WAC 2019 Winner: Cade Nathan!

Every Wednesday in Fall 2019, the Student Success Center held a
Weekly Anatomy Challenge (WAC).

The Fall 2019 WAC Winner is: 

Cade Nathan!

Congratulations on winning the Fall 2019's WAC!

Health Professions Week 2019

We are less than a month away from Health Professions Week, an event organized by ExploreHealthCareers.org which is aimed at helping pre-health students discover the various careers in healthcare. This year's list of digital events hosted by EHC includes Health Talks, a virtual treasure hunt, a self-care panel discussion, resources for financial literacy, live chats about mentoring and shadowing, and, as always, a virtual career fair featuring a wide range of representatives from professional programs. (Learn more and register for these free events by going here: https://explorehealthcareers.org/hpw/)

Here at SD Mines, we are gearing up to host several of our own exciting events during that week! Some of these events require a pre-registration, while other events are open for you to drop-in the day-of and check out at your convenience. All events are free and open to SD Mines students. Here's our schedule of events:

Monday, November 18th 

9:00AM-3:00PM (McKeel Conference Room) - We will be streaming some of the Health Talks and the Self-Care Panel from the EHC website. A detailed schedule for these will be updated soon.

Tuesday, November 19th

8:00AM-12:00PM (Surbeck Ballroom) - Pre-Health Expo
This event will feature information and representatives from professional programs, test preparation companies, volunteer organizations, and local shadowing/employment opportunities.

10:00AM-3:00PM (Outside of Surbeck) - Regional Health Mobile Simulation Lab
Regional Health is bringing their mock emergency room to show students what life is like in the ER. 

1:00PM-4:00PM (Hisega) - Card-Making with Helpline Center
Helpline Center will be hosting activities for students to make cards to give to members of the Rapid City community.

1:00PM-2:00PM (Hardrocker) - Occupational Therapy Demonstrations
Ranelle Nissen with USD's Occupational Therapy Department will be doing drop-in demonstrations of techniques used in occupational therapy.

1:00PM-1:30PM (Bump) - Unique Careers in Pharmacy
Amber Hawk with the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Pharmacy Program will be talking to students about the various career options within pharmacy.

1:00PM-1:30PM (Dorr) - Cardiac Clinical Specialist Careers
Representatives from PrepMD will be discussions career options as a certified cardiac clinical specialist.

1:30PM-2:00PM (Bump) - Preparing for the MCAT
Representatives from AptarePrep will be talking to students about how to get ready for the MCAT.

1:30PM-2:00PM (Dorr) - Pre-Health Student Opportunities with Black Hills Surgical Hospital
Jon Michaels with Black Hills Surgical Hospital will be talking to students about shadowing and career opportunities with BHSH.

2:00PM-3:00PM (Bump) - The Need for Diversity in the Health Professions
Vikki Driving Hawk (A.T. Still University), Dawn Warren (USD Nursing), and Jesse Herrera (Center for Inclusion at SD Mines) will be discussing the importance of diversity in healthcare and the need for bringing people from a wide range of backgrounds with an array of experiences into healthcare settings to better serve patients.

3:00PM-4:00PM (Dorr) - The Guide to PT & OT Admissions
Samuel Wheeler with the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences will be talking to students about the admissions process for physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) programs and how to prepare for careers in those professions.

3:00PM-4:00PM (Bump) - Applying to Dental, Medical, & Pharmacy Programs
Amber Hawk (UNMC Pharmacy), Nikki Hinrich (USD Sanford School of Medicine), and Ed Vigna (UNMC Dentistry) will be discussing preparation for and the process of applying to professional programs.


7:00PM-8:00PM - FHSP Professionals Dinner
The Future Health Science Professionals will be hosting a dinner with local healthcare professionals. This dinner will feature good food and great conversations with local nurses, physicians, and dentists. The event is free for anyone who has paid their yearly dues as members of the FHSP. Students are required to pre-register for this event by sending an RSVP to fhsp@mines.sdsmt.edu

Wednesday, November 20th

7:00AM-8:30AM - Pre-Shadowing Tour at Rapid City Medical Center
Students will be touring one of the Rapid City Medical Center facilities, turning in shadowing paperwork, and getting connected to shadowing opportunities during this event. Students are required to pre-register for this event. Spaces are limited, so if you are interested, please e-mail Dr. J at Johnica.Morrow@sdsmt.edu ASAP!

10:00AM-11:00AM - Pre-Shadowing Tour at Black Hills Surgical Hospital & Imaging Center
Students will be touring two of the Black Hills Surgical Hospital facilities, turning in shadowing paperwork, and getting connected to shadowing opportunities during this event. Students are required to pre-register for this event. Spaces are limited, so if you are interested, please e-mail Dr. J at Johnica.Morrow@sdsmt.edu ASAP!

Thursday, November 21st

9:30AM-11:00AM (Student Success Center) - Meet-&-Greet with Medical Students
SD Mines alumni Levi Franz & Peter Franz will be hanging out on the big, orange couch to chat with students about preparing for and thriving in medical school. Free hot beverages (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and caramel apple cider) and sweet treats will be available. Come with questions and stay for as much or as little time as you have to get to know these stellar med-students!

Friday, November 22nd

7:30AM-8:30AM - Grand Rounds at Regional Health Rapid City Hospital
Join us in the West Auditorium of RHRCH for an early morning presentation about pain management sponsored by Regional Health. Breakfast is provided and transportation can be arranged. If you want to ride with a group, we meet at the fireplace in the front lobby of Surbeck and leave around 7:00AM. Please let Dr. J know if you plan to ride with the group so that we can make sure we have enough seats for everyone! (Johnica.Morrow@sdsmt.edu)

We hope to see you at one or more of these events during
Health Professions Week 2019!

Stories from Displaced South Dakotans: The Adventures of CAPT Bruno Himmler

Sometimes South Dakotans find themselves living and working outside of the state as they progress in their health careers. In this series, we will share stores from some of these displaced South Dakotans and hear the advice that they have for others pursing careers in the healthcare industry.

Bruno participating in rescue swim
in Mobile, AL as part of USCG
Flight Surgeon training.  

CAPT Bruno Himmler graduated with his B.S. in Biology from Augustana University in 1989 before going into medical school at the University of South Dakota's Sanford School of Medicine. He is currently in Ketchikan, Alaska, serving as the primary provider for 220 active duty personnel. He also attended the Coast Guard flight surgeon program. He participates in call coverage for medical evacuation cases and search and rescue missions the Coast Guard carries out in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. We caught CAPT Himmler to ask him about his pre-med experiences, career path, and advice that he has for students looking into careers in medicine.

Where did you go after leaving South Dakota? How did you land where you are now (geographically speaking)?  After graduating from medical school, I did a transitional internship in Sioux Falls before heading to serve with the US Navy as a General Medical Officer for 3 years, 2 of which were on a LPD class ship as the sole physician for 413 crew members and 1 year doing sick call at a Naval Air Station Clinic in Norfolk, VA area.  The Uniform Services (Air Force, Army, Navy, United States Public Health Service) all offer up scholarships for students attending medical school to pay for tuition room, board and misc. expenses.  In return, graduates receive a commission into the respective service and serve on active duty as pack back.  It also affords the individual opportunities to see the United States and world and practice health care with the pressures of private, fee for service health care.  I attended the Wausau Family Practice Residency Program for 2 years after my active duty time and then went to work at a Community Health Center in NW Iowa serving populations who experience barriers to health care, either financial, cultural, language or personal life choices.  In 2005, I had the opportunity to join the USPHS and serve full-time again on active duty with Indian Health Services in Ft Hall, Idaho.  I have served since then with several Federal Agencies to include Dept. of State, US army War College, Health and Human Services HQ, Defense Health Agency, and currently since 9/11/2017, United States Coast Guard in Ketchikan, Alaska.

What kinds of shadowing did you do to get a better feel for medicine before applying to medical school? What did you learn from those experiences? 
During much time as an undergraduate, I did volunteer with a social worker at the VA Hospital in Sioux Falls. This gave me my first real exposure to health care and the hospital setting.  I learned that the health care system was made up of more than doctors and nurses and there were several other health professionals that made positive impacts on people’s lives.  

Do you have a “defining moment” or other strong memory from an experience that made you realize that medicine was the right career path for you?
There wasn't a clear defining moment that I can recollect.  My strengths in school involved math and the sciences and I enjoyed classes in chemistry, math and physics. I also am a people pleaser and wanted to help people.  Medicine provided a venue to help others and to utilize science skills.  It also provides an universal language that allows people from other cultures and languages to come together to improve the health of a people.

What kinds of volunteering do you do?
I have volunteered at various medical clinics during my career to ensure I maintained by clinical abilities. After doing primary care for 6 years, I decided to pursue an opportunity to become involved in health care diplomacy and spent several years as a SME for Health and Humanitarian Assistance, with a focus on international development.  I obtained a Master’s of Public Health from Des Moines University in 2013 which also helped broaden my knowledge relating to public health.

Bruno and his wife, Mary (one of our
SD Mines alumni!), taken this summer.

Did you do any research as an undergraduate?
I did research work in the biology department while I was an undergraduate.  One project I participated in dealt with trace element analysis of human remains to determine their eating patterns and diet composition.  This entailed a 4 week trip down to Arica, Chile, where I joined a team from the University of Rhode Island to gather plant samples, marine life samples and human remains samples.  The analysis was able to demonstrate that the indigenous people in that region of Chile from 4000 BC were both hunters, gatherers and ate red meat, sea food and plant food.

How did you prepare for the MCAT?
My main preparation involved reviewing study guide books.  Good course to complete before taking the MCAT include, basic biology, chemistry, biochemistry, trigonometry, physics and human anatomy.  In our medical school class, we had people with various degrees to include History, English, Sciences, and Engineering.

What techniques do you use to manage your time and stress levels? 
After I believe the key is to engage in physical activity that you enjoy to help relieve stress.  Also, relaxation methods such as Yoga or meditation are also helpful.  In today’s society, youth are learning the skills on how to multi-task utilizing modern technology.  This skill can be translated into the health care field as many times, I have needed to multitask and deal with several issues simultaneously.

What advice do you have for pre-health students who are struggling?  
Struggles are actually healthy.  I would worry about someone who never had to face adversity or struggle at some point in their education or career path.  It is through struggles that we are able to grow and become more confident in our abilities.  The other key is to reach out for help and not to struggle alone.  

Advice from an Alumnus: Meet Allyson Stromer!

SD Mines has a reputation for excellence that reverberates through our students long after they leave campus with their degrees in hand. Today, we are featuring on of our alumni, Allyson Stromer, who earned her degree in Interdisciplinary Science in 2005, then she went on to earn her B.S. in nursing and later her M.S. in nursing education from SDSU. She is currently working for SDSU's College of Nursing as a nursing instructor right here in Rapid City! We caught up with Allyson to ask her about her time at SD Mines and how it helped to prepare her for a career in healthcare.

Hey, Allyson! How did your time at SD Mines prepare you for a career in nursing education?
My time at SDSM&T was filled with everything I needed to be ready for nursing school, including several biology and chemistry courses with associated labs, anatomy and physiology courses, and psychology courses. In addition to writing and humanities courses, the Mines laid the groundwork for a well-rounded education that helped me be successful in nursing school and as a nurse.

What kinds of healthcare experiences did you do to get a better feel for careers in healthcare while you were a student? 
I worked as a certified nurse's assistant (CNA) after my graduation from the Mines so I could decide if healthcare was something I was passionate about. I realized the development of the nurse-patient relationship was a strength I had early on and wanted to explore it further. 

Did you do any research as an undergraduate at SD Mines? 
I wrote a research paper as a requirement for graduation from SDSM&T but as I learn more about the research process, I know it wasn't a great paper! I haven't participated in any research outside of school requirements since then, but even those experiences have been valuable. The biggest take-away has been the development of information literacy, the concept of knowing I need more information and the ability to find a reliable, valid sources to support an evidence-based practice.

What kinds of volunteering did you do during your undergraduate?
I volunteered for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters school program.

In what other ways did you prepare for a career in healthcare?
In addition to my work as a CNA, I have several amazing nurses in my family who answered my questions and offered support in preparation for my schooling and my career. My mom, who has been a nurse for over 40 years, still answers any questions I have about nursing!

How did you balance studying, attending classes, and other student commitments with your personal life while at SD Mines?
The eternal struggle! There was always more studying to do, there was always another work shift available, there was always another get together with my friends. For me, balancing all that meant keeping my end goal in mind and only saying yes to things I really wanted to do. If that meant making time for me to sit and read and be alone, that's what I did. Also, surrounding myself with like-minded individuals helped during my time at the Mines. We had fun when it was time to have fun and we studied (a lot!) when it was time to study. 

What techniques do you use to manage your time and stress levels now as a professional?
As an instructor, I make full use of my planner and my Outlook calendar to keep me on track. Even class prep gets a time slot to ensure I am ready for each class. I am slowly (slowly!) going as paperless as I can so I don't waste precious time or resources printing PowerPoint slides that I will then re-work for next time. I also work to finish one task as completely as possible so I can easily move on to the next item.

When I feel stressed, I try to remember that it’s a normal part of life and I can control my response to it, no matter the circumstances. I prioritize tasks and remember to make time for my family and myself to avoid burnout. I also enjoy going back to hands-on nursing when I have the opportunity. It reminds me of the reasons I love being a nurse.

What advice do you have for pre-health students who are struggling?
In classes, make connections with the work. Figure out how things tie together and "make sense". Once you have a better grasp on the bigger picture, the smaller ideas begin to fit into place. Self-awareness is important too. For example, if you aren’t being as successful in your courses as you would like, take a minute to look at your study habits. Are you studying in a group in which you find yourself unable to get anything done? Perhaps it’s time to reevaluate those habits and try a new approach.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed and have moments of "I can't do this". Find someone who will lend you an ear, a shoulder, any kind of support to help you through this time.  Take advantage of campus resources as well, there are many forms of help available for when you are struggling.

All About HOSA: Future Health Professionals

This post was written by guest contributor, Gabrielle Smith, a current SD Mines student that is part of the team of students working to start a HOSA chapter here at SD Mines.

HOSA participants learn about
medical imaging during
the annual conference.

Whether you are interested in public health, working as a clinician, laboratory science, or biomedical engineering, HOSA may be for you.  HOSA: Future Health Professionals is an international organization for middle school, high school, post-secondary, and college students interested in healthcare fields.  HOSA provides students with opportunities for competition, scholarships, and volunteering.  It is also currently the largest organization in the world for students planning on going into healthcare and healthcare-related fields.  With over 60 competitive events and multiple recognition events, there are a wide variety of options to choose from.

Students compete and attend symposia at annual conferences at the state and international level.  These conferences also provide valuable opportunities to network.  At the state conference, I’ve been able to go to sessions on pediatrics, being an obstetrician/gynecologist, suturing, family medicine, and emergency medical services.

Internationals take place every year in late June.  Over 11,500 attendees from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China at the most recent conference in Orlando, Florida.

View from the recent HOSA conference in Orlando, FL.

For the past four years, I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to attend the International Leadership Conference.  At the most recent international conference, I was able to attend a presentation on the role of augmented intelligence in healthcare, a lecture on medicine in space, and a round table about the future of healthcare.  There were also sessions on palliative care, emergency preparedness, pediatrics, suturing, and designing prosthetics, among others.  Some of the speakers and representatives included people from Microsoft (including several mechanical engineers and a bioengineering researcher), IBM Watson Health, the US Surgeon General, a former senior medical advisor at NASA, HHS and the White House, and a branch chief from the US Department of Health and Human Services.  At other conferences, I’ve been able to get certified in mass bleeding control and attend sessions on emergency medicine, human trafficking, and post-traumatic stress disorder in emergency medical services.

Opening slide from a presentation given
during the International Leadership Conference.

During my time in HOSA, I’ve been able to compete in epidemiology, behavioral health, pathophysiology, and healthcare issues.  While all of those were based on written exams, there are plenty of other types of events.  In my previous chapter at my high school, students have competed at the international competition in events such as CPR/First Aid, EMT, Health Career Photography, and Forensic Science.  Some competitive events involve demonstrating clinical skills, while others involve demonstrating various labs.  Still others involve poster presentations in areas like biomedical engineering.

HOSA has been extremely valuable to me.  When I joined, I wasn’t entirely sure about what I was getting myself into, but I’m incredibly grateful that I did.  HOSA has provided me with opportunities to meet other students from around the world and given me the chance to further my knowledge in a variety of areas in healthcare.

If you’d like to learn more, or get involved with HOSA, please email me at Gabrielle.Smith@mines.sdsmt.edu or Hope Dosch at Hope.Dosch@mines.sdsmt.edu

You can read more about HOSA here in South Dakota
by checking out their website: https://sdhosa.org/  

Students Attend the 2nd Annual Heartland Pre-Med Conference

This time last week, a group of students returned to classes after a weekend spent traveling to Kirksville, Missouri, to attend the 2nd Annual Heartland PreMed Conference at A.T. Still University's School of Osteopathic Medicine. This school is the first osteopathic medical school in the country and was established in 1892 by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathy and osteopathic medicine. The legacy of A.T. Still is described in the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine, which is located on the Kirksville campus. Our students were able to tour the museum during their time at the conference. The museum featured lots of interesting artifacts from A.T. Still's life and a collection of medical antiques that show the progression of osteopathic medicine through time.

One of the displays at the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine.

VP for Academic Affairs at ATSU, Lori Haxton,
delivers the welcome message at the conference.

Three of our fantastic pre-health students embarked on their journey to Kirksville on a Friday morning. We spent 11 hours riding in a school vehicle talking about life, the universe, and everything before finding our way to our hotel and settling in before the next day's conference. The next morning began with a good breakfast and arriving early for registration check-in. Everyone was given a bag with information about the conference and we were able to pick up fun conference t-shirts before the welcome message that began at 9am.

After welcoming students and their advisors to A.T. Still University, attendees were able to select from two presentations during the first session. One of the presentations was Professionalism and Ethics in Healthcare, which I attended and thoroughly enjoyed. The other session was Navigating Interview Formats, which all of our students attended and reported was helpful information regarding the different types of interviews that one can go on when applying to medical schools. This was especially useful for the two students who had signed up for doing a mock interview later in the day.

AdaptPrep MCAT Project Manager, Elizabeth Heeg,
talks to attendees about preparing for the MCAT.

The second session featured a presentation about ATSU's Biomedical Sciences Program titled An Opportunity to Improve Your Medical School Application and a presentation titled Strategies for MCAT Prep, which all of us from SD Mines attended. This session was sponsored by AdaptPrep and gave students a list of Do's & Don't's for MCAT preparation. AdaptPrep also donated free subscriptions to some of their test-prep products for all conference attendees.

The third session was hosted by ATSU's admissions department and focused on preparing applications for AACOMAS, the centralized application service used for applying to osteopathic medical programs. While specific to AACOMAS, much of the information shared was applicable to other centralized application services for professional programs in healthcare.

After this session, lunch was sponsored by the US Army, US Navy, and US Air Force. During lunch, there was a panel discussion with two ATSU students, one in the osteopathic medical program and one in the biomedical sciences program. These students provided insider information on preparation for and success in professional programs.

ATSU students demonstrate OMM.

There were two additional sessions after lunch. The first session allowed student attendees to choose between Strategies for MCAT Prep or Single GME & Residency Selection Process Explained. Because our students had already attended the MCAT prep presentation earlier, they all attended the other session to learn about the residency process. The second session allowed students to choose between Osteopathic Principles and Practice or Caring for Your Mental Health in Medical School. Because two of our students were still learning about osteopathic medicine and the third is planning to go into osteopathic medicine, the group decided to attend the first presentation, where they gained a clearer understanding of the profession and learned more about the holistic approach that DOs take when caring for their patients. Meanwhile, there were concurrent sessions for pre-health advisors that included panel discussions with representatives from various medical programs (both DO and MD schools) followed by a group discussion about letters of recommendation.

The afternoon was comprised of lab demonstrations of ultrasound, osteopathic manipulative medicine, patient simulations, and immersion room experiences. These were exciting experiences for our students, who saw live demonstrations, solved a simulated patient case using a robotic patient, and learned how to triage during an emergency scenario in the immersion room. Two of our students also participated in mock interviews, where they received feedback to use in future interview preparations.

SD Mines students, Lauren Wipf and Isabel McClachlan, work with Bill, a simulated patient, to diagnose his pneumonia.

Students learned how to triage and then entered an immersion room where they put their skills to use in a live scenario.

Students speak with a VCOM representative
during the medical school meet and greet.

Additionally, we all walked through the medical school meet and greet. This meet and greet featured booths with representatives from a variety of programs sharing information and lots of fun, branded freebies for us to take back with us to Rapid City. (You know what that means...free stuff available in Dr. J's office!)

After the conference was over, our group said goodbye to ATSU and made our way back to Rapid City. In reflecting on our experiences, the students agreed that the conference was a fun, worthwhile trip, despite the long drive. While the meet and greet and informational sessions were useful, everyone agreed that the hands-on activities were the most interesting and reaffirmed their choices for pursing a career in medicine. One student remarked, "It is a very insightful way of learning the basics of medical school." Another stated, "It helped me confirm my desire to go into medicine and helped me to understand what I needed to do to prepare." All three students would like to attend the event again next year and would recommend it for other students interested in a pre-medicine pathway.

Students attended the 2nd Annual Heartland PreMed Conference at ATSU.
Left to Right: Lauren Wipf, Isabel McClachlan, and Alex Reader

Learning from Locals: Meet Dr. Christina Plemmons!

Rapid City is home to many healthcare professionals devoted to improving the lives of people both in town and in the greater Black Hills region through administering quality care and training the next generation of heathcare workers. Today, we are featuring the newly-appointed Assistant Dean for the Rapid City site of South Dakota State University's College of Nursing, Dr. Christina Plemmons! Assistant Dean Plemmons earned her B.A. in Business Administration (with an international minor in German) from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, before pursing her B.S. in Nursing and later her M.S. in Nursing Education from SDSU. She then went on to earn her Ph.D. in Nursing Education from the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. We caught up with Dr. Plemmons to ask her more about her new position at SDSU and her experiences in healthcare.

What motivated you to go into nursing? 
I was looking for a career that would challenge me and allow me to “make a difference” in the lives of people every day. As a nurse scientist, educator, and leader, I continue to feel challenged and I still make a difference in people’s lives. I have the education I need to make a difference in new ways and that brings great joy to my life.

Tell us a little bit about what you do as an Assistant Dean for SDSU’s College of Nursing.

As the Assistant Dean for the Rapid City site, I serve the College of Nursing, Rapid City faculty and staff, and Rapid City Undergraduate and Graduate students. An average week includes problem solving with instructors; responding to student requests/concerns; meeting with scholarship donors; monitoring the budget; hiring faculty or staff; representing the College of Nursing at public, clinical agency, or student events; supporting professional development of faculty and staff; and tracking progress of strategic plan goals. Every day I work to support the College of Nursing mission, vision, and strategic plan. SDSU College of Nursing strives for excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, research, scholarship, and health services to diverse individuals, communities and populations across the life span. The college improves human health and quality of life for people in the state of South Dakota, the region, the nation and the world.

Wow! You have a lot going on! How do you effectively manage your time?

I like to use technology for efficient communication and organization. I use reminder alerts, notes, and calendars to manage my time. I have two to-do lists – one for long term projects, and one for short term or daily tasks.

What do you see as being one of the most important issues in health care today? 

Access to primary and preventive care is an important issue in U.S. health care today. 

How can our pre-health students stay informed about important health care issues?
One way to stay informed is to join a national student organization. Another way is to join the professional organization of your future profession. Many professional organizations have reduced rates for students, along with access to free online or print resources. I also recommend changing the preferences in your news apps. Add healthcare news to your preferences!

Dr. Plemmons and other SDSU Assistant Deans
pose for a photo while in Washington, DC,
to meet with Congressional Representative staffers.

Which techniques do you use to manage your  stress levels?

One way I minimize stress with technology is to set reminders for the future tasks and then forget them until it’s time to do them. Another way I minimize stress without technology is to not own a cell phone. I use mantram repetition to focus and settle my thoughts when my mind spirals around a problem that and I am not ready to solve. I walk to and from work, which allows my brain to focus on the squirrels, birds, or flowers (or falling leaves, rain puddles, or snow). I also own a dog – a big responsibility, but also the best stress reliever ever!

What advice do you have for students interested in health careers?

First, take some time to explore your options. Healthcare careers are never portrayed correctly, or completely, in the media. Second, consider what you want a typical day to look like. Do you want to spend time with different people every day? Do you want to work alone, without interruptions? Do you want to provide health care for an entire community? Do you want to be an expert in treating a single disease process? Do you want to change healthcare systems? Third, get connected. Interview healthcare professionals, job shadow, join a health career student organization, attend national student conventions/conferences. Fourth, learn everything you can in your foundational courses. They’re called foundational for a reason 😊. Finally, contact me if you’re interested in a career in nursing, advanced practice nursing, or nursing science. Good luck!