This semester, I have served as an intern under Dr. Steven Greco at the board-certified neuropsychology practice, NRS Lifespan. I am grateful for this enriching experience, which has introduced me to many important aspects of the medical field. I have observed several patient consultations, interacted with a variety of distinguished providers, and learned about neuropsychology through online research. Most importantly, I have gained several key insights that will help guide me as I work toward becoming a physician: the value of in-depth patient interactions, the importance of using empirical research to guide care, and the role of patient advocacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The value of in-depth patient interactions in providing quality care cannot be overstated. During my internship, Greco has consistently demonstrated how to place patients\u2019 primary concerns at the forefront, put them at ease through approachable conversation, and investigate the underlying causes of their complaints. His example has shown me that taking the time to speak with patients in detail gives them the opportunity to explain their symptoms and the factors that may be contributing to them. These conversations help Greco identify the root of a problem and develop a comprehensive treatment plan, with recommendations and action steps tailored to each patient\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In-depth interactions also benefit patients directly. They often express gratitude for being heard, and they have the opportunity to review recommendations and ask questions\u2014clarifying or even helping to shape aspects of the treatment plan. This encourages them to take an active role in their care and to discuss any potential challenges with following the plan. I believe these thoughtful conversations help explain why many patients continue under Greco\u2019s care for years, sometimes alongside other members of their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Empirical research is another essential foundation of patient care, complementing detailed patient interactions and helping to guide best practices. Through reviewing online research articles, I have come to understand that diagnostic and treatment protocols should be evidence-based to support the best possible patient outcomes. Greco has utilized my research summaries to inform his treatment recommendations and advance patient care. I have also seen him refer to evidence-based guidance when directly consulting patients and caution against potentially risky practices when the supporting research is inconclusive and patients ask what they can do to alleviate their symptoms. Research helps providers choose approaches with the greatest potential benefit and the least potential risk for patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reading research articles has also helped me appreciate the importance of lifelong learning in medicine. Because medicine is constantly evolving, Greco emphasizes the need to keep up with developments in scientific literature and attend webinars to continue his education. He has shown me that physicians do not stop learning when they enter the workforce; they must continue to learn in order to provide the best care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, patient advocacy connects these lessons and provides a foundation for high-quality care. Throughout my internship, I have observed that Greco is deeply committed to his work and to achieving the best outcomes for his patients. Whether participating in court cases, conducting daily treatment cases, working with school boards, or writing letters on behalf of students who need classroom accommodations, he consistently advocates for his patients\u2019 needs and takes great pride in his work. I admire his approach because it reassures patients that they are not alone in their struggles, supports evidence-based recommendations tailored to their needs, and demonstrates a provider\u2019s responsibility to go \u201cthe extra mile.\u201d Patient advocacy will remain a guiding principle in my journey toward becoming a physician who provides the best possible care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This semester, I have served as an intern under Dr. Steven Greco at the board-certified neuropsychology practice, NRS Lifespan. I am grateful for this enriching experience, which has introduced me to many important aspects of the medical field. I have observed several patient consultations, interacted with a variety of distinguished providers, and learned about neuropsychology […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3352,"featured_media":22395,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-department-of-biology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/school-of-science\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/school-of-science\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/school-of-science\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/school-of-science\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3352"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/school-of-science\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22383"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/school-of-science\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22383\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22410,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/school-of-science\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22383\/revisions\/22410"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/school-of-science\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/school-of-science\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/school-of-science\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/school-of-science\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}