Julia Reid

Class of 2024
Major: Behavioral Neuroscience
Minor: Spanish

Last spring, I completed a co-op working as a medical assistant in the Ambulatory Float Pool at Beth Israel Lahey Health. As a medical assistant, I took patient’s vitals, roomed patients, scheduled appointments, and assisted doctors with tasks. Since I was in the float pool, I got to work in multiple clinics and work with a wide variety of patients, including Spanish-speaking patients. The Spanish classes I have taken gave me the confidence and ability to effectively communicate with Spanish-speaking patients. Even though my Spanish wasn’t perfect, it was clear that the majority of patients appreciated being able to talk with someone at the doctor’s office in their language. I helped them make appointments, got the information needed for the doctors, and made conversation with the patients. Overall, it was a great experience, and I am glad I got to use Spanish while working in my desired field.