CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic Provides Growing Opportunity for Intern

Kim Parker

The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word long have a mission of empowering women. Sister Rosanne Popp, M.D. continues that mission at CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic through its internship program.

In March, the clinic provided an two-week internship opportunity for third-year medical student, Kim Parker. A student at UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth, she is currently working on a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree and a Master in Public Health degree. Offered an elective rotation, Parker chose to do a Spanish-speaking medical rotation. In order to prepare, she took a two-week intensive online Spanish course. The rotation at CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic would allow her to put her new skills to use.

The goal was to be able to perform a physical by herself. “Dr. Popp allowed me to see her patients,” Parker said. “I would get the history, perform the physical and present the pieces to Dr. Popp, as well as some suggestions for care. She would give me input and feedback on my plan. What’s been really nice has been trying to get the big picture of the patient and trying to make sure they are staying up to date with appropriate screenings and labs.”

Parker said working at CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic has been “such a unique experience.”

“As I have been doing my rotations, it’s been discouraging to me that we can’t just treat patients with a pill,” Parker said. “Their problems go so much deeper, like not having access to healthy food or working two jobs. The resources available to patients at CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic have refreshed my faith in the medical field – that we can make a difference.”

And educating up-and-coming physicians about the communities we serve is very important for Dr. Popp. “They learn that there are other people in-need and how to give back,” she said. “It sort of says what real medicine is. They like the philosophy and what we do. It’s a breeding ground for extending that mission, for them to take it into future endeavors.”