Currently interning in dermatology during the summer.
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – In this Scholar-Athlete Spotlight, we look at Florida Tech women's lacrosse player Sophia Ciccilone.
This summer, the Lake Worth, Florida native is gaining valuable experience through an internship in her field of choice. We caught up with Ciccilone to learn more about this exciting opportunity.
Which company will you be internning at this summer? What is your title and role within the company?
This summer I am interning as a medical assistant at Palm Beach Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. My role is to perform administrative and clinical tasks such as scheduling appointments, taking patients' vital signs, and assisting the physicians with anything they need.
What attracted you to this internship and what steps did you have to take to secure a position within the company?
After interning at a dermatology clinic last summer, I wanted to broaden my experience and be in an environment where I could learn different aspects of the field.
The intimate atmosphere of a small office was also appealing to me. My internship last summer gave me a lot of hands-on experience working with patients, which helped me qualify for this amazing internship.
This summer, I had the unique opportunity to work closely with Dr. Banionis and learn his expertise first-hand. What initially drew me to this internship was his well-established reputation in the Palm Beach area.
He is known and respected for his exceptional patient care and transformational impact across a variety of areas including pain management, aesthetics, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and peptide therapies.
What are some of the interesting jobs or projects you've had the opportunity to be a part of?
I have had the privilege of participating in and learning from several exciting new challenges and projects, including Dr. Banionis's peptide therapy and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
These cutting edge treatments are not widely practiced among physicians. Peptide therapy utilizes specific peptides to initiate physiological processes that support healing, cellular repair and overall health. By mimicking natural biological molecules that regulate bodily functions, it addresses a variety of health concerns, including hormone imbalances and weight management issues.
Additionally, Dr. Banionis is making a major impact nationwide with his Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, which uses hormones that are molecularly identical to those the body produces naturally to correct imbalances and deficiencies.
“These treatments effectively relieve symptoms associated with menopause, andropause, thyroid disease, and other hormone imbalances. These treatments have the potential to benefit countless people, and I am incredibly grateful and excited to be involved and learn more.”
What was your major at Florida Tech? Why did you choose this direction in your education and was this something you always wanted to pursue?
My major at Florida Tech is Biomedical Sciences, and I chose this path because I have been interested in the medical field since I was a child.
Through extensive research and internships in various healthcare facilities, I realized that I am passionate about the role of becoming a Physician Assistant. Pursuing the PA path is a clear choice for me as it perfectly aligns with my career aspirations.
How has being a scholar-athlete helped you in the work you are doing now in your internship? What skills did you gain from your experience as a scholar-athlete that helped you in your internship?
As a student-athlete, my organizational and communication skills have served me well in my role as a medical assistant intern. Excellent communication skills allow me to interact confidently and empathetically with both patients and medical professionals.
What skills did you learn during your internship that will be useful in the field at Florida Tech?
Teamwork and leadership are key qualities that significantly enhance on-field performance at Florida Polytechnic University. Throughout my internship experience, I have worked closely with my team to work towards common goals and overcome office challenges, which reflects the collaborative spirit of sports teamwork.
Furthermore, effective leadership in the sports world requires not only leading by example with dedication, but also motivating and inspiring teammates to excel. My internship taught me valuable lessons in developing and assuming leadership roles in a small office environment, where initiative and teamwork are key ingredients for success.
How will your internship prepare you for the career you want after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to attend PA school, and through this internship, I am gaining the hours and work experience necessary to apply to PA programs.
What advice would you give to other scholar-athletes or future scholar-athletes looking to follow a similar path?
Another piece of advice for scholar-athletes looking to follow a similar path is to start early: Start an apprenticeship as a medical assistant as soon as possible to gain experience.
It's never too late to get started, and the more experience and connections you accumulate before applying to PA programs, the stronger your application will be.
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