INTERNSHIP

I did my internship at the National Hospital for Paraplegics in Toledo, Spain. The National Hospital for Paraplegics of Toledo is the public hospital for the treatment of spinal cord injury and is one of the largest and most technologically advanced hospitals of its kind in Europe. As an intern, I had many responsibilities revolving around rehabilitation treatment and social reintegration of patients. I was responsible for helping physiotherapists with the rehabilitation of paraplegic patients. This involved helping patients stretch their limbs and performing various range-of-motion exercises. While most of my time in the hospital was focused on patient rehabilitation, I was also responsible for the social reintegration of patients. This involved facilitating educational and cultural activities for the social reintegration of patients. These activities included teaching English classes and organizing sports activities.           

My internship at the National Hospital for Paraplegics was a clinically and culturally unique experience that gave me many skills. I learned a lot about all the different aspects of comprehensive patient care. I learned about the importance of comprehensive treatment for rehabilitation and the importance of long-term treatment plans. I formed communication skills, listening skills and good bedside manners. Most importantly, I learned that the social reintegration of the patient is as important as medical treatment. By forming meaningful relationships with my patients, I learned that sensitivity and communication are important skills in the medical field. The ability to understand all the social factors that affect a patient's health is crucial to improving their overall health and well-being. I learned that I have to meet the patient within their cultural context to make the biggest difference in their life. This cultural sensitivity and ability to understand the struggle of others is an indispensable skill that I will continue to apply in my future career as a physician.