Up to ten Mini-Interns are invited to spend two days observing
doctors and others while they perform their daily activities in operating
rooms, physicians' offices, clinics, laboratories and wherever they may
practice within our community. (All Mini-Interns are carefully instructed
with respect to patient privacy issues and they sign an acknowledgement
following the orientation session.)
2009 Mini-Internship — Another Powerful Program,
Mini-Interns Called a Tremendous Adventure
We are grateful for the support of so many of our members — the essential component of this community outreach and education program.
Mini-Interns who dedicated two days of their valuable time to explore the world of medicine are: Lake County Judge Joseph Waldeck, Michelle Feldman, a Lake County Board member, Shauna McCarthy, Legislative Assistant to Congressman Mark Kirk, Jennifer Ballard, an attorney with Hinshaw & Culbertson, Roy Schmidt and Wendy Roberson, both Senior Underwriters with ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company and Mark C. Curran, Jr., Lake County Sheriff.
Photo: Lake County Judge Joseph R. Waldeck was an enthusiastic participant in the 2009 Mini-Internship program. He spent time at Lake Forest Hospital and Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan.
L to R: Mini-Intern Jennifer Ballard (attorney with Hinshaw & Culbertson),
Dr. Kim Sobinsky, general surgeon, Marianne Finlay, RN (Director Surgery
& Ambulatory Services at Lake Forest Hospital), Shauna McCarthy,
Legislative Assistant to Congressman Mark Kirk, a 2009 Mini-Intern.
Mini-Internship photo, September 21, 2009.
Matthew Abbott, legislative assistant to Congressman Mark Kirk,
Northbrook office, is pictured in the center of this photo.
To his left is Edward Hamming, an orthopedic surgeon.
(Above photo) 2008 Reverse Mini-Internship taken in the Lake County
Coroner's facility. As a result of the successful Medical Mini-Internships
since 1989, the Lake County Bar Association and Lake County judges began
organizing Reverse Mini-Internships, during which physician members of
the Medical Society are invited to observe courtroom cases sitting side
by side with attorneys who could explain proceedings, tour the Lake County
Jail and visit the Coroner's facilities. The unique program has been very
well received!
Above photo: 2008 Mini-Internship Program: Kelli Politte,
Duputy Chief Public Defender, Lake County and Lake County Board
Vice Chairman Michael Talbett observing in surgery at Condell
Medical Center. They were two of eight Mini-Interns in the
"Class of 2008". They observed physicians practicing medicine
at Condell and Vista Medical center East and Lake Forest Hospitals.
Below, additional photos from the 2008 Mini-Internship Program.
The Medical Society feels that those who report on or make decisions about healthcare purchasing, access to care and costs need to observe for
themselves what the practice of medicine is all about. As healthcare
economics have changed, so has the way in which we practice medicine. When
people are allowed to observe medicine in action, they form their own
conclusions, quite intelligently and effectively as we have learned.
Photo: All Mini-Interns are greeted in the hospital lobby when they arrive. James Milam, MD, Mini-Internship Program Chairman, met Chief Judge Margaret Mullen, and the other mini-interns when they arrived at Condell Medical Center during the 2004 Mini-Internship program.
Mini-Internship: "An Incredible Experience"
Another year, another successful Mini-Internship Program! In September, 2007, six Interns shadowed over 35 LCMS members and saw first-hand what it is like to be a doctor.
2007 Interns — Matthew Abbott, District Representative for Congressman Mark Kirk (IL-10); David Asma, Principle Investigator, Office of the Public Defender; Jenifer Haas, Sr. Professional Liability Analyst, ISMIE; Alissa Guetzow, Sr. Professional Liability Analyst, ISMIE; Rep. Karen May (IL-58); and Beth McNicholas, Underwriter, ISMIE.
Above photo: Dr. Edward Hamming, orthopedic surgeon
with offices in Gurnee and Libertyville, in surgery at
Lake Forest Hospital. Drs. Edward and Bruce Hamming are
regular participants in the Mini-Internship program.
Matthew Abbott is observing in surgery.
(Photos: Mike Romeo)
Photo: Mini-Intern Adam Beeson, legislative aide to State
Representative Ed Sullivan, Jr., (Mundelein) observing knee
surgery during the Mini-Internship by Dr. Thomas Baier and
Dr. Gregory Caronis.
Photo: Raghu Thunga, MD, an anesthesiologist at Condell and
LCMS officer and executive committee member has been extraordinarily
welcoming and helpful to our visiting Mini-Interns for two years.
He is pictured here with Chief Judge Margaret Mullen and ISMIE claim
analyst Michelle Stenzel.
At the conclusion of their two-day adventure with individualized schedules,
the Mini-Interns come together with the participating physicians (all who can
attend) at a dinner hosted by the Medical Society to enable them to share
their collective experiences and discuss the issues and challenges
surrounding practice of medicine in our community. We call this the
Debriefing Dinner. It pleases us to learn that many lasting relationships
have been formed over the years to the mutual benefit of all concerned.
We encourage physicians in all specialties to join in and host a Mini-Intern
or two during this important community outreach program. We promise a
rewarding experience! Most Mini-Interns are assigned to physicians for 2 - 3
hour segments, depending on the observation opportunities and individual
schedules. For additional information, email or call our executive director, Jane
Stein at the Lake County Medical Society office in Lake Forest at (847)
482-0222.
Producing A Successful Mini-Internship
Producing a successful Mini-Internship is a little bit like giving birth! It consumes our time increasingly over a period of several months, we swear it is too much work and strain to do again, and when it's over, we can't wait to get started on the next program because it always brings about such thrilling results.
Without the enthusiastic support of the administration and staff at the hospitals... without their close attendance over our visiting Mini-Interns, this program would fail.
Thanks to all of those who shepherd our Mini-Interns through surgery at all participating hospitals and warmly greet and care for our Mini-Interns throughout the event. This includes an average of 30-40 member physicians who participate in the program annually. Thanks to you all for helping us deliver each successful Mini-Internship!
We are grateful for the support of so many of our members — the essential component of this community outreach and education program.
Producing a successful Mini-Internship is a little bit like giving birth! It consumes our time increasingly over a period of several months, we swear it is too much work and strain to do again, and when it's over, we can't wait to get started on the next program because it always brings about such thrilling results.
