This Catawba College senior's internship brought new life to this world, and to her passion for health services. Senior Michaela Fink is a Psychology major who used her previous internships to help guide her into her latest adventure this past summer. With the help of her advisor, Dr. Shelia Brownlow, Michaela was able to intern at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center in the Labor and Delivery/Mother-Baby Unit.
While interning previously at the Pregnancy Support Center of Rowan County, Michaela was encouraged by her supervisor there to look into finding an opportunity to help with labor and delivery since it became such an interest of hers. "After thinking for a while, I applied to volunteer in Labor and Delivery to help with the newborns and whatever I could do, specifically I wanted to help infants who were born with addictions."
As she continued her time in the Labor and Delivery Unit, Michaela had the opportunity to dive into all parts of the unit. From getting scrub in on a C-Section, to learning from a Lactation Consultant, to literally catching a baby, Michaela was completely immersed in the experience.
"After asking, 'If there's room, may I go in?' I got the necessary permissions I needed to, I scrubbed up and got to watch a complete caesarian birth. After the baby had been delivered, I was able to help write vital signs and bathe her. This was such an amazing experience because I was literally able to watch a life being brought into the world. This was one of the best experiences at my internship."
In addition to this unique opportunity, Michaela was able to work with Beth, a lactation consultant. "Educating mothers and their families on the benefits of breastfeeding was such a good feeling. So along with helping and shadowing in labor and delivery, I was able to shadow the lactation consultant."
Because Michaela was able to have so much hands-on experience during her internship, she was also able to start looking forward to what she would like her future career to be. She is currently in training to become a certified birthing and postpartum doula, which she will have completed by the time she graduates in December.
"The best experience gained through this was clarity," Michaela shares. "Being able to apply everything that I have learned and hoped for in the real world really helped me realize what I wanted as a career. Being able to have an internship allows you to complete a "test-run" on what you want to do as a career."
Michaela leaves this parting advice for those considering an internship, "Push yourself, be open, and advocate for yourself to do what you need and want to do for your future. An internship is a way of gaining experience and realizing if you enjoy something or not."
