Ally Dutkiewicz and her friends gathered at the dance on the last night of their stay at Johns Hopkins University, and decided to do something funny that they would all remember when they left to go home the next day. Standing in the dance hall in front of everyone, Dutkiewicz and her friends broke into a flash mob that left all the other students laughing and helped to brighten everyone’s night. Knowing that she would be departing from the camp the following day, the night felt bittersweet, but Dutkiewicz knew that she would always remember her friends and her time there.

Senior Dutkiewicz attended a pre-medical program for high school students at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) this past summer. She stayed at the university for eleven days, and each day she heard lectures from world-renowned doctors and surgeons, attended  medical classes and got the opportunity to visit the JHU and Maryland Medical Schools along with the Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland. Dutkiewicz decided to enroll in the program to prepare herself for a future in medicine.

During her eleven day stay at JHU, Dutkiewicz had a full schedule filled with attending lectures and seminars that helped give the students in the program a better grasp on what a career in medicine might include. Dutkiewicz elaborated on her decision to enroll in this summer program.

“I was recommended to go the program being held at JHU by my honors biology teacher my freshman year.  She knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field and thought this would be a good opportunity to explore that possibility.  I really wanted to go because I thought it would be fun, and because I wanted to make sure that this is really what I wanted before I entered into college,” Dutkiewicz said.

Hundreds of high school students  in grades nine through twelve attended the camp, all looking for a way to test their skills in a medical themed setting. Because they visited such prestigious places, the advisers expected the students to maintain professional attitudes and behaviors, and this included wearing professional attire at all times. Dutkiewicz also mentioned the cultural diversity of the group of teenagers and that they all became very close after her stay.

“The kids attending the program came from all of the country and the world in order to be there.  Besides being smart, they were all involved in different activities and sports just like anyone at our school.  All the students there were super nice and very welcoming, and it was very easy to make friends. I actually still talk to some of the people that I met there,” Dutkiewicz said.

Dutkiewicz also explained that while it was challenging to have to endure the intense summer weather, experiencing important places such as the Johns Hopkins Hospital made the whole trip worthwhile.

Angie Dutkiewicz, Dutkiewicz’s mother, also believed that her daughter’s participation in the camp provided an incredible chance for her to experience the medical field. She elaborated on why she thought it to be a lucrative experience for Dutkiewicz before college.

“I thought it was a great opportunity for her to learn what was involved in the career of medicine.  Not only the amount of years involved, but also the things you have to do to get there.  This program taught her about the shortcuts, the long traditional route, the exams and then the application process to get into medical school.  It spoke about volunteering and getting involved in the community.  She visited two different hospitals and saw doctors and nurses in action.  Long hour days, constant running and alertness was a must.  It opened her eyes on what the initial part of her career would be about,” She said.

Dutkiewicz’s father, Stephen Dutkiewicz, also explained why he allowed Dutkiewicz to attend the medical camp, mentioning that he believes that program gave his daughter good insight into a career as a doctor.

“She [got] a good glimpse as [to] what the medical field is about including some of the more difficult issues such the results of violence and drug abuse. I think seeing the real challenges doctors face is a help in evaluating if this is the path she wanted to follow,” Stephen said.

Dutkiewicz believes that attending the summer medical program at Johns Hopkins University provided her with the opportunity to get an inside look at what a career in medicine may actually hold for her. She recommends this experience to anyone aspiring to pursue a career in medicine.