was disappointed and we retured to New York Presbyterian to finish stocking the books. She told me that she was sure that by Thursday, I would be reading to the children.

On Thursday, I went to the clinic just like Emelin had said and I emt with one of the foster gradnparents who was reading to the children. I was waiting for someone to cmoe read to. I met a little boy who kept asking for more and more. I felt really great helping this little boy who honestly loved reading. It gave me even more inspiration to start a book drive at my school. The poster is above - Please bring in new and gently used books before December 11th!

Journal Entry 2 - Viviana Sanchez

2009-12-03T15:56:00.004-05:00

It's about my second week working at the Ryan Center with Fay, who is my mentor. This week Fay asked me to put aside the office paperwork. Instead, I went to 97th street to wrap gifts for little kids for the upcoming holiday party at the clinic. I tag-teamed and worked well with others while I was doing this. We had a lot of presents to wrap but with teamwork, we knew that we could get the job done fast.

Wagner College

2009-12-02T11:24:00.007-05:00

Mentor Connection's trip to Wagner College on Staten Island allowed students to explore a school set in a traditional, pastoral setting. As opposed to some of the more urban institutions in New York City that do not have quite so cohesive of a campus, students were exposed to an alternative type of college life. Students got to sit in on an organic chemistry class, eat lunch in the dining hall, tour the campus, as well as ask the admissions director a multitude of questions. We are thankful to all who facilitated this visit and are looking forward to many college visits to come.

Journal Entry 2 - Faith Fordjour

2009-12-02T11:20:00.003-05:00

I only went one day to Mount Sinai this week because of the Thanksgiving Holiday. I was there on Monday and it was very interesting. I feel like I'm a kid's magnet. It's like they all like me. There was this boy today, his name was Timothy. He wanted me to play with him but I am not supposed to play with the kids. My job is to read to them but also I can't say no to a child so I went ahead. The hard part about my day was getting someone to read to. Most of the kids don't really want to read, they would rather color or play games. But there is always one child who is interested in reading. This girl today read me a book. She was probably three or four years old. Of course she didn't read the words but she was telling me the story by looking at the pictures. It was so cute.

Journal Entry 2 - Khmran Malik

2009-11-30T14:36:00.004-05:00

This week I just went to my mentorship one day due to the Thanksgiving break. It was a very slow and quiet day. The patients were mostly sleeping and resting. I checked each patient's book to see if the lable was correctly written. I also checked if the paperwork was in order. I helped a patient with the television and gave him water. I also played a game with the patient. He was very thankful and happy that he had a fun time. I dropped another patient downstairs because he was going home. He looked tired and couldn't wait to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family. He thanked me for helping him. He got in his car and was a happy fellow.

Journal Entry 1 - Faith Fordjour (11/24/09)

2009-11-24T15:07:00.003-05:00

I started my volunteering on Thursday the 19th of November. For my first day, I had to get my picture taken and get my volunteer ID. My mentor, Sonia Lugo, explained to me what I have to do. My first task on the job was to read to this girl. She reminded me of one of my preschool students from last year. She was so easy to work with. It's a shame I forgot her name. I read her a couple books and she had to go. I found out on Monday that the girl was very shy and it was shocking that she was so free with me.

Friday, which was my second day, was a bit slow at Mount Sinai so I just played games with the kids that were there. Monday was like the official start date. I had my orientation which was me getting to know the floor that I was on. Sonia told me what I have to do when I come in, where to go and the things I can do if there are no kids around to read to. After that I grabbed a couple books and went off to start. For some reason I was a little nervous. I have worked with kids before but I guess having the parents around was what made me nervous. I met this little girl who was probably 4 or 5. Her name was Justine. I sat with her and read to her all the books I had. They was Maicy's Book, The Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly, Goodnight Mood and I forgot the other two books. After i read all the books I went off to find another child. There was this girl doing her homework but she was struggling with one question. I explained it to her, what she can do to make it easy and she did everything by herself. Oh, and I have to read to infants which is different. What I like most is that I get to interact with the kids more than other placements.

Journal Entry 1 - Viviana Sanchez (11/24/09)

2009-11-24T15:00:00.004-05:00

It was on November 16th of 2009 when I started my placement at the Ryan Center. I met all the employees and I met my mentor who is Fay Barrett. The past few days I have been doing a lot of office paper work. My first task was to check the attendance of the employees. The 2nd task (which I am still working on) is to organize punch time sheets and other office papers.

What I though was most fascinating this week at my placement was when Fay told me that everybody in the office takes notes in a notebook about many different things. She said that they could forget how to do things so it is always better to write things down. She also takes notes when she is talking to somebody. She told me that from now on I too should take notes whenever she assigns me a task or whenever somebody talks to me related to an important topic.

Journal Entry 1 - Sherlyn Aldas (11/24/09)

2009-11-24T11:07:00.001-05:00

This past week, I have begun working in the Reach Out and Read program in the New York Presbyterian (NYP) Hospital with my mentor Emelin Martinez. On the first day, she introduced me to another volunteer and we began to watch a training video to help us learn how to interact with children according to age. After that, we left the NYP hospital and took a train to go to the Broadway Hospital, which has an extension of the Reach Out and Read program. Emelin taught us how to organize the books according to age group by labeling them with stickers. She also had us memorize what color stickers belonged to what age group. She also introduced us to nurses and doctors to get well acquainted by. Finally by the end of the day, we began reading to some of the kids who seemed to enjoy reading, especially after waiting in the hospital for long hours.

The second day, Emelin wasn’t there but she left me instructions to work on while she was busy. She instructed me to work on a poster for a book drive to be held in Washington Irving and also to see how many books needed to be stocked. When she returned, she told me that besides reading to children, she also wanted to make activities that go along with the story. I spent the rest of the time researching a couple of activities based on the books listed. After finding a couple of them, I printed them out and shared them with Emelin, who will be posting them with the children next week.

Finally, on Thursday, we began to label the books according to the age group with the help of two foster grandparents who were going to help me next week to read to the children. They told me about the several activities that they did with the children, such as reading with puppets and helping some of the older kids with homework. I am already familiar with these activities after working in the preschool internship so I think it would be easy to adapt to these concepts. I learned more about the labels and memorized which color represented which age group. Next week, I should be able to work with the kids.

Journal Entry 1 - Khmran Malik (11/23/09)

2009-11-23T14:39:00.002-05:00

This week I learned how to talk to patients as well as learned different codes to doors where there are medications and other medical supplies. I saw the pharmacy where medication is located for patients. I also followed the nurse around and observed what she was doing. I found different ways to interact with patients.

I also helped a man (patient) to get to his wheel chair and dropped him off downstairs. The man was saying that he couldn't wait to go home and see his grandsons. He was very happy to be leaving.

Journal Entry 1 - Zaire Smalls (11/23/09)

2009-11-23T12:19:00.002-05:00

This week at my internship has been very interesting. I did a lot of paperwork, which was pleasant and helpful to everyone in the office. In addition, on Thursday, November 19, I started shadowing Lauren, my supervisor, in case management.

Case Management is when a social worker helps a patient get the social services that they need. During the two cases I sat through, I observed Lauren at work. The first woman just needed MedicAid, which is one of the main focuses of Lauren's cases. The 2nd woman needed all the services she could get because she lost her job after moving into a new apartment. This touched me and I wish there was more I could have done. I learned to deal with each case depending on the circumstance of the patient's income, immigration status, papers, etc. This was my first experience with case management.

Hello and Welcome!

2009-11-17T15:52:00.005-05:00

Hello everyone and welcome to the first ever Mentor Connection blog! This site will allow us to keep up with the happenings of all the mentor connection students as they go through their externships. Every week we will have new posts and updates, allowing everyone to share all the interesting experiences they will no doubt have access to throughout the year.

Currently, our students are placed at:

NY Presbyterian
Hospital volunteer - Khmran Malik

The Ryan Center
Prevention Outreach - Viviana Sanchez

The Institute for Family Health
Social Work - Zaire Smalls
Prenatal Health Care - Ivonn Otavalo

Reach Out and Read
NY Presbyterian - Sherlyn Aldas
Mt. Sinai - Faith Fordjour

Sports PT
Sports Therapy - Tenzin Lhamo