My pediatrics rotation in Dr. Arana’s office was a really fun and interesting experience. Pediatrics is not an area of medicine that I was too interested in pursuing. However after this rotation I gained a huge sense of appreciation for this area of medicine. Initially pediatrics seemed like it was going to be mundane but it was actually quite the good learning experience and also very fun.

One of the main things that I learned to do well in Dr. Arana’s office was ensuring that the child feels comfortable throughout the office visit. I strived to make their visit as enjoyable as possible. This started with having the patient give me a high five when they come in. I also properly introduced myself to them and their caregiver. I realized very quickly that pediatric patients would prefer to be told the truth in regards to getting a potential vaccine or having their blood drawn. In my first few days I would try to keep quiet about the fact that these two events would occur because I was afraid that they might start crying immediately. I came to the realization that most pediatric patients prefer honesty regarding vaccinations and blood draws. Furthermore, good communication with the pediatric patient built a lot of trust and made the visits go by much more smoothly.

One particular patient that I remember vividly was a 13 year old with a history of hyperhidrosis of the palms. The mother stated that she has been trying to support her son through this condition for the past 5 years. She was currently concerned about him falling behind in school because the condition makes it difficult for him to take notes and the extent of sweating ruins his worksheets. I realized at that moment that if this was an urgent care or ER visit that this might have been brushed aside since it was not an acute or emergent condition. This was the moment where the primary medical provider would need to step in and help. Unfortunately Dr. Arana was at a loss. He was perplexed about what he could do for the child. I immediately opened up UpToDate and started my research. Dr. Arana was always encouraging of my willingness to speak to the patients directly. Therefore I recommended that the mother visit a dermatologist and discussed what the potential treatment options might be. I also recommended visiting the Center for Hyperhidrosis at Columbia University. I wanted to ensure that this patient had appropriate follow up and management so he could succeed in school.

In all, I feel as if I gained a lot from working in Dr. Arana’s office. One thing that I learned well was performing venipunctures. I also became very familiar with centrifuging and preparing the tubes for pick up by laboratories. Additionally, I learned how to prepare and administer immunizations. Overall this was a very pleasant pediatric rotation experience.