Christie Scholars gain clinical experience
This year's Christie Society and Hoffman Scholars are (from left) Barron Patterson, Jennifer Wambach, Holly Rawizza, Caulley Fonvielle, Emily Thelen, Neil Harris and (not pictured) Christine Wang. (Photo by Donna Jones Bailey)
Seven Vanderbilt medical students received early, and valuable, clinical experience in pediatrics this summer through the Dr. Amos U. Christie Society Scholarships and scholarships provided by the late Darlene Hoffman, a longtime supporter of Vanderbilt Children¹s hospital.
The Christie Scholars were offered a variety of clinical and laboratory research opportunities, including the opportunity to be placed in VUMC¹s pediatric and adolescent wards, clinics, basic science laboratories and offices of pediatricians.
This year's Christie Society and Hoffman Scholars were first-year medical students Caulley Fonvielle, Neil Harris, Holly Rawizza, Emily Thelen, Jennifer Wambach, and second-year medical students Christine Wang and Barron Patterson.
The Christie Society program was created in 1990. It honors Dr. Amos U. Christie, who was a professor and chairman of the department of Pediatrics from 1943-1968. He died in 1986. The Hoffman fellowships began in 1996.
"The application process is very competitive." said Dr. Harris D. Riley Jr., professor of Pediatrics and chairman for the Christie Society summer scholars program at VUMC. "The program¹s popularity has grown every year.
"I am sure that Dr. Christie would be very pleased with the program and its success."
The Christie Scholars were offered a variety of clinical and laboratory research opportunities. This summer, they spent time in the Pediatric Acute Care Clinic, the newborn nursery, adolescent services and a pediatric subspecialty of their choice. The scholars spent two weeks in each particular area, and the training was definitely hands-on.
While shadowing the attending physicians, residents and more senior medical student who routinely provide patient care, the scholars also conducted their first remedial diagnoses and helped construct case histories.
Annual funding for the program is provided by former students, residents, faculty colleagues and Dr. Christie's friends.