As the number of posts I have left as the NUHS student blogger slowly dwindles with my approaching graduation, I have come to value each one more and more. I have found myself choosing topics, and the words within them, with greater intention and care.
The Value of Clinical Rotations.
As I have previously mentioned when discussing the Missouri Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) experience, we are afforded the opportunity to complete rotations and shadow other specialties within the hospital. I specifically wrote about my time observing a knee reconstruction in the operating room, but I have also been able to assist with and observe nerve conduction studies and EMGs, osteoporosis management and most recently, podiatry. These rotations have been incredible, not only for the exposure to different patient populations, but also for the opportunity to see how various specialties approach health care.
One of the true highlights of my time here has been experiencing chiropractic within a multidisciplinary setting. Every new doctor we have had the opportunity to shadow and work alongside has been both welcoming and eager to teach. This environment has led me to reflect on how essential cooperation within the health care profession truly is, and how we as chiropractors fit into that larger system.
Understanding your own scope of practice, as well as the scope of others, is imperative when making clinical decisions regarding both treatment and referrals. While I have always respected the roles we can and cannot play in patient care, and appreciated where medical or surgical interventions are necessary, these rotations have deepened that respect. They have strengthened my desire to continue learning from other physicians and specialists, as well as from mentors like Dr. Miller, even beyond graduation.
The Gift of Collaboration.
As I prepare to transition from student to doctor, I recognize that the most meaningful growth has come not just from mastering technique, but from understanding collaboration. Health care is not practiced in isolation, and the best outcomes occur when providers work together with mutual respect and shared purpose. Carrying that perspective forward will be one of the most valuable lessons I take with me from both MOI and NUHS as I soon transition into practice.
