Sara Brescia CNS 120 February 17th, 2014

Interview Informational Assignment One person I interviewed was Dr. Claudio DAlberti. He is my mothers brother and an ophthalmologist in New Jersey. Though we are very close, I have never asked him about why he chose to become a doctor and how his experience was entering the medical field. This was a great opportunity to talk to someone I know very well and am comfortable speaking with as well as still being able to learn something new. Dr. DAlberti attended college and medical school in New York City. He explained that since he could remember he always wanted to be a doctor. This desire was greatly influenced by his father, who was also a physician. As a child he would accompany his father on house calls and trips to the hospital. These little glimpses of what it was like to be a doctor fostered his love for medicine. Going into medical school Dr. DAlberti knew he wanted his specialty to involved surgery. As he did rotations his last two years in school he fell in love with ophthalmology. Not only did he become fascinated with the mechanisms of the eye but it also had a surgical subspecialty. The surgeries he conducts are intricate and complex. After finishing medical school he opened his own practice in Hoboken, New Jersey called DAlberti Eye Center. The nature of his work is filled with eye exams and evaluating eye pressure. He also checks for disease and health of the cornea, lens, and retina. The surgeries he conducts are cataract, Lasik, and more.

During our interview my uncle gave me a great piece of advice. He explained that when choosing a career in medicine and going through rotations in medical school, whatever specialty you fall in love with, do it! He states that it will not feel like you are waking up every morning and going to work, but rather you are waking up excited to be doing something you love. I truly appreciated hearing this because this is something so simple that often gets overlooked. After speaking in length about his work, I am definitely intrigued in ophthalmology. I always assumed that his day in the office revolved around routine eye exams but I could not be more wrong. For example, as he was describing a surgery he performed the previous day, I found myself completely captivated by what he was saying. So this is definitely a possible area of interest that Id love to explore in the future. Thinking back on what I know about myself, I definitely believe this position aligns with my values, beliefs, and interests. I love medicine and am extremely eager to explore the possibilities of doing surgery. From Dr. DAlbertis explanation, it also appears that working in ophthalmology offers flexible hours so that I can also be involved and present with the family I hope to have one day. I also believe he was a solid source of information. His passion for medicine impressed me and echoed the same values and goals that I hope to achieve. Overall, I had a great experience interviewing Dr. Claudio DAlberti. After our conversation I am interested in finding out more about the field of ophthalmology. Also, as I stated earlier, it peaked my interest in surgery. Therefore I am excited to observe other surgical subspecialties. Thank you note to Dr. Claudio DAlberti: Dear Uncle Claude,

Thank you again for setting aside the time to talk to me about your career and the path you took to get to where you are today. I truly appreciate the insight you have given me into ophthalmology and the surgeries you perform. I also value the advice you gave me in regards to finding the specialty I love and sticking with it. In the future, I would love to watch you work with patients as well as observe you in the operating room. I believe it will help further my understanding and knowledge of your field. I look forward to seeing you soon! Love, Sara

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The second physician I interviewed was obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Thomas Migliaccio. He is a partner in my parents practice in New Jersey. He has been working with my parents for nearly 15 years, so I was fortunate to have another doctor that I am comfortable speaking with and interviewing. It was a nice change to hear someone elses experience in the medical field that had no relation to me. Dr. Thomas Migliaccio attended college in New York and medical school in Pennsylvania. However he did not always know that he wanted to be a doctor. He explained that he always loved science but was unsure about what he wanted to do in life. It wasnt until he had a conversation with his uncle, who was a physician, about his career in medicine. Hearing his story sparked an interest that he never noticed before. Though the decision to attend medical school was not always known, while going through rotations in school, Dr. Migliaccio knew immediately that he wanted to be an

obstetrician and gynecologist (OB/GYN). He explained that he truly enjoyed delivering babies and being involved in a mostly happy and joyous field. After joining my parents practice, Dr. Migliaccio days consist of gynecological exams and obstetrical care. Once a week and every third weekend he is on-call and ready to drive to the hospital to deliver babies and perform any emergency surgeries. However, some of surgeries he conducts are scheduled, such as hysterectomies and C-sections. I expressed my concerns regarding medical school and Dr. Migliaccio gave me some great advice. He explained that it is easy to become discouraged over the course of medical school due to the overwhelming work load. However, in the end, it is one of your greatest accomplishments. Being able to be part of such a rewarding profession makes it worth all the stress and sleepless nights. Prior to our conversation I have always been interested in being an obstetrician and gynecologist. However, hearing the excitement and passion in his voice on furthered my drive to be part of this field as well. Womens health has always been an area of interest to me and it appears that there is never a dull moment. Therefore is seems evident that this position aligns with what I know about myself. This profession clearly supports my values, beliefs, and interests. I would love to help women be more informed by giving them knowledge about their bodies and teaching them how to take all the proper preventative measures. I absolutely believe that Dr. Migliaccio is a solid source of information. His passion and love for his profession highlighted a number of values and goals that we have in common. I appreciate his honesty about the lifestyle that goes along with being an OB/GYN. Though it is 100% possible to be a driven doctor as well as a giving mother in this profession, it is difficult to

juggle the two worlds. I am truly glad he did not glamorous how amazing it is to bring a child into the world and that he did not sugar-coat the difficulties I would have being an involved parent while there are constant delivers and emergencies that must be responded to. In conclusion, I had another wonderful experience and interview with Dr. Thomas Migliaccio. It was wonderful to learn more about the particular field I am interested in joining. With all the new information I have been given, Id like to contact a few female obstetricians and gynecologists so I can hear their first hand experiences regarding the lifestyle and the effects it has on the home. Thank you letter to Dr. Thomas Migliaccio: Dear Dr. Thomas Migliaccio, Thank you for setting aside the time to talk to me about your career and the path you took to get to where you are today. I truly appreciate the insight you have given me into obstetrics and gynecology. I also value the advice you gave me in regards to how to make it through medical school. I often catch myself becoming overwhelmed by the work load placed upon me in college; however I always get it completed and done correctly. I believe with your advice I can be successful! After speaking with you and hearing your story, I would love to hear those from any female OB/GYNs that you may know in our area. Do you know of any that would be willing to spare a few minutes to speak with me? Thank you again for allowing me to interview you. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Sara Brescia