Megan Mlinaric ’26, biochemistry, and chemistry with a pre-med focus, spent her summer immersed in an intensive six-week internship with the Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute. Her experience, marked by unique clinical exposure and diverse learning opportunities, has only strengthened her commitment to pursuing a career in medicine.
"I started the first week of July, and it was six weeks. I was an intern with the University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Research and Clinical Trials," said Mlinaric. Growing up, she had always been fascinated by medicine, partly inspired by her mom. "I’ve always really been interested in medicine, and my mom’s a nurse. That’s kind of why I wanted to go into medicine. I grew up around the hospital."
Mlinaric’s role at the institute was multifaceted. From day one, she was plunged into the fast-paced world of cardiology.
“The first week was surgery. I was thrown right in. I was up at 6 a.m., and they had to teach me how to scrub in and the procedures behind that,” she said. “The doctors would explain the case to me, and then I got to observe it.”
Mlinaric witnessed three open-heart surgeries, including the intense process of stopping and restarting the heart on a bypass machine.
“It was such an amazing thing to see the heart and see them crack open the chest. All of the surgeries I observed were bypass. So basically, they stop the heart, and the bypass machine is the heart because it flows the blood. From seeing it beating to not, and then seeing them shock it to start back up, it was so cool,” Mlinaric said, recalling the awe she felt in the operating room.
Mlinaric’s experience extended beyond traditional cardiology; she also explored the field of anesthesiology, shadowing an anesthesiologist and learning about the tools and techniques involved.
“I shadowed the anesthesiologist, and he showed me what he does. Then he put me in a room with the CRNAs and an anesthesiologist assistant. They were teaching me how all the equipment works, what they’re doing, and what their role is,” said Mlinaric.
This experience broadened her understanding of different specialties, even as she grappled with choosing a future focus. “I will be applying to med schools in the future and people ask what I want to specialize in, I have no idea.”
The internship also introduced Mlinaric to cardio-oncology.
“I also got to shadow a cardio-oncologist. They work very closely with oncology and cancer research. They check on the heart before people can be approved for chemotherapy or stem cell transplants,” said Mlinaric.
Observing the interaction between cardiology and oncology gave Mlinaric a valuable perspective on the interconnected nature of medical fields. “I really liked seeing the doctor-patient interactions.”
In addition to her clinical experiences, Mlinaric was involved in community outreach. At Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, she helped run a heart health information table and shared knowledge on heart-healthy foods and pacemakers.
“It was important to me to see everyday people interested in the heart,” said Mlinaric. “We had a table with information on heart-healthy foods. We also had pacemakers and valve replacements for people to see.”
Reflecting on her experience, Mlinaric feels more confident than ever about her career path.
“It was really helpful for me to do this. Before I did this internship, I wasn’t sure being a doctor was for me,” said Mlinaric. “I love helping others, I love teaching, and seeing it all combined, it really feels like this is what I do: help people.”
Returning to Capital with a renewed sense of purpose, Mlinaric was excited to dive back into her classes.
"I’ve always been very academically driven, but coming back after this internship, I was really excited for my future,” said Mlinaric.
For more information about chemistry and biochemistry at Capital, visit http://2uva.najwc.com/academics/chemistry-and-biochemistry/.
To learn about pre-med and health specializations at Capital, visit http://2uva.najwc.com/academics/pre-med-and-health-specializations/.