Hands-On Medical Adventures: Learning the Art of Plaster Casting

Today at the Advanced Medical and Public Health Internship, we dived into the most captivating part of the program, offering our interns an immersive experience in the world of healthcare through hands-on medical activities. The highlight of the day was mastering the art of plaster casting, a time-honored medical procedure still widely used in health centers to stabilize and support injured limbs during the healing process.

To get started, our interns gathered around, surrounded by sheets on the ground and gauze on each desk. With plaster pieces in hand, they eagerly observed a demonstration by our skilled team leads. Afterward, they wasted no time and began wrapping their own arms expertly with gauze, laying the foundation for their plaster casts.

With a thumbs-up to indicate readiness, they proceeded to dip the dry plaster pieces into water-filled bins, meticulously layering them on the gauze to create the cast's body. For twenty minutes, they dedicated themselves to the task, using hundreds of plaster pieces to build their casts. As the casts slowly dried, they proudly displayed their creations to each other and our team leads, who couldn't help but be impressed by their craftsmanship.

But the learning didn't end there. Our interns were reminded by our LI staff to leave a portion of the gauze untouched, ensuring easy removal of the cast in the future. They quickly understood the significance of this step, recognizing that patient comfort and care are paramount.

With their newly made plaster casts, the interns headed to lunch with a sense of accomplishment. However, reality soon set in as they discovered the challenges of eating with only one hand available. Many of them began to request the removal of their casts, gaining firsthand experience of the difficulties faced by patients in such situations. This insight into the patient's perspective will undoubtedly prove invaluable as they build their careers in healthcare and foster patient-caregiver relationships.

One intern, Nilaa Elangovan, was enthralled by the process of creating the cast. Having previously had a cast herself for a broken arm, the opportunity to learn the procedure her own medical professionals followed was a uniquely insightful experience. Another intern, Rhea Umrani, recommended that interns should wear lighter colored pants in order to prevent the plaster that will inevitably get all over them from showing. She did acknowledge, however, that the enrichment that one experiences from plaster casting greatly outweighs the mess. Such responses fuel our passion at Leadership Initiatives, as we strive to ignite potential interests and immerse driven high schoolers in their chosen fields.

In conclusion, the day's activities not only equipped our interns with practical skills but also gave them profound insights into the world of healthcare. Through this engaging experience, they are well on their way to becoming compassionate and capable professionals, making a positive impact in the lives of their future patients.