By JULIAN SUHR Palisadian-Post Intern When most teens think of a summer job, they usually think about working at a restaurant, grocery store, or other such venue. But Bryan Wong, son of Gordon and Shirley Wong, who own Marquez Knolls Pharmacy, chose a far more exciting and stimulating way to spend the summer’ interning for a pediatrician. ”Wong, a senior at Palisades High School, heard about the program in an announcement on the school’s PA system, and chose the internship at Pacific Ocean Pediatrics. ”Initially, Wong shadowed various pediatricians and helped them with their duties. Eventually, the program developed to the point where the interns operated independently following schedules set up by doctors. ‘But the doctors were always around to help you if you had a question,’ said Wong. He also got to work in a few hospital nurseries and ERs, including those at Santa Monica Hospital and St. John’s Hospital. ”Dr. Robert Hamilton of Pacific Ocean Pediatrics has been hosting this internship program for about 20 years. Prospective interns often learn about the program through school counselors or by word of mouth. There are no set criteria for interns, but the program is geared towards those with excellent academics. Dr. Hamilton rotates the interns to work at different facilities, such as St. John’s Hospital and Santa Monica Hospital, as well as a few private practices. ‘The program focuses mainly on pediatricians, but I believe that it offers a good overall look at the profession for anyone considering a medical career,’ Hamilton said. ”Wong has clearly enjoyed the experience. The most interesting part of the internship was being on-site for a Caesarean section, something that most of us probably don’t get to witness during our summer jobs. When asked if he would still like to be a doctor, Wong said that he would enjoy pursuing a career in medicine. It involves a great deal of crying babies, but that is just an occupational hazard.
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