Hello everyone! My name is Laila Skramstad and I am doing my Pinhead Internship at the Rodham Institute at George Washington University in Washington D.C. The Rodham Institute works to achieve health equity in the city through educational programs and partnerships with pre-existing nonprofit organizations. On Monday and Tuesday, I met with Ms. Tracie Bass and Dr. Jehan El-Bayoumi, the two successful and inspiring women that lead the organization.
On Wednesday, I spent my day shadowing second-year residents in the internal medicine sector at George Washington University. During this process, I sat in on their appointments with their patients, learned about the database in which they enter the patients’ medical information, and discussed how it feels to work with patients that cannot afford their health care. These conversations were especially significant and intriguing to me because these issues take place in the nation’s capital, where gentrification and health disparities are quite extreme, despite the concentration of power and influence that exists in the area. During my time at the clinic, I could not take any photos out of respect for the patients.
On Thursday, I had the privilege to join this year’s round of intern’s at GW hospital on the “See the City You Serve” tour, hosted by the Rodham Institute. On this tour, we traveled from the University to United Medical Center, a hospital in Ward 8, one of the most under-resourced and impoverished areas in the city. At the hospital, we discussed the politics involved in the health care system and the social determinants of health care.
On Friday, my bosses had a family obligation and gave me the day off to explore the city. On my day off, I went to the Museum of Natural History, the African American History Museum, and the National Gallery of Art. I also explored many government buildings and monuments around capitol hill. This week has been wonderful and I am looking forward to learning more about the health care system and the intersection of public health and health policy at my internship.
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