George Washington University Athletics
Summer Spotlight: Faith Weber of Softball
8/31/2018 9:30:00 AM | Softball
Weber spent three weeks shadowing at a hospital in Hungary
This summer, I got the amazing opportunity to travel abroad and shadow physicians in Székesfehérvár, Hungary.
It was a once in a lifetime experience, and I am so grateful for everyone who helped me along the way in the process of making this trip possible.
I first heard of the Atlantis program when a fellow student-athlete posted a photo on social media of herself in an operating room in Budapest, Hungary. After thinking about how cool it would be to travel to another country to observe the day-to-day activity of a medical professional, I wanted to see if I could make that my reality in the upcoming summer.
A few days later, I requested an application and sent it back. Before I knew it, I was interviewing with a representative from Atlantis! Soon after, I got a call letting me know I was accepted to be a 2018 Atlantis Fellow.
The next step was choosing a location. There were so many great options, but I decided to travel to Székesfehérvár, Hungary, which is about 45 minutes by train from Budapest with a population of about 100,000. I was intrigued by all the unique experiences the city had to offer.
While I was in Hungary, I got the chance to shadow three different departments over three weeks in the public teaching hospital, Szent Gyorgy Korhaz or Saint George Hospital.
The three departments I was in were otorhinolaryngology, gastroenterology, and trauma/orthopedic surgery. Each department had something new to offer, and I was able to observe a multitude of procedures in each department.
In otorhinolaryngology, the focus was on the ears, nose and throat. I observed several tumor removals, tracheostomies, microscopic inner ear surgery and more than a few tonsil removals.
On my second week, I was a fly on the wall in the gastroenterology department. This specialty is not for the faint of heart, but my experience sitting in on these check-ups and procedures definitely helped me appreciate the need for all roles to be filled in order to provide sufficient patient care.
My last week at the hospital consisted of time in the trauma and orthopedic surgery theater, while also being involved in watching triage and outpatient services.
I really enjoyed my time observing the orthopedic surgery because it was unlike anything I have ever seen before. I learned quite a bit watching doctors treat broken bones and perform post-surgery check-ups.
I was also able to talk extensively with anesthesiologist about the risk and benefits of various methods of going under for surgery. An additional experience that was truly life changing was watching two autopsies. Needless to say, it was quite the anatomy lesson.
While in Hungary I also was able to do some traveling around the beautiful country. I was able to explore Budapest and visit historic sites such as the Szechenyi thermal bath, Fisherman's Bastion and Buda Castle. Being a fan of the museums we have here in D.C., I also took advantage of the opportunity to visit the House of Terror, which tells the story of the Soviet reign in Hungary.
Other places I was able to visit included Lake Balaton, Lake Valence, Bory Castle and the unique Talpoca Lake Caves. Overall, the experience I gained with my time in this hospital and country will not soon be forgotten, and I know it will prove very valuable moving forward in my career aspirations.
I think if I had to describe my experience in three words I would say eye-opening, motivating and growth. Considering this was the first time I have traveled abroad, I did not know what to expect. I have shadowed domestically before, but I was very excited to gain a broader perspective.
I was a little concerned with the language barrier, because I only knew very basic Hungarian phrases. Luckily, many of the doctors I worked with spoke very good English, and the rest were very open to trying to work with us to understand the situation, despite the language barrier.
I know the road is a long one to get into medical school and beyond, but seeing how these doctors and other members of the healthcare system touched lives only motivates me to study harder, go after every opportunity that is thrown my way and give all I have into my dream of becoming a doctor!
My ultimate goal is to become an orthopedic surgeon and work with athletes. I have been sidelined by injury, and I want to be able to help give athletes the chance to make a comeback. I have walked in those shoes, and if I can be a part of the healing process and have the chance to impact lives in that way, that is all I could ever hope for.
