Medical Students for Life Summer Internship Program

In the end, few summer internships will change the world. But, after the initial launch of an internship program by Medical Students for Life in 2012, a trio of Heartbeat International affiliate medical centers are hopeful this could be one of them.

With a growing pro-abortion inclination within the medical community, these pro-life students often face challenging situations where their convictions are pressure-tested, and possibilities of advancement are sometimes threatened.

As part of its broad range of efforts to build up the students who face this type of pressure during their education, Medical Students for Life placed medical students in three Heartbeat affiliate centers for summer internships, where they had the opportunity to observe first-hand the clients facing unintended pregnancies who visit Heartbeat centers every day.

These students were able to shadow consultants during their client visits, learn how pregnancy tests are conducted, and observe limited obstetrical ultrasounds in action on a regular basis. Some were able to meet with/shadow the physicians serving as pregnancy center medical clinic medical directors in their private practice, which served to provide the students a chance to watch how pro-life medical professionals navigate the predominantly pro-abortion medical culture.

We received glowing reports from all three of the centers who volunteered for the program, and all three are eager to participate in the program, which Medical Students for Life hopes to expand.

Here are the reactions in our friends’ own words…

Sylvia Johnson, Executive Director, Houston (TX) Pregnancy Help Center

Spencer Stickler served at Houston Pregnancy Help Center’s two locations (Fifth Ward and Downtown) as a Medical Intern. We were honored to have Spencer for three weeks this past summer. Some of the duties Spencer performed are as follows; filing medical records, observed ultrasounds, updating our referral and resource, assisting with day to day administrative duties. It truly was an honor to serve with Spencer.   

See Spencer’s reflection on the experience here (link to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl0ldqy_De0).

Anne Kako, RN, Nurse Manager, A Woman's Concern, Revere, MA

I wanted to thank you for offering A Woman's Concern the opportunity to participate in the Summer Medical Student internship program. It was wonderful to meet and share ideas with the next generation of pro-life healthcare providers. It was an opportunity for those of us working in PRC's to share our experiences and knowledge with the medical students. The med students shared with the staff the pro-life issues that they are facing in their education. The students were able to see first-hand the situations that our at-risk and abortion-minded clients are facing. They were able to witness the AWC staff helping clients by providing information, ultrasounds and support in a life affirming environment.

Our medical director, Dr. Keough, had the students shadow him in his office. Both students felt this was a great opportunity. Next year, we would like to offer them exposure to our radiologist and other OB/GYN physicians on staff. AWC also has an ultrasound course (DVD's) from Case Western that we would like to make available for the medical students to view next year. AWC will also be offering STI testing next year to our clients and their partners, which the med students can also shadow. AWC is looking forward to future participation in the summer Medical Student internship program. Thank you for allowing us to share in this opportunity.

Debbie Wolff, Nurse Manager, Women’s Choice Network, PA, reported that her center’s intern was an “ideal student”, and the experience in their center was “very beneficial for (the student) and impacted her, as there was a lot she learned that she was not previously aware of.”

Heartbeat International is thrilled to join with Medical Students for Life in this cooperative effort, which benefits those entering the medical field by actively involving them in the ministry of our affiliate pregnancy centers.

Many medical students who are pro-life in their beliefs have no real-life experience with women and men faced with untimely pregnancies and the reality of abortion options. This internship helped to solidify their convictions, as they saw first-hand that pregnancy help centers set the standard for true compassion and support for women.

Heartbeat International looks forward to its role in cultivating the next generation of pro-life healers who are dedicated to “do no harm.”