Monday, March 18, 2024

Cashmere's Michael experiences Confluence Mentor Program

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For many years Confluence Health, formerly known as Wenatchee Valley Medical Center, has offered a mentorship program for local high schoolers all throughout the valley who are interested in the medical field.

Students selected gain a health care mentor with whom they spend 10 hours with in the program outside of school. Students get hands-on experience and see for themselves what their health care mentor does on a daily basis. 

For 2016 there were 12 mentorship spots to be filled. Three high school students from Cashmere were selected to take part in the experience.

Kylie Michael, a sophomore, completed a mentorship program at Confluence Health in 2016 and was one of the three local students selected.

She wants to be a pediatric oncologist, so she applied for a mentorship in the Oncology Department.

The two other local students were Horacio Bustos, who applied to the Urology Department, and Rafael Urrutia, who applied to  Pharmacy Services.

"It is like getting a job," Michael said. "You have to fill out an application, letter of interest and have an interview."

Once she was selected, Michael was given Lori VanLith as her mentor. 

VanLith is a Certified Medical Assistant at Confluence Health who had studied Medical Assisting at Wenatchee Valley College and was a medical assistant for Dr. Julie Smith in the Oncology Department.

Since Wenatchee does not have a Pediatric Oncologist office, patients under the age of 18 have to travel to the Children's Hospital located in Seattle.

"I was OK with that because I still was able to get a glimpse in Oncology," Michael said. "The program is very professional. You have to sign confidentiality paperwork."

Michael was given a badge with her picture on it to allow her access wherever she went.

The program held a luncheon that welcomed all of the students and their selected mentors.

According to Michael, she had to complete the required 10 hours needed with VanLith and then received her Certificate of Completion. 

"We also got to hear what the other students learned in different departments throughout Confluence Health," Michael said.

During her time at Confluence Health, Michael felt that one of the best moments that truly stood out to her was the first minute that she entered her first patient's room alongside her mentor. 

"I got to see first hand how Lori and Dr. Smith changed the feel of the room in one minute," Michael said. "I never knew that in being an Oncologist you got to change the way people feel. They could be scared and not know what's ahead of them, but when Lori or Dr. Smith walked into the room they made it a happy, comfortable place and you could totally see the patient relax and know that they were in great hands."

It was upon seeing this that Michael truly realized that this was a job she could envision for herself. 

"That's when it clicked for me that this was a field I could see myself working in everyday and be happy," Michael said. "Doing it with a smile everyday."

Michael was very appreciative of having VanLith for her mentor during her mentorship experience and said she learned a lot from her. 

"Lori was an amazing mentor," Michael said. "She showed me so much behind the scenes. Patients have no idea what needs to get done before they are even seen. I was taught how to take blood pressures and then I was able to take patient's blood pressure."

According to Michael, Oncology requires a ton of lab work. During her mentorship she was shown the computer systems that the program runs and what the process of ordering new labs is like.

This is a very beneficial thing to patients, Michael said. More labs leads to less waiting time for both the patients and the doctors.

"I am very thankful that I was given the opportunity to have Lori as my mentor," Michael said. "She taught me so much and was very patient with all of my questions. She has continued to be my mentor and friend. By being in the mentorship program, it has solidified my decision in becoming a Pediatric Oncologist."

 

Mikaila Wilkerson can be reached at reporter@cashmerevalleyrecord.com

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