SOTM: Smith Shadows Special Surgeons
- Annie Duncan
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
This past summer, senior Caroline Smith impressed her friends and family by taking her interest in medicine to the next level. At Carolina Center for Specialty Surgery, Caroline got the hands-on opportunity she was looking for through an internship in which she observed brain and spine surgeries.
Caroline remembers her interest in medicine beginning when she was 12 years old, after binge watching all 22 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, a show which documents the daily lives of surgeons and doctors in a hospital. She said, “The show gave me a rush of adrenaline as I watched the characters make quick decisions on how to save people’s lives.” She found the TV show inspirational and realized she hoped to pursue a career in medicine.
Heading into her senior year this past summer, Caroline knew this was the time to find an internship. Fortunately, she remembered a family friend that practices, and she landed a spot at Carolina Center for Specialty Surgery. She knew it would be the perfect fit and could not wait to see a brain and spine in an operating room.
Caroline began each day at 7:30 and completed all of her daily tasks: restocking medical supplies, assisting surgeons, and completing patients’ medical records. She said, “The mundane tasks gave me a sense of how each day as a surgeon is unexpected, some boring and some groundbreaking.”
When asked about the most memorable moment of her internship, Caroline's eyes lit up as she remembered a fascinating sight. She said, “I saw the carpal tunnel and watched the doctor manipulate the nerve, moving different fingers. With each deliberate movement, a different part of the patient's finger would twitch across the room in response.”
Throughout her three years at Charlotte Catholic, Caroline has challenged herself with rigorous science courses such as Honors Chemistry, Honors Physics, and AP Biology to prepare her for the medical field. She remembered loving each of these classes, but she did not know this career path was the exciting route she wanted to pursue until last summer.
