Interns "Shadow" Physicians as Part of Mini-Internship Program

On April 5-7, 2005, the Medical Society conducted its annual Mini-Internship Program to improve communication between the medical profession and those in the community who influence, establish, and report on healthcare policy in the metropolitan DC area. By spending concentrated time with faculty physicians, the interns witness firsthand the demands and rewards of the medical profession.   Faculty physicians, in turn, learn how these influential opinion leaders view the practice of medicine. 

Stressing the human concerns of medicine, each intern is paired with three physicians.  Each interns witnesses patient care in three specialties: primary care; emergency medicine; and surgery.

This year the program-which was started in 1992-hosted a record nine interns:

• Anne Marie Albertine, director, Washington Financial Group
• Sandra Boodman, health reporter, Health Section, The Washington Post
• Marc Fisher, columnist, Metro Section, The Washington Post
• Doreen Gentzler, health reporter/anchor, WRC NBC4 TV
• Darlene Lawrence, director of provider relations, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
• Michelle Michael, medical producer, WRC NBC4 TV
• Rahkia Nance, health reporter, The Washington Examiner
• Lee Smith, legislative counsel, DC Councilmember Carol Schwartz
• Margaret Schruender, director of insurance/risk management, DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking

This year's program would not have been possible without the enthusiastic participation of the following physicians:

• Nancy Davenport, MD, Cardiology
• Jerry Earll, MD, Internal Medicine/Gerontology
• Frederick Finelli, MD, FACS, General Surgery
• Terrence Fullum, MD, General Surgery
• A. Janelle Goetcheus, MD, Internal Medicine
• Gordon Hafner, MD, General Surgeon
• Janis Orlowski, MD, and the medical staff at the Washington Hospital
• Center's Emergency Department
• Martin Paul, MD, General Surgery
• Peter Petrucci, MD, Surgery, General/Oncology
• Alan Pocinki, MD, Internal Medicine
• Robert Shesser, MD, Emergency Medicine, George Washington University Hospital
• William Strudwick, MD, and the medical staff at Providence Hospital's Emergency Department 

MSDC Member: Are you interested in participating as faculty for next year's program?  If so, contact David Love, phone 202-466-1800, ext. 114, fax 202-452-1542, e-mail love@msdc.org