Hawkins Foundation Internship

1. Megan Lee

2. Introduction
During the spring of 2016, I had the unique opportunity of completing
my health science internship at The Hawkins Foundation. Throughout
the semester, I completed over 200 hours of shadowing experiences
and clinical research. My time at this site has helped me become
even more confident in my plan to pursue a career in medicine.

3. The Hawkins Foundation
The Hawkins Foundation
works in conjunction with
Steadman Hawkins
Clinic of the Carolinas to
conduct clinical research
studies in orthopedic
medicine. It is located on
the first floor of
Steadman Hawkins
Clinic.

4. Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the
Carolinas
The clinic is located on the
Patewood Medical Campus in
Greenville, SC.

5. Mission Statement
“The Hawkins Foundation is a
not-for-profit organization whose
purpose is to advance
orthopedic medicine and
outcomes for patients through
research and education.”

6. Goals
The Hawkins
Foundation works
together with
many entities to
accomplish the
goal of improving
patient outcomes
through clinical
research.
Hawkins
Foundation
Clemson
University
USC/CER-
Ortho
Steadman
Hawkins
Clinic
ATI
Physical
Therapy

7. Responsibilities
 Provide a research
presence in the clinic
 Office Work
 Screen for potential
study patients
 Organize study related
materials
 Grade/ evaluate study
surveys

8. Provide a Research
Presence
While in the clinic, I
act as a reminder
to the physicians
about research
studies that are
actively enrolling. I
help point out
potential study
patients based on
the inclusion
criteria.

9. Office Work
 Screen for potential
study patients
○ To maintain a steady
enrollment
 Organize study related
materials
○ To keep the research
process efficient and
smooth
 Grade/ evaluate study
surveys
○ To collect data on
patient outcomes

10. Additional Opportunities
 Observe surgeries in the
operating room
 Attend academic
sessions with a variety
of healthcare
professionals
 Observe and participate
in surgical skills
sessions in the cadaver
lab

11. Observe in the OR
My observation time in the operating room provided exposure to many
operations including: hip and knee replacement; standard and reverse total
shoulder arthroplasty; and many arthroscopic shoulder procedures. This
experience greatly increased my knowledge of the procedures and the
surgical process.

12. Attend Academic Sessions
The academic sessions are every Monday morning at 7:30 am. The meetings
include physicians, fellows, residents, physical therapists, and the research
staff. A presentation is given on a topic of interest and a discussion among the
various health professionals follows. The academic sessions helped increase
my knowledge on orthopedic topics and apply the information from clinic.

13. Participate in Surgical Skills lab
I helped set up the surgical skills lab by
cleaning and preparing the specimens and
organizing the tools needed for the
procedures. I was also able to watch, ask
questions, and participate during multiple lab
sessions.

14. Projects
 Literature Review on Superior Capsular
Reconstruction
 After a few weeks in clinic, we were able to
select a topic of interest to write a literature
review on.
 Internship Video
 I worked with a fellow intern to make a 15
minute video reflecting on our time at The
Hawkins Foundation.

15. Literature Review
A link to my paper is provided in my portfolio. It can also be accessed here:
https://drive.google.com/a/g.clemson.edu/file/d/0B2O6mXRA0XosenhWUzd
FZ2hUaUE/view?usp=sharing
Arthroscopic Superior
Capsular Reconstruction is
a new, promising surgery in
the field of orthopedic
surgery. It has shown
strong results in providing a
solution to irreparable
rotator cuff tears in the
young adult population.

16. Internship Video
The video can be accessed through my portfolio under the
“Projects” section on the “Health Science Internship” page.
This assignment allowed the fellow intern and me to discuss
our experiences together and reflect on our time at The
Hawkins Foundation.

17. Conclusion
My time as an intern at The Hawkins Foundation was a valuable
learning experience. The experiences in the research office have
increased my understanding and appreciation for clinical research.
The hours spent in clinic provided insight and exposure to the
healthcare field. My passion for medicine has grown, and I am very
confident in my plans to become a doctor.