Nearly 40 OUWB medical students recently completed summer internships in clinical settings at local Corewell Health locations.

The internships occurred at both Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak and Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital. The locations are two of three where OUWB students currently receive clinical training.

This year, OUWB was able to provide additional funding bringing the number of clinical interns to 39 from a previous 30. Funding helps to provide students with an enriching experience and a $1,000 stipend for their work during the month of June.

Whether working in cardiology or interventional radiology, the purpose behind these internships remains the same: to offer OUWB students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and fully engage in their medical education.

“It gives them some great exposure to things they will be experiencing during M3 and M4 years,” said Tracy Wunderlich-Barillas Ph.D., director, Research Training.

“It’s a pretty favorable program. We really enjoy being able to give these opportunities to the students and to help them grow,” she continued. “And maybe they’ll figure out ‘Hey, I want to do this specialty.’”

For Mohamed Mallah, rising M2, this sentiment rang true for his internship in cardiology.

“I actually think that after looking at everything in cardiology, I do want to go far in the field and can actually see myself working as an interventional cardiologist in the future,” he said.

Mallah was one of two students offered a spot in the cardiology specialty. Mallah credits this opportunity to his ability to be flexible and think on his toes.

“Sometimes during procedures, things do not always go to plan and are not always perfect like they are in the textbooks,” said Mallah. “That is why it is so important to be professional enough to improvise in any field you decide to go into, including cardiology. It is not always about going by the book, but about thinking outside the box and being smart and prepared enough to know what to do if going by the book isn't an option.”

In addition to the specialties that have been offered in years past, new additions have been added this year in ophthalmology and anesthesia.

Samuel Grajeda, rising M2, is the first student to have an ophthalmology internship and has spent his time working in different subspecialities of the program.

“Most medical schools don’t have a home program in ophthalmology, so this is huge, being able to partake in such a feast of experiences. It’s awesome,” said Grajeda.

The experiences that Grajeda and other interns have through this opportunity are unlike their experiences thus far in their first year.

“I’ve read a lot about different procedures — the more common ones that are within medicine —
but these procedures that I’m seeing within the field of ophthalmology, are just so niche,” said Grajeda. “I didn’t even know most of these things existed.”

Nandini Koneru, rising M2, spent June interning within the interventional radiology specialty and gained experience supporting physicians.

“They allowed me to scrub in on procedures and have taught me a lot about how to assist in these procedures,” said Koneru. “I’ve learned how to maintain the back table, which is something that’s definitely important during our rotations during the third year.”

Like Mallah, Koneru has noticed a difference in her experience in the clinical setting compared to the classroom.

“It’s just a different type of learning. It’s more hands on. It’s more in-the-moment,” said Koneru. “We’re always around our classmates, the same people, our professors and I feel like we spend a lot of time studying. Whereas when I’m in the hospital, it’s like we’re always hustling, doing something.”

After completing their internship in June, students create and showcase a poster presentation in August highlighting a significant aspect of their internship. What they have gathered from their program will be integrated in additional research or case studies they have explored.

Regardless of specialty, students are able to take away significant lessons from the clinical setting as they continue their medical education.

“It’s all baby steps; it builds on each other. It is definitely my first step towards being responsible for the patient. It is definitely exciting (that) I am headed in that direction,” said Grajeda.

To request an interview, visit the OUWB Communications & Marketing webpage.

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