Ryan Qiu

I helped provide free foot care to individuals experiencing homelessness by washing their feet, trimming their toenails, and giving out clean socks and shoes. Many of the patients we served were diabetic and had little to no access to regular medical care, which made even basic foot care especially important. One patient I worked with had a superficial foot ulcer, and we were able to provide him with antibiotic soap and wraps, which reminded me how easily small, treatable problems can worsen when someone does not have access to consistent care. What stood out to me most was how appreciative patients were simply to be treated with dignity and kindness. This experience reinforced that medicine is not only about diagnosing and treating disease, but also about recognizing the humanity of each patient. It showed me how closely basic hygiene, chronic disease, and access to care are connected, and how important it was to serve.

Volunteering at The Hub’s foot care clinic was one of the more eye-opening experiences I’ve had as a medical student. I spent the day scrubbing feet, clipping nails, and checking for things like infections or ulcers. A few patients had diabetic foot ulcers that needed more attention, so I made sure they were seen by the doctor on site.

What stood out the most wasn’t the procedures themselves, but how much people appreciated something so simple. Many told me they hadn’t had proper foot care in a long time. It reminded me that small, hands-on tasks can make a huge difference in someone’s comfort and health.

John was a very helpful and informative M4 that shared his tips and tricks on handling multiple instruments and tying down hard-to-keep-down knots. While it was not a busy night, I was able to learn a lot about different techniques, such as corner and running stitches, and practice during the downtimes. As John is applying into orthopedics, the same speciality that I am currently aiming for, he was also able to provide insight into how I should go about handling academics, research, and extracurriculars.

Chandler was an incredibly encouraging preceptor that allowed me to suture some lacerations by myself. I was able to walk her through my game plans to suture, and we both reiterated the importance of identifying landmarks of the laceration and closing them up first. I was able to ask her about the suture tech position, and she encouraged me to apply for the position. I believe I will go for it.

Savannah was an incredible preceptor that allowed me to suture when I was comfortable. I learned throughout the night that she was a nurse for 5 years before entering medical school and was throughly impressed with her bedside manners. It was good to be able to shadow someone who was once a nurse as it gave me more of an insight into the inter-professional dynamic within the emergency room.

Cassidy was once again a great preceptor that both encouraged and provided important criticisms and feedback to how I was suturing. I had shadowed her earlier this month of October and enjoyed spending this 12 hour shift with her. Throughout the busy night as part of the wound care team, I was able to add learning how to do deep stitches to my skillset with Cassidy's guidance. She emphasized the importance of approaching the bite at a 90 degree angle and taught me how to palm the needle driver to achieve higher dexterity. As an M4 who has applied for general surgery residency, Cassidy also provided valuable knowledge for my own future by telling me about the different away surgical rotations she went on and what to look for in a program to make sure it aligns with my own values. Her time as a suture tech not only allowed her to gain skills that students from other medical institutions do not have a chance to receive, but I also believe that it fostered her ability to teach in a kind and supportive manner. The amount of patience and words of encouragement she has with us M1s is truly remarkable. Every mistake was an opportunity to learn with her, and I gained a lot of appreciation for that gentle way of mentoring. I believe she will be a great surgeon, and I wish to follow her footsteps in being a great teacher to another medical student in the future as well.

Cassidy is an M4 who was incredibly kind and informative. As she just returned from her away rotations in general surgery, she was able to give me a lot of insight into the world of surgery, the field that I want to pursue.
Throughout the night, we worked to clean wounds and suture lacerations. I was able to provide wound care and suture under her guidance. Cassidy taught me the importance of approaching the bite at the right angle and how to complete a deep stitch. She explained that her time and experienced gained in the suture tech position allowed her to excel in her surgical rotations and was a great talking point at the other institutions that do not have a similar program. It made me both appreciate further and remember how unique the experience I am getting is at UTHSC.