Internships
Students begin each day interning in the department of their choice. In the late afternoon, the students meet as a large group for daily lectures and multimedia presentations concerning different healthcare issues. Once a week, students meet in small groups to discuss short readings that focus on important topics such as medical ethics and problems faced by individuals with various handicaps and disabilities.
Departments and Supervisors
The New York University Medical Center prides itself on having a world-renowned faculty and staff. In many cases, students will be working with people who are the leaders of their specialties.
Placements
Anesthesiology: Students are assigned to different operating rooms throughout the hospital each day. They have the opportunity to see a wide variety of operations ranging from neurosurgery to orthopedic surgery. Students also have the opportunity to spend some time with the pain management team by making rounds on post-operative patients. The physicians and fellows that the students work with are always eager and willing to discuss surgeries and answer questions.
Cardio/Pulmonary Research: Students assist with research in the cardiac rehabilitation department. They collect data from patient charts and then discuss the data in a team setting to decide which information will be used in the study. Students enter information into the database and analyze the data. They also have the opportunity to observe physicians and other healthcare professionals specializing in cardiac rehabilitation.
Horticultural Therapy: The horticultural therapy
program works with both pediatric and adult patients in Rusk Institute’s
greenhouse and gardens. Patients develop and use their skills and
abilities through the art and science of growing plants. When students
participate as assistants in this department, they will learn how
to work with people with different abilities. The work is challenging
and fun, but it also demands flexibility and a willingness to play
in the soil. Some students are even given the opportunity to teach
their own class.
Medical Oncology: Students are assigned to an oncology fellow at Bellevue. They have the opportunity to attend conferences, go on rounds, see patients, and meet with other doctors and healthcare professionals. Students are able to see the exciting workday of a doctor and observe the interaction between doctors and patients in the medical oncology clinic.
Nursing: Students in the nursing department have a great deal of patient contact. They spend the day with nurses and learn about various medications and procedures. Students are given the opportunity to spend time with nurses on different floors and wings of the hospital so that they are able to see many different areas of medicine. A lot of time is spent visiting with and talking to patients. Students also get to see the interactions between doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
Nutrition: When assigned to the nutrition department,
students spend time following nutritionists around the medical
center. Students will observe interviews of patients for diet histories
and nutritional counseling and they will also perform nutrient calculations.
There is time to read charts and time to observe the entire
medical team in action through rounds and conferences. Students will
also gain exposure to the hospital’s food service facilities.
Occupational Therapy: Students have daily contact with patients. They assist with the transporting of patients and with patient treatment whenever possible. Often, the students assist therapists in preparing materials for treatment, refinishing materials, and reorganizing equipment. Students may be assigned to subspecialties of occupational therapy such as Seating and Mobility or Barrier Free Design. In this department, students have the opportunity to observe and ask many questions.
Pastoral Care: Students follow chaplains who provide patients with pastoral care by attending to their religious and spiritual needs. They have the opportunity to interact with patients everyday. The interfaith ministry of NYU Chaplains and Chaplain Interns is carried out by clergy and seminary students from all faith communities.
Pharmacy: Working in a hospital pharmacy and a retail division gives a student a broad range of diverse job characteristics to observe and participate in. Research projects are also available.
Physical Therapy: There are a number of departments under the umbrella of physical therapy - i.e. pediatric, adult, inpatient, outpatient, acute, pulmonary, and vestibular. The day is spent assisting the therapist and includes the following - running errands, helping the children ride bikes, keeping the children occupied therapeutically, helping in ambulation and mat classes, and aiding with orthotics and prosthetics. Students also observe a lot and are able to ask questions.
Plastic Surgery: Students follow plastic surgery residents and attending physicians by attending lectures, conferences, and observing surgical cases. Most of the day is spent observing surgery in the operating room along side the residents and attending physicians.
Preschool: At the preschool, students work with children in a preschool program who are physically and developmentally disabled. Most students love working with handicapped children since they seem to have a special aura around them. They are inspiring and have more energy than any other group of patients.
Psychology: Working in this department usually ends up being at least two if not all three months. The student is involved in all parts of a research project, from recruiting subjects at the beginning to copying and scoring tests and then documenting data at the end. Students also have patient interaction as they assist in conducting some of the treatment. Time is also available to explore different parts of rehabilitation medicine.
Radiation Oncology: Students follow residents as they see patients and administer radiation therapy. Students are able to attend conferences as well as attend clinics with the doctors at Bellevue.
Recreational Therapy: Students can be placed in a number of different areas of therapeutic recreation. They take children to the other departments when they have classes. Students play with children using various therapeutic toys and sometimes participate in arts and crafts projects during free time. The children thoroughly enjoy the individual attention they receive. There is also time for outings throughout the month, intended to boost self-esteem and confidence. For adult recreational therapy, the functions of the student are basically the same with adjustments made to the age and maturity level of the patient.
Rehabilitation Medicine: The day for a student here typically begins with morning rounds. Following that, each student spends the day following the resident to which he or she is assigned. Students are also able to observe patients as they attend various therapy sessions. Attending different conferences and lectures is something the students here find interesting as well as researching medically related topics in the library. Students get the opportunity to see what the life of a resident is actually like.
Speech-Language Pathology: Students spend time observing sessions of speech therapy. For two weeks, the students work in adult speech therapy and work mainly with stroke patients suffering from aphasia. For the other two weeks, the students work in pediatric speech therapy and have the opportunity to interact with children. Students participate in all aspects of being part of the rehabilitation team. The therapists spend a lot of time explaining different conditions through a daily in-service training.
