HRPI Week 5 Recap:

 Monday:

Today, we volunteered at Parkinson's Dynamics. We spent the morning with a large group of Parkinson's patients who were undergoing both physical and cognitive therapies. These exercises included activities such as boxing, cycling, weightlifting, using a cane to move objects, and performing cognitive tasks. Afterward, we went to a local coffee shop for refreshments and team bonding. We arrived at the UAB Medicine building around noon, where we ate lunch and received a presentation from Huntsville Hospital Canines for Coping. We got to meet Orbit, a facility dog from the program. The rest of the day was then spent in the simulation lab with Dr. Bramm and Dr. Irle. They taught us how to listen for certain heart and lung conditions, and how to inject or remove fluid from the knee. All in all, it was a wonderful day full of awesome experiences!

Tuesday:

Today, I spent my morning on rounds with the Internal Medicine team. We saw patients in seemingly every part of the Huntsville Hospital facility. At lunch, we had a seminar on wilderness medicine, which provided us with an extensive understanding of how to respond to medical emergencies in the wilderness setting. After lunch, I spent the afternoon with Dr. Fanning in the Internal Medicine Clinic. This allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of the patient/practitioner relationship, as well as how I would like to conduct myself while caring for my patients in the future.

Wednesday:

Today, we worked on our Wellness Projects. Our group initially chose to focus on Measles in rural Alabama; however, we could not find enough relevant data. So, we then shifted gears toward Alabama's vaccination rates and overall healthcare ratings. At lunch, we were given the opportunity to meet a representative of Alabama's Area Health Education Centers (AHEC). He was very informative and was even able to give me some information on how to go about an upcoming project of mine! Afterward, we departed for Charlie Foster's Espresso Bar so that we could continue working on our projects. We finished our PowerPoint in the afternoon and prepared to print materials for our poster on Thursday.

Thursday:

Today, I completed my exit interview with Dr. Bramm. While this was not as formal as I expected, I received a lot of great feedback and some much-needed validation! After my interview, I was informed that we would no longer be required to make a poster for our project, so we relaxed until lunch. After lunch, we went back to the dorm and got ready for a program pool party, hosted by the parents of a former HRPI student. We carpooled there, singing and laughing the whole way. We enjoyed playing games in the pool, a small pickleball tournament in the driveway, and a delicious barbecue dinner! After the pool party, we went back to the dorms and spent our last night together watching a Star Wars film.

Friday:

Today, we spent the morning packing up as many of our belongings as we could manage. Then, we departed for our Wellness Project Luncheon. Upon arriving at UAB, we quickly ran through our presentations, greeted our family members, and prepared our plates. Once everyone was seated and introductions were given, the presentations began. The first group presented on the medical challenges faced by rural Alabamians, and the second group focused on healing through a rural lifestyle. Lastly, we presented our project, titled "Vaccination in Alabama: Protecting Public Health Through Immunization." Our presentation sparked several interesting questions and a lot of discussion among the physicians in attendance! Afterward, we were seated so that Dean Dr. Smalligan and Dr. Bramm could give a few remarks on the program and our participation in it. We each were then presented with an award and directed to choose a prize. I was given the "Most Likely to Convince the Attending Physician to Let Her Do a Joint Aspiration," for which I chose a small first aid kit as my prize. After collecting our awards, Dean Dr. Smalligan and Dr. Bramm called on us to receive a certificate of completion. We then presented "Thank You" cards to Dr. Bramm and Ms. Clawson for their dedication to our success. As everyone was dismissed, we each spoke with our families, fellow interns, and supportive physicians. I received several compliments on my public speaking, warm wishes from my newfound friends, and kind words from their families. We said our goodbyes and departed for the dorm, where we packed the rest of our things and began our journeys home.

HRPI Week 4 Recap:

Monday:

Today, I shadowed the Family Medicine team on their morning rounds. I got to be a part of caring for a wide variety of patients, from newborns to the elderly. After lunch, I shadowed Dr. Miranda Worley in the Huntsville Hospital Family Medicine clinic, where I got to assist with another ear irrigation procedure!

Tuesday:

Today, I shadowed the Internal Medicine team on their morning rounds. I was surprised by the many different roles of the team members -- an attending physician, a couple of resident physicians, a pharmacist, and a few students. I had never considered that pharmacists might perform rounds, too. After lunch, I shadowed a team of both physical and occupational therapists. There, I learned about the many different technological advances in rehabilitation, therapy, and adaptation to life after injury.

Wednesday:

Today, I shadowed Dr. Lopez in the Family Medicine Clinic. I didn't realize how many patients struggle to speak English. Dr. Lopez has inspired me to brush up on my Spanish so that I can better communicate with ALL of my future patients and hopefully overcome the linguistic barriers preventing them from receiving the best possible care. After lunch, I shadowed Dr. Henninger in the Pediatric Clinic. While there, I learned about childhood vaccinations, illnesses, and skin conditions. I also learned about the racial disparities present in healthcare and parent education. Luckily, medicine has now evolved to accommodate and educate more than ever, but many still go un- or misdiagnosed.

Thursday:

Today, we volunteered with Sleep In Heavenly Peace to build beds for children in need. We worked with teams to accomplish different parts of the building process (sanding, drilling, branding, assembling, etc.). I spent my time sanding bed rails, which I luckily have a lot of prior experience in! At the end, we learned that our group of volunteers made a total of 62 beds, which far surpassed our original goal!

HRPI Week 3 Recap:

Monday:

Today, I shadowed Dr. Linder! I was able to watch a nurse draw blood from a patient. I was also able to perform a diabetic foot check on a patient, which was a totally new experience for me!

Tuesday:

Today, I shadowed Dr. Linder again. I got to see a lot of patients with chronic conditions today, some of which I had never heard of. I also performed a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in order to assess a patient's concerns about their memory difficulties.

Wednesday:

Today, I shadowed Dr. Linder until lunch. Because her practice is closed after noon on Wednesdays, I decided to shadow Dr. Lane Williamson in the Huntsville Hospital Family Medicine clinic for the rest of the day. This was a very informative experience, and it definitely made me feel like I belong in Family Medicine.

Thursday:

Today, I got to shadow the Family Medicine Team on their morning rounds. I had a lot of fun and learned so many new things! I especially liked the fast-paced nature of the hospital setting. After lunch, I joined a handful of other interns to receive suture instruction from Dr. David Bramm. I learned two different types of stitches and received my own suture kit to practice with at home.

Friday:

Today, we went on a field trip to Highlands Medical Center in Scottsboro, Alabama. We listened to several speakers, including the head of nursing, a general surgeon, and the founder of the Huntsville Rural Premedical Internship. We then received an extensive tour of the facility and another suture demonstration from the surgeon. We ate lunch at the hospital cafeteria, went on a quick detour to the Unclaimed Baggage store, and then departed for Cathedral Caverns. The caverns were absolutely gorgeous, so we had a great time (and a great workout, haha)!

HRPI Week 2 Recap:

Monday:

Today, I shadowed Dr. Linder! I learned quite a lot and saw a variety of patients.

Tuesday:

Today, we went to Calhoun Community College for a Skills Workshop. We learned how to take patient histories, perform physical examinations, draw blood, use a stethoscope, remove wound closures (staples and sutures), and suture! It was very fun and VERY informative!!!

Wednesday:

Today, we went back to Calhoun Community College to complete our Basic Life Support certification. We reviewed the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), performed chest compressions on infants, children, and adults, provided rescue breaths, demonstrated abdominal and chest thrusts for a choking patient, and practiced intubation procedures. Afterward, we had an awesome lunch at Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q!

Thursday:

Today, I shadowed with Dr. Linder again! I learned even more new skills, like how to flush a patient's ears.

Friday:

Today, we went on a field trip to Alchemy Farms & Plants in the Hampton Cove/Gurley area. We toured both locations, where we got to taste organic honey and peanuts, walk through the gardens, and interact with livestock (chickens, geese, sheep, goats, etc.). 

HRPI Week 1 Recap:

Monday:

Today, I drove to Huntsville for the first time! It was a long drive, but it was worth it. (Dinner at The Cheesecake Factory was definitely worth it.)

Tuesday:

Today, I moved into my dorm for the internship. My roommates are super sweet, and I'm so excited to share this experience with them! We had dinner with the other interns and the HRPI program staff. It was a little intimidating, but it was super fun!

Wednesday:

Today, we had orientation at the UAB Medicine building. We listened to a few speakers, ate a delicious lunch, and went on a brief tour of the UAB Medicine building, as well as Huntsville Hospital. I got to eat dinner with the other interns at Texas Roadhouse, which was a lot of fun. We used the Handel's coupons on our receipts to get ice cream before heading back to the dorm for a jam session. 

Thursday:

Today, I got to shadow a physician for the first time! Dr. Linder is a wonderful teacher, and I am eager to learn from her. 

Friday:

Today, we went on a tour of the facilities at Athens-Limestone Hospital, the local chamber of commerce, and the town square. We ate lunch at The Salty Cod, which is known for its exquisite English cuisine!

Introduction

Hi, my name is Harli! 

I am a first-generation student at Jacksonville State University, from which I am expected to graduate in the spring of 2026. Currently, I am majoring in Pre-Health Professional Biology and minoring in Psychology. I am an active member of several organizations both on- and off-campus. After graduating with my bachelor's degree, I plan to attend a medical college to earn a doctorate in medicine. My goal is to one day return to my hometown and serve my community by practicing rural medicine.

"Healing With Harli"

This blog is designed to walk readers through my life as a pre-medical student. Here, I will share insights into studying, shadowing physicians, working in medical facilities, interviewing, and preparing for standardized tests. I will also include some of the more personal aspects of my academic and professional journey, including the many challenges I face along the way. My goal is to provide readers with an all-encompassing look into the real life of a pre-medical student.