Lee Memorial Health System offers a distinct medical education program to over a few dozen selected students every year.

Students come from medical schools around the southeast to join Lee Memorials medical education program. It's a chance for medical students to experience a wide range of specialties within one year. "What's unique about our program is that these students will work as 3rd year students hand in hand with doctors which not a lot of programs do this because of interns, fellows, and residents who are ahead of them," says Family Physician Dr. Peter Lautenbach.

This opportunity allows for earlier exposures to different medical situation. For instance, Keith Claussen is first assistant to surgery; his reason for choosing this program was more than the great weather. "The main reason I chose this program was because there wasn't a residency program here. You get really involved, the doctors are really great here as far as getting you experience and getting you to see what's really important with clinical experience."

Here in the intensive care unit, medical student are exposed to patients with all types of critical health conditions. With their mentors by their sides, they are able to make a big difference in their patient's lives. Dr. Sunil Pammi, Intensivist, says "The students are able to interact learn those things that I said are not in the textbooks, on the other hand the patients are getting someone who is giving a little more feedback."

Nate Polite, a medical student, works side by side with Dr. Scott and Dr. Pammi. As his experience grows, so does his responsibility. Nate tells us, "I will tell them what I am thinking and they will tell me 'no you're wrong, here's what you should be thinking"

These doctors of the future consider themselves lucky to have role models by their side. The big differences in today's medical programs from the past are the 80-hour limit workweek and the increasing role of women in the industry.