Orthopedics + Sports Medicine student Wendy says its empowering that so many young women are pursuing their interest in medical careers, and she loves being part of a community of that supports her "Oh yes, I can!" approach to life.
I used to do gymnastics and I also played softball and soccer. Right now I mainly do figure skating and synchronized skating. The hardest part about synchronized skating is working together to execute all the elements. When I grow up I want to be a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, because I’ve been really athletic my whole life and I think that will make it easy to relate to my patients. That’s what really got me interested in the Orthopedics + Sports Medicine program at EXPLO.
Since we are doing a lot of trial and wrapping on each other there is this trust that forms easily here. You have to be comfortable with everyone. Right now we are in the athletic training room because we are doing a lot of hands on work, like taping. They teach us about all the ligaments and bones in a way that I can remember it. It’s very different than how I’ve learned at school. We also do skits or projects that help me remember.
There are actually a lot of girls in the program, which I feel is really empowering. I hope that I see what’s happening here at the Ortho program will continue on in the world. I think that this generation in particular has girls that are willing and ready to rise up and start entering those fields that have long been dominated by men. A big motivation for me to join the field of orthopedic medicine is that there’s not a lot of female orthopedic surgeons. I’ve had people tell me that I couldn’t do it or I shouldn’t do it because I’m a woman and I just don’t feel like there’s any reason at all why I can’t.
Ally Marcino