Biology major Helena Gaffney ’19 is focused on a medical career and carries a demanding course load at UVM. But she didn’t want to miss out on a study abroad experience while in college. So she took advantage of an opportunity to enhance her understanding of the medical profession while spending four weeks in Italy through an internship this summer at L’Ospedale Policlinico San Martino in Genova. What’s more, she received a scholarship from the College of Arts and Sciences to pay for some travel and related expenses. “I shadowed in five different departments including vascular surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, anesthesiology, and urology. I was able to scrub into surgeries, about 30 in total. Although most things were translated for me, by looking at charts and listening to the doctors speak with each other and their patients, I gained a general knowledge of Italian medical terminology.” The experience dovetailed with her work as a medical scribe in the UVM Medical Center’s Emergency Department. “This experience gave me an opportunity to talk with physicians and ask questions, something I’ll need to feel comfortable doing as a medical student and new doctor. An especially unique experience I got out of this was seeing first-hand how a universal healthcare system functions in practice, something many medical students in this country have little knowledge of.”

Aina Rattu found her place with Dr. Vikas Anathy of the Pathology Department working in his area of interest: oxidative stress in lung fibrosis. Aina’s focus became allergy-induced asthma, what happens after a foreign particle enters the lungs. She determined that she would focus her thesis on the protein response that leads to scarring in the lungs. 

Julie Richer’s interests straddle biology, her major at UVM, and psychology, her minor. “Pursuing a B.A. degree has allowed me to take a wide variety of classes in many disciplines—I’ve never been disappointed by any of these courses. They’ve deepened my love of learning, and given me a diverse education.” Outside the classroom, her internship at the Tufts Wildlife Clinic deepened her interest in care and treatment of animals—now she has her sights set on veterinary school.

Ben Grebber, an Honors College student majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry and pharmacology, won’t be leaving after commencement. Instead, he’ll join the Larner College of Medicine Class of 2021.While shadowing a gastroenterologist, general surgeon, and primary care physician, Grebber learned how to interact with patients and develop the skills needed to collect patient information and formulate a diagnosis and treatment plan.