Biochemistry & molecular biology major explores the vast field of healthcare.

Arsema Yimer ’27, a biochemistry and molecular biology major considering a career in healthcare, attended the MedEx Academy in Greenville, South Carolina this summer through an APEX Micro Fellowship. Yimer explored several career paths throughout her experience by taking advantage of opportunities including shadowing physicians as they conducted various procedures and tasks. She also attended information sessions that discussed topics such as careers in the medical industry, medical ethics, and how to prepare for graduate school in healthcare-related fields. Through these experiences, Yimer not only developed patient communication and teamwork skills, but also an increased comprehension of the healthcare field’s breadth. MedEx Academy is a program offered through the Health Sciences Center at Prisma Health that welcomes over 175 high school and college students each summer to explore various career paths related to healthcare.  

“My Micro Fellowship Experience significantly broadened my understanding of the healthcare field, exposing me to various career paths and deepening my appreciation for the complexities of patient care.”
—Arsema Yimer ’27 

Q: How did you learn about the internship opportunity for your micro-fellowship? 

Yimer: I learned about the internship through a student organization group (MiSTEM) during an internship panel.  

Q: Why was the position a good fit for you? 

Yimer: this internship was a good fit for me because I was meaning to get more hands- on experience and explorations of careers in medicine. 

Q: What interests you most about the work you did? 

Yimer: What interested me most about the work I did was the ability to explore and get a glimpse of the health care field which I am passionate about and aspire to be a part of. 

Q: Who was your fellowship mentor and how did they help you to succeed in this position? 

Yimer: My mentor was Mark Snider, Robert E. Wilson Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. We had good discussions before and after my internship regarding what to expect and take away from my opportunity. He helped me to reflect on whether I met my expected goals and what key takeaways I gathered from the experience. 

Q: What are some skills you’ve learned that you see yourself carrying forward in your career? 

Yimer: During my MedEx experience, I developed essential skills such as effective patient communication, practical application of clinical knowledge, teamwork, time management, and adaptability. These skills are crucial for my future career in medicine, where providing compassionate care and working efficiently in a dynamic environment are key. 

Q: How has the internship helped you to see what’s next for you? 

Yimer: While it hasn’t changed my overall career plans, it has expanded my perspective on the different roles within medicine, making me more open to exploring various specialties. This experience has reinforced my commitment to pursuing a career in healthcare, but with a more informed and flexible approach as to how I might achieve my goals. 

Posted in Experiential Learning on August 10, 2024.