Last weekend, I traveled to North Carolina to visit Duke and University of North Carolina’s campuses. Both were very impressive in their own ways, but they shared a range of imposing medical facilities. Duke’s hospital in particular was enormous, especially when compared to the one near where I live. Duke’s school of medicine is attached and even integrated into the hospital. It is easy to see why Duke’s medical school ranks so high after seeing the facilities the students have access to, not to mention the faculty and staff.
The University of North Carolina appeared to have a slightly smaller hospital, but since visiting I have learned that it was one of 12 UNC hospitals across the state. This vast network makes the UNC medical facilities reach a tier close to that of Duke. Even though I was not able to enter the hospitals due to COVID-19, I did get a close look at one of UNC’s patients. A woman, wearing nothing more than a hospital gown and yellow, grippy socks was on the sidewalk, waiting for a bus, cigarette in hand. Her physical characteristics combined with the tubes still hanging from her body screamed drug addiction. It is my hypothesis that she had been treated for an overdose and left the hospital without being discharged. Her unfortunate circumstances reinforced the importance of preventing drug abuse, in my eyes. The idea that I may be able to help people like her in the future inspires me to continue on this path.
Brice Rider 