Currently Browsing: Stories

MEDDAC job shadows offer high school seniors close-up look at medical profession

Friday, 26 February 2010

Photo by Kate Agresti
Dr. (Lt. Col.) Craig Amnott and his son, Jae You, enjoy their time together during a recent two-day job shadow at Conner Troop Medical Clinic.

Each year, the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity supports requests from local school districts in which high school seniors who are interested in medical professions participate in two-day job shadows. (Students must first take Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act training and pass testing.)

That isn’t surprising given a tri-county effort to recruit today’s young men and women into health care fields, considering national and area shortages. Seldom, however, does a father / son team get to experience the job shadow together.

Such was the case recently when Dr. (Lt. Col.) Craig Amnott, officer in charge of Conner Troop Medical Clinic, and his son, Jae You Amnott, a senior at Indian River High School, teamed up at MEDDAC for a two-day on-site experience.

Following the shadow, both took time to share comments on what the opportunity to work together meant, what ranked as the most memorable moment, what the benefits of the job shadow program included, and additional comments and future plans.

Following is a recap:

Q: What has this job shadow opportunity meant to both of you?

A: (Dr. Amnott): It's an opportunity for me to spend time together with my son and to allow him to see what his father does for a living. Jae thinks he wants to become a physician. This job shadow time with give him some firsthand experience that he will be able to look back on (and) relate to as he moves forward in his life and starts making actual life-changing decisions … that will eventually lead to his ultimate career choice.

A: (Jae You): It meant so much to me. I always wanted to visit my father's office to see how doctors take care of patients, since I want to be a doctor. Through this job shadow, I actually could visit my father's office. I learned more about how physicians take care of patients from this opportunity than what I’ve researched online for three years.

Q: What was the most memorable moment during your two-day experience?

A: (Dr. Amnott): The most memorable event for me was supper last night (first night of the job shadow). I insist on family dinner time. It's the only time of the day when everyone (me, my wife and four teenagers) slows down for a few minutes and spends time together as a collective Family unit.

Anyway, at dinner I asked Jae what he thought about his day with me. His response was that he "liked it." We spent a few minutes talking about the day as a Family, engendering different comments from different Family Members. It was good to hear that he enjoyed his time and to discuss the day with the entire Family.

We had a very busy and hectic day that first day, where I provided care to over 30 patients. It's hard to slow down and provide a lot of explanation during busy days like that, so Jae had to just hold on tight and go for the ride!

(Jae You): When my father injected a needle into a Soldier's back and the Soldier said, “Thank you, sir. It doesn't hurt anymore.”

Q: What is the value of the job shadow from both of your perspectives as it pertains to future medical professional recruitment?

A: (Dr. Amnott): I have worked on other posts that have had a high school job shadow program. I thought then and continue to think now that this is a great idea on many fronts. It gives high school students some exposure from which to relate and from which to make informed decision regarding future career fields. It gives students the opportunity to spend time away from school and in a professional environment that causes them to see the value of maturity, responsibility, teamwork and work ethic. It gives professionals time to pass forward some of what they have learned in hopes of influencing the generations that will follow after us.

(Jae You): It was great time; it confirmed and motivated me that I want to be a doctor.

Q: Additional comments?

A: (Dr. Amnott): Again, it's nice to spend time with my son and to expose him to what I do for a profession. Not only am I an Army officer, but I am also a physician. These are two very unique jobs where service is the key word. I have always emphasized to my four children that their future job choice should focus on service toward others.

Service to others is about making an eternal difference. I am proud of the job I do, and I am tickled that my son expressed enough interest in what I do that he wanted to spend a couple of days tagging along with me on the job.

(Jae You): I am very proud of my father. He works extremely hard to support our Family.

Q: What are your future plans?

A: (Dr. Amnott): This summer I will (make a permanent-change-of-station move) to West Point to become the chief of family medicine at Keller Army Community Hospital. But my time in the Army is drawing toward a close. It is getting near time to retire as an Army officer and to focus more on being a physician. I plan to retire in the summer of 2012 and to pass the baton of Army physician on to the next generation.

(Jae You): I am going to attend four-year college and major in biology and study pre-medicine. After graduating from college, I will attend medical school to study medicine.

(Update: Jae recently has been accepted at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point class of 2014. After he graduates from West Point, he will begin pre-med studies through the U.S. Army.)

Editor’s note: If your high school senior student is interested in a medical profession job shadow, ask the School to Work Coordinator at the high school to contact the MEDDAC Public Affairs Office at 772-4312, to make arrangements.

Related Photographs