Muhlenberg athletes are spending the summer of 2025 enjoying fantastic experiences on campus, in their hometowns, and across the country.

Senior women's tennis player Caitlin Bestrycki, a psychology major, gained context to the knowledge she's learned in her coursework by interning at a large community health center.

This summer, I've been interning at The Wright Center for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, specifically at their Mid-Valley clinic in Pennsylvania. The Wright Center is known for its strong commitment to patient-centered care and its mission to provide affordable, accessible healthcare to underserved populations.

I was especially excited to be placed at one of their largest and most diverse medical sites, which offers everything from internal medicine and pediatrics to behavioral health, dentistry, optometry, addiction recovery services, and even on-site lab testing. Each day is different, and I've been able to observe a wide range of patient needs and how different areas of healthcare connect in real time.

At the start of my internship, I shadowed several types of healthcare professionals — including physicians, residents, nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), and medical assistants (MAs). That experience gave me a front-row seat to the day-to-day responsibilities of each role and, more importantly, showed me how deeply collaborative the work is.

I then shifted into working on a project aimed at closing a specific gap in patient care that the clinic identified. This involved reviewing patient charts across different networks, coordinating with care teams, and speaking directly with patients about the importance of follow-up screenings. That face-to-face interaction really reminded me why I'm passionate about going into medicine in the first place.

I put together a poster presentation of this work with a fellow intern placed within a different department. We were then able to compile the data we found separately and see what effects we both had.

I chose this internship because I wanted more than just textbook learning — I wanted to be in a space where I could see how medicine works within a real community. What stood out most to me was how The Wright Center goes beyond just treating illness. Patients receive help with things like job placement, transportation to medical appointments, emotional support, and even access to clothing and food if needed. It's powerful to witness a healthcare team that not only treats the body but also considers the full picture of what a patient is going through.

Being able to observe how social care and clinical care intertwine has made me more determined to build that same kind of empathy and flexibility into my future career.

As a student-athlete on the pre-med track, this experience has helped me balance the mental and physical demands that will come with a career in medicine. I've learned how fast-paced clinical settings are, but I've also learned the importance of slowing down and listening to patients. It's made me more focused and more grounded. I've gained technical skills too — like how to navigate different patient care platforms, electronic health records, and care coordination tools — which will be useful no matter what medical path I choose.

Most importantly, I now have a stronger sense of what kind of doctor I want to be and what kind of impact I hope to make.

I'm really grateful to the Muhlenberg Career Center for helping me polish my resume before applying to this internship. I'm also thankful for my science professors and classmates, who pushed me academically and helped me build the foundation I needed to step confidently into this space. The classroom gave me the knowledge, but this internship gave me the context.

One of the most memorable moments of my internship was when a patient came in with a concern that was really impacting their daily life. I got to be part of a discussion with two providers and a PA to figure out the best course of action for their treatment. Once we agreed on a plan, I went into the room with one of the doctors, introduced myself to the patient, and listened as the doctor carefully explained the non-invasive procedure we were going to do. With the patient's approval, I was able to assist during the procedure, which was a really meaningful experience for me.

Afterward the patient was so appreciative and thanked us for the care we provided. That moment stood out because I got to see the full picture — from understanding the issue, working through a plan, and actually being a part of the solution. It reminded me why I wanted to pursue a career in medicine in the first place.