Samantha Gonzalez '25
Details
This summer, Samantha Gonzalez '25 provided clinical and administrative support as an intern at the Amityville Heart Center (AHC) on Long Island, NY. Read more about Samantha's Jaharis Primary Care summer experience!
My name is Samantha Gonzalez. I'm a rising senior Biology Major and Health Studies Minor. I interned at the Amityville Heart Center (AHC) on Long Island, NY. I chose this internship because of my family history of heart conditions and my own experience with a heart condition as an infant.
During my summer I was able to serve both clinical and administrative support. For my clinical responsibilities, I helped the Medical Assistants with taking vitals (Height, Weight, Pulse Rate, and Blood Pressure) and intakes with the patients. Over the summer I was also trained on how to conduct EKGs as every patient needed at least one test on file every year. I also was able to shadow the physicians and other medical staff at AHC with the patients as well.
I gained a lot of valuable experience this summer. Many of the patients were awaiting test results so naturally they were very anxious so I learned that something as little as asking them how their mornings went or if they needed a cup of water would help calm them down. It was crucial to ensure a comfortable atmosphere so patients felt comfortable voicing any concerns, which I would then document for the doctors to review.
Through this experience I was able to learn about the importance of communication in the medical field. For instance, Cardiologists work with Primary Care Physicians to maintain the medications and treatments the patients are currently on. Many times, I had to call primary care or physical therapy offices to request that they fax over medical records needed to accurately treat a patient.
I really learned a lot from the staff at AHC. Often, patients would arrive an hour early or late, and everyone from the receptionist to the physicians was extremely accommodating. I found this admirable, as many medical clinics have a 15-minute wait policy. However, most of the patient population was elderly and relied on others for transportation, so it made sense that AHC did not have this policy. The best rule of thumb I learned was that each patient’s individual needs and circumstances should be considered, ensuring that care is both compassionate and practical.
This experience really solidified my desire to practice medicine through my interactions with the medical staff and patients at AHC. I am extremely grateful for the CCPA and the Jahris Primary Care Fund for this opportunity
