Student Profile: Claire Swift
It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but what’s the look on a patient’s face worth? For Claire Swift, it’s priceless.
The Grand Rapids junior, who is pursing a career in medicine, recently completed hospital rotations at Mid-Michigan Health Center—Gratiot. She says observing a patient with Parkinson’s disease was something she’ll never forget.
“The doctor helped the patient roll over on her back for the first time in 10 years, and the look on her face was the best thing I’ve ever seen,” she says. “She was so thankful that someone cared enough to help her to do something that’s normally taken for granted. I want to do that for someone.”
During this experience, the chemistry major also found a few more reasons to diagnose herself as a future doctor. Swift says the doctors she worked with were inspiring.
“A lot of the doctors there were there because they genuinely care about their patients,” she says. “My ultimate dream is to be a primary care physician. I want to work for Doctors Without Borders and help care for people around the world.”
On campus, Swift says she sees that same kindness through one-on-one interaction with professors like Eric Calhoun, assistant professor of biology.
“There was an assignment I was really struggling with, and Dr. Calhoun helped me for a good hour on it,” she says. “All the professors care so much about their students.”
