Julia SwarthoutJunior Biological Sciences major. When I first came to Pitt, I knew without a doubt that biology was the right path for me. As a high school student, I always looked forward to my science courses, so majoring in biology was a no-brainer. However, when it came to deciding my fate beyond my undergraduate education, the choice was no longer obvious. I debated whether I wanted to pursue a medical education or a PhD program post-graduation; I changed my mind about 8 times over the course of my first year, each time leaving me more confused. Did I want to tackle the challenging road ahead to become a physician? Or would I rather work toward a PhD and instead dedicate my time to scientific research?
It wasn’t until I began working as a home health aide during the summer after my first year that my choice became clear. As a home health aide, I traveled to the homes of elderly patients near me and assisted them with their “activities of daily living”. These activities ranged from assistance with bathing and toileting, to cleaning their homes, helping with laundry, and shopping for groceries. While I wasn’t completing the most glamorous of tasks, I learned the importance of compassion, patience, and most importantly, companionship. The personal connections I made with the elderly patients made my job entirely worth it. On my third day of work, I arrived at a patients’ home whom I had never met before. I was nervous and anxious as I was still trying my best to adapt to my new working environment. Despite my uneasy nerves, I was excited to meet the patient I would be assisting for the next four hours. Upon knocking on the door, I was greeted by an incredibly friendly yet reserved 85-year-old woman. She quickly informed me that she simply needed help with her laundry, and then I was free to go. I cleaned and folded her laundry, and within an hour I was done. Feeling a little guilty about potentially leaving so quickly, I decided to sit with my patient and talk to her. After a few minutes of the classic small talk, she began to tell me about her life growing up in Russia; how she met her husband, fell in love, and moved to the US to provide a better life for her children. She explained that her first home in the US burned down in a fire, leaving her and her family with nothing. She also spoke solemnly about her late son’s battle with cancer. We talked for nearly 2 hours! As I was finally leaving, she had tears in her eyes and gave me a huge hug; her feeble smile was full of appreciation and kindness. After my summer of hard work, I realized that I could fold all of the laundry in the world or give baths to patients till my fingers pruned, but it means nothing without human connection. Hearing patients’ stories, listening to the hardships and obstacles they’ve had to overcome, and learning the things that make them smile and make their days brighter has made my time so worthwhile. Healthcare so often focuses on the tangible things: fixing chemical imbalances, setting broken legs. or stitching wounds. It can be easy to forget just how unique and special it is to personally connect with those you serve. Sure, as a physician you get the opportunity to heal physical ailments; but that is not what draws me to healthcare. Rather, it is the opportunity to get to know people, to experience their ways of life, and to hear the stories that built them into who they are today. While my first job in healthcare might not have been the most exciting, I am forever thankful that it guided me in the right direction. Healthcare must be a balance between practicing medicine and practicing humanity, and I now know that a lifetime as a physician is the life I seek to lead.
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January 2022
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