awareness
How to make the best of your surgery rotation during your 3rd year of medical school
By Anna Sabu Kurian Third year of medical school is one of the most important and interesting times because it helps you find your specialty of choice in medicine. The world of surgery might seem intimidating as a medical student, but there is enough room for everyone to learn and make the most out of the clinical rotation. The clerkship duties include daily rounds, operating room experience and clinics. Here are a few suggestions for the optimal third year experience in the operating room Read about the specific surgical procedures the night before they are scheduled. Make sure to review the anatomy; and vasculature of different structures involved. The surgery textbook by Dr. Virgilio is a good resource. Practice suturing, one hand ties (make sure that you know how to do them with either of your hands), two hand ties and instrument ties. Reference below for a video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/@dr.omedary8170...
New technologies in neurosurgery
By: Barbara Buccilli, MD Of all the things I learned in medical school, the one lesson that will always stay with me throughout my career is that medicine is continually evolving, and as doctors, we must evolve with it. While we receive our medical school degrees, we should never leave medical school completely behind, as medicine will outpace us if we do. This profession is for individuals who have an insatiable hunger for learning, much like a shark's constant need to swim. We should continuously pursue new technologies until they become the standard of care, and even then, we should remain open to newer technologies replacing them. Over the past year, I have developed a fascination with magnetic brain stimulation, the integration of virtual reality and robotics in stroke recovery, and brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies. How far can we push these new techniques, and how far can they push us?...
Medical Student Mental Health and Wellbeing
By Karla Arana As a fourth year medical student going through the residency application process, I have been told that residency only gets harder, with increased responsibility and longer hours. Especially as a student applying to general surgery, many have warned me that the idea of work-life balance is not applicable to the field. Through conversations with residents and fellow medical students, I have noted that many find the clinical years to be the most mentally taxing. Between studying for step exams, studying for shelf exams, and constantly being evaluated by different teams on rotations, the stress can be difficult to manage. A study out of Harvard Medical School demonstrated the prevalence of depression in students at 27.2% and in residents at 28.8% (Study). In comparison, the prevalence of a major depressive episode among 18-25 year-olds in the general public is 9.3% (Study). Researchers have hypothesized different reasons for the...
Balancing a Career as a Surgeon-Scientist
By: Kavitha Ranganathan, MD Satisfaction in one’s career can come from a variety of places. In fact, most of the time, it has to come from a variety of places. Don’t place all your eggs in one basket, they say. While a surgical career is unparalleled in the achievement of instant gratification, the daily reminder that healthcare isn’t perfect can also be a source of mental exhaustion. Being a surgeon-scientist is one way to address this. The scientist part of this career choice allows you to balance your short- and long-term visions, and amplify your contributions to the next generation. Importantly, however, it can be challenging to balance a clinical career alongside research acumen and productivity. Protecting your time for research and clinical care, securing grant funding, and staying resilient amidst unique challenges in two different worlds is tough. Below are some tips I believe to be helpful for those...
Difficult Conversations: a Resident’s Perspective
By Dr. Kathryn McElhinney One of the most challenging aspects of our careers as surgeons is delivering bad news to patients, but it is also one of our most important jobs. No matter the subspecialty, every surgeon has to have frank conversations about unexpected outcomes or diagnoses with their patients. There are a number of different formal and informal curriculums that have been proposed on how to teach residents how to navigate difficult conversations with patients and their families but no singular method prevails. As a resident, it is the ultimate opportunity to learn how to master these communication, empathy, and leadership skills. 1. Embrace the opportunity to learn and be uncomfortable No one enjoys telling a family that the diagnosis is likely terminal or that the next best step in care may not be the surgery that they have been told would solve all their problems. It is okay...
No Longer Radical Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomies: An Informed and Personal Choice
By Dr. Victoria Haney and Dr. Christy Teal As of 2020, breast cancer has become the most common cancer in the world (study). Overall survival has significantly increased in the past 20 years due to improvements in chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, genetic testing, and imaging studies used for screening (ACS statistics). Still, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. As women surgeons, the likelihood that our friends, family members, patients, or even ourselves will be affected by breast cancer is almost guaranteed. For most women, breast cancer is diagnosed in its early stages due to widespread screening initiatives for annual mammograms (ASBS screenings). Many patients with invasive cancers undergo breast-conserving therapy, or lumpectomy, along with adjuvant radiation. This treatment is well-established to have similar survival outcomes when compared to mastectomy (study). During treatment, patients will often ask the question, “What if it happens again on...
Awake Surgery
By Dr. Barbara Buccilli My initial exposure to neurosurgery was through awake surgery. I began my internship in the department, and I immediately joined an ongoing research project on awake surgeries for arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). This may seem unusual, but when considering my fascination with this type of surgery and my overall obsession with the nervous system, it becomes less surprising. These factors drew me closer to the field and motivated me to pursue that internship. The significance of awake procedures in neurosurgery extends beyond the remarkable experience of having our hands on a patient's brain while they engage in activities like reciting Shakespeare, answering questions, or singing a tune. Brain tumors, AVMs, and other lesions can often be located within or near eloquent areas of the brain, necessitating a delicate balance between efficient removal of affected tissue and preservation of function. Asleep-awake-asleep procedures have transformed these operations from a...
Representation in social media matters: interview with Dr. Betsy Grunch, MD, FAANS, FACS
Interview by Agata A. Szulia, MD This series of interviews seeks to amplify the voices of female surgeons who are actively engaged on social media. Through sharing their perspectives, expertise, glimpses into their professional and private lives - including both challenges and moments of levity - these remarkable women contribute to creating an accurate and authentic portrayal of women in surgery. By engaging with millions of people on social media, they help to dismantle barriers for women in surgery and serve as a profound source of inspiration for aspiring and current surgeons alike. Dr. Betsy Grunch is a board-certified neurosurgeon at Longstreet Clinic in Gainesville, Georgia. She received her degree in Biology from the University of Georgia and graduated from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Dr. Grunch completed her residency at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, where she also completed her fellowship training in spine...
Making the Most of Your Research Year
By: Charlotte Berry Research years during medical school are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among students interested in surgical subspecialties. Data support the notion that medical students who take research years are more likely to remain academically productive throughout their careers. As a student between MS3 and MS4, currently wrapping up the first year of a two-year research fellowship, I have been reflecting on what has worked well for me, the best advice I have received, and what I wish I had known when I first started. Balance productivity and personal well-being Compared to the structured environments of lecture halls or hospital wards, research time offers more flexibility and allows you to take leadership over your schedule. While it's important to be dedicated to your research, do not neglect your personal well-being. Taking care of yourself will contribute to your overall productivity and happiness during your research year. When you are...
Active Allyship – Beyond Rainbows and Parades
By Lauren B. Nosanov, MD A few months ago, I was out to dinner with my family at a local restaurant when my 11 year-old son sighted a classmate sitting nearby. His excited wave was met with a somewhat urgent beckoning from his friend, so he ran over to chat. After a few minutes of intense, furtive discussion, he returned to the table. Unprompted, he explained that his friend was non-binary but was struggling with open communication in their home environment and was concerned about what pronouns my son might use in front of their parent. As he rambled on, I took a moment to reflect on his unwitting soapbox, notable for its simultaneous casualness and passion. His intense need to protect his friend’s right to self-identification, as well as his insistence on educating us, projected a profound respect for otherness and a deep kindness. The quest to find your...
