Paging a future doctor: Physician Mentor program gives insight into the medical field

Pediatric gastroenterologists see a lot of baby poop, and so did Raya Skopicki during her summer internship.

Skopicki, a senior majoring in biological sciences with a minor in forensic health, has envisioned a medical career since high school. The Summer Physician Mentor Program gave her an opportunity to explore the field firsthand, pairing her up with a Harpur College alumna.

“Right now, becoming a doctor is one of my goals. I love working with kids, so I am interested in pediatrics,” said Skopicki, who participated in the internship in 2019.

The program gives Harpur students the chance to assess the profession from the inside and develop exposure that will support their applications to medical school, said Erin Cody, director of Harpur Edge. For alumni, it’s a great opportunity to host an aspiring healthcare professional and develop a mentoring relationship, she said.

The program seeks to match participants with alumni physicians primarily downstate. Skopicki shadowed pediatric gastroenterologist Toba Weinstein at Northwell Health, located in New Hyde Park in her native Long Island.

“Over the summer, I spent a lot of time in the clinic,” Skopicki said. “She let me come in when she was seeing patients and also join her at meetings so I can see the administrative duties that doctors have.”

She also had the opportunity to examine stool samples and run simple tests that didn’t require medical training — hence the baby poop. In addition, she joined Weinstein on hospital rounds visiting patients outside of the clinic. Overall, Skopicki gained insight into gastroenterology, including diseases, their symptoms and their treatments.

“I think what stood out most is how much Dr. Weinstein let me become immersed in the summer program,” she reflected.

This wasn’t her first medical internship; she shadowed a pediatric cardiologist at Stonybrook University during her high school days and the summer after her freshman year, she said. The two experiences provided a good basis to compare the fields, she said.

When it came time for college, Skopicki chose Binghamton for its proximity to home and the opportunity to participate in the JFEW/Binghamton Leadership and Career Development Scholars Program, which provides Jewish female undergraduates with financial support and educational opportunities.

She has formed connections with professors and instructors, including organic chemistry lecturer Simon Tong, who proved a capable mentor in a course that many future medical students find daunting. She has also enjoyed Assistant Professor Thomas Powell’s upper-level biology courses, and the quick pivot he made this spring when the coronavirus pandemic forced classes to go online.

In light of the pandemic, Skopicki opted to take online classes from home rather than return to campus.

“It’s hard not being to get an authentic senior year experience, but as someone who wants to go into the medical field, this prioritizes everyone’s safety and health,” she reflected.

After graduation, Skopicki plans to take a gap year and work as an EMT or as a medical scribe before applying to medical school. Her time in the Physician Mentor program will remain one of the highlights of her Harpur experience, and she recommends it to fellow students interested in the field.

“It’s a rare and awesome opportunity that students interested in medicine should look into. I was really excited when I got accepted,” she said.