 |
| Senior Headshots |
 |
 |
| Scrubbed in at the Georgetown University Summer Medical Immersion |
Hi! I’m Julia Gaumond, a senior at BASIS Scottsdale. I'm an adventurous and always-hungry student who loves chemistry and biology a little too much (labs are the highlight of my week). Outside the classroom, I pursue my other passion: dance. I've traveled all over the country to take workshops, complete auditions, and compete. In the fall, I will continue to study both the hard sciences and the performing arts at Northwestern University, where I am double majoring in biological sciences and neuroscience on a pre-medicine track. Go 'Cats!
In my free time, I love binge-watching Friends, The Office, and Parks and Recreation. On a more productive note, I love to travel. The week I spent in Paris sophomore year was one of the best of my life; the food, gardens, palaces, lights and atmosphere all amazed me. I also loved Italy, a place I am lucky enough to have been to twice.
This past summer, my traveling did not bring me abroad, but to Georgetown University in Washington D.C. I completed a Summer Medical Immersion program, where I learned skills like taking vitals, venipuncture, suturing, making splints, scrubbing in (pictured above where I am second from the right), childbirth procedures, and more. We also were able to work in cadaver labs, an amazing experience that enhances the anatomy class I take this year.
Most importantly, we also learned how to talk to and empathize with patients. This information is critical now, as I began an internship with a Doctor of Osteopathy this year. Some of you may ask: What is a Doctor of Osteopathy? Is that the same as a “normal doctor” that I visit? Is that just some herbal guru who isn’t actually licensed to practice medicine?
To answer these and more, an Osteopath is defined as a medical practitioner who emphasizes the treatment of conditions through manipulation of muscles, bones, and joints. However, their scope of practice is not limited to this! They take a holistic view to health often not found in other healthcare providers. They can treat all the same conditions allopaths can, as well as hold all the same jobs (i.e. pediatricians, oncologists, gynecologists, ER physicians, and more!). Osteopaths go to specialized medical schools, but receive all the same training M.D.s (“normal doctors”) do, and more! They complete boards and residencies like M.D.s and are just as qualified (if not more so) to help you. I have linked the website for the American Osteopathic Association if anyone has questions, and feel free to comment questions if they come up!
My project (described in greater detail in the linked proposal), Straightening Out the Facts: An In-Depth Look at Patient Response to Osteopathy, aims to analyze how patients respond to Osteopathy. I will be specifically looking at patients who have a long-standing condition or illness, as these patients tend to have regular interactions with healthcare providers. I will be posting weekly about patients, how the surveying is going, and more!
My project (described in greater detail in the linked proposal), Straightening Out the Facts: An In-Depth Look at Patient Response to Osteopathy, aims to analyze how patients respond to Osteopathy. I will be specifically looking at patients who have a long-standing condition or illness, as these patients tend to have regular interactions with healthcare providers. I will be posting weekly about patients, how the surveying is going, and more!
Hi Julia!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to simply start off by saying that I am sooooo jealous of your travel experiences. I've always wanted to travel around Europe, especially France, Switzerland, and Austria. The minor problem is that I don't really like airplanes or long journeys (I guess that is a major problem haha). Moving along, you've got a wonderful blog set up! I absolutely adore the pictures, the gifs and the colors :) In terms of your project itself, where has your interest in medicine/the sciences started from? An early childhood experience? A school course? Also, are you going to be looking at patient responses to a variety of illnesses/conditions, or will you focus in on a few select ones? Can't wait to follow you along this journey, and read more about it!
Thank you so much! I have always wanted to be a doctor, ever since I was little and played dress up. The experiences like the summer programs I have participated in have only expanded this passion. I will use a survey to interview a multitude of patients with various conditions. I will also follow a few specific patients closely, to get an even better understanding of their care! However, I have not selected this patients yet and thus do not know what conditions I will have that up-close experience with. Thanks for reading!!
DeleteHi, Julia!! I loved your first post, and that summer program at Georgetown sounds so amazing! You must have learned so much. I actually don't know much about osteopathy, so I'm excited to learn more through your blog. Also, for your project, has there been a lot of research about this topic, and if so, what have we learned from these studies? Is there any one "condition" you plan to look at in your research, or are you going to look at rosteopathic practices in general? I'm so excited to read more about your project!
ReplyDeleteHi Korina! I just began learning about Osteopathy this summer, and it's amazing! The prior research done is pretty limited, and focused more on general trends in Osteopaths, not patient response. As for conditions, I am going to use a survey to learn how lots of different patients, with problems ranging from arthritis to diabetes to cancer, feel about Osteopathic care. Thanks for reading--can't wait to share more!
DeleteHi Julia! This sounds so interesting. What kind of illnesses do Osteopaths treat? Is there one , in particular, that you will be looking at? Also, I love The Office and Parks and Rec and, therefore, your gif's.
ReplyDeleteHi Ms. Bailey! Osteopaths treat all kinds of illnesses and ailments, like any other family practice doctors! Although Osteopathy can derive some treatments from tissue, muscle, tendon, and joint alignment, they treat all kinds of conditions, even if they do not pertain to the above alignment (i.e. diabetes). I will focus in-depth with a few patients, and use a survey to expand my studies to lots of the patients at the practice! I have not determined these patients yet though. Thank you for reading!
DeleteWhat a great first post! Sounds like you covered a lot of ground during your time at Georgetown - how many weeks did the program last? Was this when you were first introduced to Osteopathy?
ReplyDeleteIn terms of response to osteopathy, what will the comparison group be? Also, do patients regularly see an osteopath for specific treatment/care, or is this care more referral-based? Via survey, it might be interesting to see what misconceptions or lack of awareness exist surrounding MD vs DO. Do you think that most people seek out one versus the other or don't pay attention to the difference in credential when finding a practitioner?
On an unrelated note, will you be able to formally continue your study of dance at Northwestern?
Looking forward to your next post!
The program was actually only one week! But we were in class 9am-9pm daily! I was introduced to Osteopathy at Midwestern Medical School in Glendale, where I completed another summer institute. Midwestern is an Osteopathic Medical School, so its graduates are Doctors of Osteopathy, or D.O.s, not M.D.s.
DeleteMany patients have seen other practitioners in the past who may be traditional M.D.s! Also, I will be passing on the survey to some current patients of M.D.s. A lot of people actually don't know what Osteopaths are, or how they differ from other doctors. They don't realize if their doctor has M.D. or D.O. title after their name. Some people prefer Osteopaths, as they have additional training and a different approach to medicine. Others have a stigma against, D.O.s, believing (falsely) that they are less qualified or inferior. On my survey I have some questions about how patients picked an Osteopathic practice, so we shall see. You do not have a referral to see a D.O., as they fill all the same positions that M.D.s do (oncologists, pediatricians, family practice, surgeons, etc).
I will be taking some dance classes in the school of communications, as well as joining a company on campus! Thanks so much for reading!
Hi Julia! Parks and Rec is one of my favorite shows too! Your blog was so insightful and it really shows your journey, and how you developed your interest in Osteopathy. For your project, what long-standing conditions or illnesses will you be observing in patients, is there one in particular that interests you? Also, with Osteopathy, is it kind of like physical therapy, and it accompanies other treatments, or is it sort of an alternative medicine approach to recovery? I look forward to hearing more about your research!
ReplyDeleteHi Sri! So glad someone else loves those shows too. So I have not decided which conditions yet, as it as based on which patients come into the office. So within the next few weeks I will be looking into which specific patients and conditions I examine. Additionally, Osteopathy is not a field of medicine like PT is, it is an approach to medicine as a whole. An M.D. is a medical degree in allopathy, whereas a D.O. is a medical degree in Osteopathy, just different, but equally qualified approach to medicine as whole. Thanks for reading!
DeleteHi Julia!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is off to a great start so far! I think it's amazing that you completed a medical immersion program at Georgetown and were able to learn how to perform venipuncture, suturing, and splinting. From what I know, you are very passionate and driven. Your blog definitely shows this! How did you decide on Osteopathy specifically for your project? Also, will you be administering the surveys before as well as after the patients' visit?
I look forward to see where your research takes you!
Best of Luck,
Gabby W.
Hi Gabby! I decided on Osteopathy based on my experiences this summer, as well as the fact that my on-site mentor and her colleagues are Osteopaths! All the surveys will have questions to be completed before and after the visit. However, first-time patients will be given the entire survey after their first visit so that they can complete it to the fullest extent. Thanks for reading!
DeleteHi Julia!
ReplyDeleteYour first blog post is amazing. Friends is one of my favorite shows as well. Osteopathy is an interesting field in medicine and I look forward to reading more about it in your blog. Your project topic is quite interesting but I do have a few questions. What inspired you to pursue medicine? What made you choose to research osteopathy and how the patients respond to it? Will you be surveying the nurses who are taking care of the patients as well? I can't wait to read more about your project!
Shivalee Nigam
Hi Shivalee! I agree; Chandler Bing is one of my personal heroes. I'm definitely a people person, and love getting to works hands-on. Medicine offers fulfillment of both of these desires, and it is so rewarding. All my summer programs confirmed my intent to pursue this as a career, and I am so excited. I chose Osteopathy based on my summer programs and the fact that my on-site mentor and her colleagues in her private practice are Osteopaths. It is a truly amazing approach to medicine and I am really excited to do work with it for the next few months! There are no nurses in this private practice, but there are medical techs, other doctors, and nurse practitioners. I will be interviewing the other primary care providers in the office, so the other doctors and nurse practitioner. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteHi Julia!
ReplyDeleteYour blog looks amazing so far! Just like you, I love to travel. Paris was probably one of my favorite places I have ever been! I actually remembered you from the amazing Italy trip we went on through the school a few years ago! Traveling aside, the subject of Osteopathy seems to be extremely fascinating, especially as this seems to be a medicinal branch which is particularly under appreciated. I had a couple question for you before I continue to follow your journey in learning about osteopathy. Is osteopathy similar to studies in acupuncture or physical therapy? Also, is there any particular reason you chose to base your studies around patients response to osteopathy rather than particularly studying the basics and science behind osteopathy? I look forward to following your experience and learning more about osteopathy myself! Good luck!
Bhumika K.
Hi Bhumika! So Osteopathy is an approach to medicine as a whole. An M.D. is the average "traditional doctor" you may think of. D.O.s are Doctors of Osetopathy, and have all the same (and extra) training as M.D.s and can fill all the same office positions as M.D.s (so they can be pediatricians, ER physicians, oncologists, ENTs, etc). Good question! The science behind Osteopathy is well-established and standardized. However, patient response is less examined, and something that interests me greatly, as I have an interest in being an Osteopath, and would like to see how patients view them. Thanks!!
DeleteHi Julia! I am looking forward to following your research, but I have a question, what caused you to become interested in the medical field and more specifically, why did you choose to reseach osteopathy?
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely a people person, and love getting to works hands-on. Medicine offers fulfillment of both of these desires, and it is so rewarding. All my summer programs confirmed my intent to pursue this as a career, and I am so excited. I chose Osteopathy based on my summer programs and the fact that my on-site mentor and her colleagues in her private practice are Osteopaths. It is a truly amazing approach to medicine and I am really excited to do work with it for the next few months!
DeleteHey Julia! I think your blog is so interesting so far! I love that you chose Osteopathy beause as a dancer too, I feel like Osteopathy could help with dancing injuries. One of my family friends is a Doctor of Osteopathy as well and it will be so interesting to view this field from two different perspectives. Since your summer intensive was more focused on suturing and vitals, how did that spark an interest in working with the bones and joints that Osteopathy focuses on? I am extremely excited to follow your blog as the weeks go on!
ReplyDeleteJulie Loison
Hi Julie! Osteopathy is great for dancers, another reason I as well am interested. One of my summer programs was also completed at Midwestern medical school, which is a school of Osteopathic Medicine. The approach taught in this program combined with my shadowing with Dr. Barker inspired me to pursue this field. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteHi Julia! I loved reading your first blog post, and especially enjoyed hearing about your travels around the world! After reading your blog, I was very interested in your choosing of Osteopathy as a research topic, as Osteopathy is a relatively unknown method of treatment. I'm excited to follow your blog over the new few weeks and see where this topic takes you in your studies at Northwestern! In regards to your research, are patients more often referred to Osteopaths by local doctors or do they seek additional medical treatment on their own? I can't wait to learn more about your project in the upcoming weeks!
ReplyDeleteHi Sophia! So glad you enjoyed reading. Sometimes patients seek out a new provider that happens to be an Osteopath, and sometimes they do not even know their new doctor is a D.O. and not an M.D. It is definitely circumstantial. Because Osteopaths can hold the same positions as other doctors (M.D.s), referrals are less common, as usually someone is referred to a specialist, whereas Osteopaths are not specialists, more just a new kind of doctor. I hope that made sense! Thanks!
DeleteHey Julia,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, huge congratulations on getting into Northwestern! I also love chemistry and biology, and I hope to pursue a field in one of the two, maybe even both. I'm not entirely sure what path I'd like to take after I graduate high school, but I hope to follow your blog and get more information on what working in the medical field is like. Your proposal sounds great and the blog is looking good so far. Keep up the good work and good luck!
Jacob McCormick
Thank you so much! I'm so excited to keep studying both. Hope you enjoy reading along! Thanks!
Delete