HCMP 1997

The inception of this program started with two students at the University of Texas at Austin.  Gunjan Parikh and David Nguyen were both pre-med students who were volunteering at Children's Hospital.  In a effort to add a third dimensional view of medicine and further his understanding of healthcare, David shadowed Dr. David Wright on rounds.  Gunjan wanted to gain a deeper view of medicine as well as David experienced.  David and Gunjan brainstormed the idea of having students shadow doctors to develop an understanding of the details of a physician's life.  Researching shadow programs on the Internet, the two came upon a mentorship program at Duke University called the Health Careers Internship Program.  Asking HCIP Director Sandra Tuthill for information about establishing a similar program at the University of Texas at Austin, they then sought help from the hospital.  

They found key supporters in the following people: Mary Jane Ashe, Children's Hospital of Austin Nurse Administrator, Dr. David Wright, former Family Practice Residency Director, Dr. George Edwards, Pediatrics Residency Director, Sue McClernon, Vice-President of Brackenridge Hospital, Keith Goodwin, former Vice-President of Brackenridge Hospital, and Sandra Tuthill, Duke University Health Careers Internship Program Director.  

After much hard work of securing aide from several supporters, David and Gunjan worked with administration in developing a curriculum with Children's Hospital Volunteer Services using the Health Careers Internship Program at Duke University as a model. Following an application and interview process, two students are allowed the opportunity to shadow doctors for a semester with the agreement that they become coordinators the following semester.  Thus, the program is self-perpetual in the sense that it is dynamic and catalytic in fostering skills learned as an intern.