Sofia Malaspina '26

Hello! I’m Sofia Malaspina ‘26, a Neuroscience major and Health Studies minor. This summer, I conducted a 10-week internship at PediatriCare Associates in Woodland Park, NJ under the supervision of Dr. Heather Shafi, practice partner and Haverford alumna. PediatriCare is a pediatric practice with five locations across northern NJ that caters to a diverse population, with 30% of patients on Medicaid. 

Most days consisted of taking patient vitals, charting, assisting with in-house testing, and helping with office upkeep. During well check-ups, I conducted vision screening, took patient weights and heights, and ordered patient labs, including lead tests and lipid and metabolic panels. During sick visits, I took relevant vitals and reported severity and longevity of symptoms, as well as current medications, to the doctor. I also ran urine tests and assisted with strep tests and respiratory panels. 

Shadowing Dr. Shafi, I observed appointments with patients from as young as five days up to 21 years, with topics ranging from breastfeeding and allergies to autism and mental health. I saw many children multiple times, illuminating how pediatricians build long-term relationships with their patients. I was fortunate that families let me be present during these private and vulnerable times to learn about their lives and medical histories. 

I also assisted Dr. Shafi on a project to examine PediatriCare’s lead screening protocols in collaboration with the NJ Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (NJAAP). I assessed how many children seen recently for check-ups had obtained appropriate lead screening. Going through hundreds of patient records, I noted gaps in initial and follow-up lead testing and reported these findings and improvement recommendations to Dr. Shafi and the NJAAP. 
Working at PediatriCare gave me a new appreciation for primary care and also revealed some challenges of the undervalued profession of pediatrics. Pediatricians serve as trustworthy partners in medical care, facilitating relationships and collaborating with specialists and families. They help with all aspects of a child’s life, including mental and physical health, family dynamics, and education, while balancing the demands of insurance companies and parents.

The most rewarding part of my internship was the patient contact. From building a rapport with patients while I took their vitals, to comforting them after their vaccines, to discussing uncomfortable topics as they gave me their symptoms, I gained valuable clinical experience. I will take these patient skills with me as I continue to pursue a degree in pediatric medicine.