Rader Clinic staff mentor local high school students

Six gifted Arlington County Public School students are learning the ins and outs of quality health care and warrior resilience during a summer internship at Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

The internship is part of the Profession-related Intern Mentor Experience (PRIME), a community partnership between Arlington County Public Schools, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and the Arlington Career Center, according to Becki O'Loughlin, PRIME summer coordinator for Arlington County schools.

"I've been putting students into internships for over 40 years," O'Loughlin said. "The earlier kids are exposed to the world of work--the essence of a job--the better."

Thirty-seven rising juniors and seniors from Arlington were chosen to intern in a number of industries, from engineering and information technology to journalism, politics and finance, July 5 through July 29.

This is the second year Rader Clinic has participated in PRIME. Students are mentored by a variety of health care providers among Rader Clinic's military population.

Students worked four days per week alongside a mentor, tasked with working the same hours as their mentor, resulting in a better understanding of what could be their respective career paths, high-level functions and demands, O'Loughlin said.

"Student interns have worked alongside staff in physical therapy, the laboratory, the primary care clinic, pharmacy, immunizations, the dental clinic; they've really rotated through a variety of positions," said U.S. Army Capt. Dana Bal, the clinic's pharmacy chief.

Julia Churbuck, 16, a student at Washington-Lee High School, and Jessica Lemus, 16, Wakefield High School, are two people the Pentagram interviewed while working in Rader Clinic's physical therapy section.

"A physical therapy tech sees about eight or nine patients a day--and these students are working alongside me for at least seven of them--for the full hands-on experience," said U.S. Army Spc. Luis Vazquez, a physical therapy specialist at Rader Clinic. "With the military, any kind of injury can happen."

Churbuck, the daughter of a helicopter pilot, plans to enter the United States Naval Academy to become a naval flight officer and eventually enter medicine. She said her experience thus far this summer has increased her interest in the latter.

"To see people enter [Rader Clinic] in a lot of pain, and then leave feeling much better, showed me that this field is a lot more rewarding than I thought it was," Churbuck said. "The staff here personally know their patients and build a rapport with them, making them stronger than before."

Lemus, whose brother served in the U.S. Army, said her internship has reaffirmed her commitment to a career in physical therapy in either the military or civilian sector. She advises other high school juniors and seniors to seize the benefits an internship can offer.

"Before you go to college you should already know what you want to do," Lemus said. "College is not the place to change majors, go back to the drawing board and start all over. But also, knowing what you want to do helps when applying to colleges. Some colleges are better in specific majors than others. I'm glad I got an internship as early as I could."

Fellow Washington-Lee High School students Quinn Smith-Perry, 17, and Biruktawit Tibebe, 17, echoed the same sentiments.

"It's important to go into college with a plan," said Smith-Perry, who is interested in medical research. "You'll save significant time and money."

"If you're in high school and still undecided about what you want to do in your future, do an internship," said Tibebe, who plans to be a dentist. "It's going to be worth the investment."

Following the completion of PRIME summer internship, participants earn one college credit from Northern Virginia Community College.