advertisement

High School Internship leads to opportunities for aspiring medical student

Among the staff of a local doctor's office is a teenager getting ready for college. What started as an internship at Arlington Dermatology has led to an even bigger opportunity for one recent high school graduate.

Angelica Groszek always knew she wanted a career in the medical field. While attending Buffalo Grove High School, she took classes in the District 214 Health Science career pathway, including anatomy and medical terminology. She also earned state certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant. These programs helped prepare her when she started an internship with Arlington Dermatology in January.

"I feel like I have a head start because of how many medical terms I use here, and even interacting with patients. I even impressed some of the workers here," said Groszek. "Being here and seeing everything, it reiterated my passion for medicine."

As an intern, Groszek started at the front desk making appointments and learning about insurance. Her CNA certification allowed her to get more experience on the floor by rooming patients, helping them sign forms and assisting with light and laser treatments.

Upon graduation in May, Arlington Dermatology paid for her training to become a certified dermatology technician. They even offered her a job to keep coming back during college breaks.

"They really took a chance on me, a girl right out of high school who's interested in medicine and didn't have a lot of experience," said Groszek. "Now my scope of practice is bigger. I'm so thankful for them investing in me. They trained me, they let me shadow a doctor and be in the rooms. You're not going to find that anywhere else."

The partnership between District 214 and Arlington Dermatology started last year. To the administrators at the practice, Groszek was a standout.

"Angelica was an extremely fast learner from day one. She caught on immediately on what to do and how to do it. She also has a natural politeness in her. Patients clicked with her immediately," said Ursula Cholewa, the Clinical Research Director at Arlington Dermatology. "Within a couple of weeks we knew we wanted to invest in her professional training because we knew it would benefit her and us."

Arlington Dermatology prides itself on not only being a community practice, but also promoting education and research.

"Good education should start early. We have young students from high school, colleges and medical schools working alongside our staff. We teach them practical dermatology but also show them true compassion and care for our patients. Teaching by example is what we believe in," said Cholewa.

"Just seeing how all the staff treats patients with care and respect - they're my role models. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to keep coming back," said Groszek.

Groszek plans to study biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign starting this fall.

Work-based learning is an element of every District 214 career pathway. The opportunities that the district's Industry Partners provide are available to all students, regardless of chosen field. Learn more about internships and apprenticeships in the Center for Career Discovery section of District 214's website.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.