Adventures in Interning!

Hello all!

This is an update from Sean Crawford, one of our amazing premed students!

“During my winter break in the fall of 2012 at University of Alaska Fairbanks I had the opportunity to go to New York City and intern at Beth Israel Hospital, ranked nationally for its cardiac surgery department and for the outstanding staff and medical professionals that work there. During my internship, I shadowed a doctors in the Operating Room and watching a variety of heart operations. At first, I didn’t think I could handle such a stressful and intense situation, but then I found out how easy-going everyone is in the OR. The community of medical professionals in the Cardiothoratic surgery department was very welcoming and light hearted. They listened to music during surgeries and carry conversation about family and other current events. I learned about the heart and how it operates within the human body. I also learned about the positions of each individual in the OR and why it is so essential to have a great team and community to really make a difference. I enjoyed the time I spent in the OR and feel that it really changed my opinion of surgeons. Doing the internship only intensified my passion for medicine and reassured me that there is nothing more in life I would like to do than to practice medicine for the rest of my life.”

Thanks Sean!

Interested in the premed route? Contact Donald Crocker in the Academic Advising Center at (907) 474-7806 or djcrocker@alaska.edu.

Victoria Smith

Academic Advisor

Spring!

Hello all you amazing SSS students!

Victoria here, looking to catch you up on some of our recent activities! A lot has happened this past semester. First of all, I was hired! My name is Victoria Smith and I’m so excited to be a part of UAF’s Student Support Services team. I have been a participant in one TRiO program or another for the past decade, and I come to you from the wonderful UAF Office of Admissions and the Registrar! So I have a solid background both in the SSS program and in university navigation. Well that’s enough about me, now for some other updates!

 

As many of you know, our office has undergone quite a lot of construction throughout the last semester. The good news is that the worst is over! We have a newly remodeled computer lab, and our tutoring center is looking better than ever! Jen Bergstrom, our Math Coordinator, is joining us upstairs in an office that was created over break. We’re looking forward having the gang all together on one floor!

 

 

Ginny, our Director, is out of the office this semester on brand new baby duty (YAY!), so we’ve hired Charlie Parr as a temporary advisor in the office. Don’t be surprised if you see another new face around when you get back on campus for the Spring semester!

We recently put together a team of 5 SSS participants called the Student Advisory Council. Tristian Hall, Ben Hurlock, MeKayla Williams, Henry Tang and Fanta Lee-Sankoh have worked very hard this semester to give us feedback on the various different services we offer. In addition to this, they have also helped raise funds so that we could purchase a water cooler (which in the end was donated) and have fresh clean water delivered for all SSS students. Check out this beautiful beast!

 

Well that about sums up what I have for you this time. Until next time: “Keep your stick on the ice. And remember, I’m pullin’ for ya. We’re all in this together!” – The Red Green Show

 

Victoria Smith

Academic Advisor