Hi! My name is Lauren, and I am a rising Pitt Honors senior majoring in Chemistry. I have a concentration in Biological Sciences and I am pursing a Certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. This summer, I am studying and interning in London as part of the Healthcare in British Context program. I will take a course in Comparative Healthcare Systems in addition to interning at King’s College Hospital.

My professional aim is to attend Physician Assistant school after graduating with my bachelor’s degree. As a future healthcare professional, I am interested in public health, healthcare delivery, and social determinants of health. I chose to participate in this program to expand my perspective on healthcare. My experiences on this program will allow me to bring a new, global perspective into my future profession. I believe my global education in comparative healthcare will also be an excellent supplement to topics that I have explored through my certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine.

I am also excited to gain experience within the UK healthcare system. I will be interning in the Clinical Biochemistry department of King’s College Hospital. King’s College is a large teaching and research hospital in London. I will have the opportunity to contribute to clinical research as well as shadow different specialties and multi-disciplinary teams within the hospital. I am very interested in clinical research and I cannot wait to dive into the current research projects within my department. I hope to gain key research skills and an understanding of the overall research process as it applies to medicine. I have already been able to observe surgeries in the operating room, or theatre as they call it in the UK. Another interesting difference in the UK is that surgeons are addressed with Mr/Ms instead of Dr as a sign of respect. Thankfully, my supervisor informed me of this custom prior to my time in the theatre.

London has already shown to be a beautiful and expansive city. I am excited to continue to explore with the help of the “tube” and immerse myself in the cultural and historic experiences that London has to offer. CEA CAPA, the Pitt Global Experiences Office, and the staff at King’s College Hospital have been very kind and helpful in my adjustment to this new environment. I am very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to sharing my global experiences through this blog!

(Side note: The only picture I have taken of myself is from a weekend trip to Paris, but I will take more in London!)