Randolph-Macon College students can translate theory into practice when they participate in tailor-made internships. Megan Granger ’18 and Olivia Mott ’19 experienced this during January Term (J-term) 2018. Granger (behavioral neuroscience and biology major) and Mott (biology major; chemistry and psychology minor) interned at the Wound Healing Center at Chippenham Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. Granger plans a career as a nurse, and Mott plans to become a doctor.

RMC Biology Professors James Foster and Jamie Brooks worked with staff from The Edge to arrange the internships. The Edge, the college’s four-year career program, prepares students for life after college through workshops, an annual Boot Camp, and customized internships.

Learning from the Experts
Under the direction of Lisa Shawler, nurse navigator/clinical research coordinator, Granger and Mott learned from doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners. Observation was a critical component of their internships. Granger and Mott shadowed Drs. Stephen Crossland and John Deitrick as they assessed patients’ wounds, and they accompanied nurse practitioners as they made their rounds with in-patient care. The students also shadowed wound-care nurses.

“This allowed us to see the different types of chronic wounds—those wounds that have not healed over the course of approximately 30 days,” explains Mott. “These types of wounds include pressure, venous and arterial ulcers, plus burns and frostbite.”

Granger and Mott also spent time in the OR, where they watched knee and hip replacement surgeries and an abdominal surgery. Seeing up-close some of the specialized areas of the hospital such as the Vascular Center, Diabetic Center, and Wound Care Physical Therapy gave them a big-picture view of the busy hospital.

Future Plans
“I plan to pursue a career in nursing after graduating from RMC,” says Granger, who is applying to nursing programs at Virginia Commonwealth University, Eastern Carolina University, and Bon Secours. “Down the road, I plan to become a nurse practitioner. My internship gave me a good idea of what my future career looks like by exposing me to the various aspects of wound care.”

A member of the Yellow Jacket swimming team, Granger is currently conducting research on how the environment and exercise affect the behavioral and physiological plasticity in Long-Evans rats. She hopes to publish her findings in a scientific journal. “I really enjoy the student-faculty interactions at Randolph-Macon,” she says. “The professors are extremely helpful and do their best to help students succeed, both in and out of the classroom.”

Mott has wanted to pursue a career in medicine since she was a child.

“My internship solidified my desire to become a doctor and go to medical school,” says Mott, who plans a career in pediatrics and is currently applying to medical schools. “It also helped me understand the day-to-day workings of a hospital. I quickly discovered that each patient is unique, and I learned how to stay on my toes and be prepared for anything.”

Mentorship
Biology Professor James Foster mentored Mott throughout her internship.

“He helped me understand what to expect within wound care and told me to prepare myself for an internship that would be challenging and rewarding.” Mott, a Presidential Scholar, is a member of the lacrosse team and a member of Beta Beta Beta, Alpha Nu Chapter (a National Biological Honor Society) and the Pre-Health Society.

Foster says, “Olivia and Megan had an amazing experience and saw firsthand how important teamwork is in healthcare. Dr. Crossland and the team at Chippenham have done great work with our students and we are very thankful for the learning environment they have provided.”

As a student-athlete, Mott has had the opportunity to meet many people and grow as a person and a student.”I love that I have a family away from home,” she says, “so when I need advice or just want to talk to someone, my friends, teammates, and professors are here for me.”

January Term at RMC
RMC’s January Term (J-term) gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in another culture, embark on an internship, conduct research or explore other areas of study on campus. RMC’s Edge Career Center and dedicated faculty assist students in finding the perfect internship opportunity.

The Edge, a four-year career program, gives students a competitive advantage in the job market or graduate-school admissions process. Workshops, internships, one-on one advising, a career and networking Boot Camp, and other resources ensure that students who graduate from RMC are lifelong learners who can think critically and adapt to new situations.

RMC’s Bassett Internship program offers academic credit and connects students with tailor-made internships to explore a wide range of career fields in various locations. Students can also choose from a variety of paid or volunteer internship opportunities.