awareness
From Sci-Fi to Surgery: Exploring Neuro-Enhancement Technologies
By Larissa Werneck For centuries, the idea of enhancing human cognition has captivated scientists and thinkers alike. Early experiments in brain augmentation, such as Roberts Bartholow’s 1874 electrical brain stimulation, laid the foundation for further exploration (Patra et al., 2019). Today, rapid technological advancements and increasing scientific curiosity have led to a surge in neuro-enhancement research (Clark et al., 2014). These innovations are revolutionizing healthcare, particularly in surgery, where they are used therapeutically (Giordano, 2012) and to enhance surgical performance (Patel et al., 2020). As research in this area expands, neuro-enhancement technologies hold the potential to revolutionize surgical practice, pushing the limits of precision, stamina, and ethics. How will this rapidly evolving field reshape the future of surgery? Neuro-enhancement technologies are various tools aimed at optimizing cognitive and neurological functions, either by enhancing existing abilities or compensating for deficits (Giordano, 2012). Examples of these technologies include brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), neurofeedback...
Sustainability, and Beyond…Another Case for the Resurgence of Private Practices
By… Erin King-Mullins, MD Sustainability has become a critical concern across all sectors, and the healthcare industry is no exception. While large hospital systems often grab headlines for their sustainability initiatives, private medical practices are emerging as unsung heroes in the quest for a more environmentally friendly and sustainable healthcare system. Physicians and trainees are grappling with tough decisions regarding the type of employment. One of the many concerns pertains to sustainability (including self-preservation). Let's explore how smaller, more agile entities are making a significant impact in this arena. Reduced Energy Consumption Private practices typically operate in smaller spaces compared to sprawling hospital complexes. Whether by using smaller office spaces and on site staff, or performing operations in ambulatory surgical centers, this inherently leads to lower energy consumption for heating, cooling, and lighting. In my practice, I utilize a virtual medical assistant to help with patient callbacks, scheduling and many...
Becoming part of the pathway
By Shaidy Moronta, DO I march along to different appointments with my elderly grandparents—a normal routine for first-generation non-English speaking immigrants. We prefer to serve as the primary interpreters for our family. In many cases, this is our first introduction to the medical field. In other cases, it is where we find our life’s calling. I recall a particular appointment with my Abuelita for a colonoscopy screening. The doctor, an African American man who led a very pleasant appointment, tried to explain the plan in Spanish as best he could. My Abuelita began to weep immediately. She was in this country for less than a year and was navigating the foreign world of medicine in a language she could not comprehend. This was the first physician who tried to speak to her in her language. At that moment I realized just how important it was to feel seen, to be...
The Evolution of Women in Surgery: Defying Barriers and Shaping Medical History
By: Andrea Iturralde, MD Women in surgery have been in a constant state of evolution. In the early history of medicine, women played a fundamental role in surgery, but by the Middle Ages, they were forbidden from practicing. Despite these restrictions, women found ways to remain involved, demonstrating that when a woman has a dream and a strong desire, she doesn't let go. In Greek mythology, Asclepius, the god of healing, married Epione. They had five immortal daughters and two mortal sons. Their daughters—Hygieia, Aceso, Iaso, Aegle, and Panacea—were all physicians who represented different stages of the healing process and pharmaceutical treatment (Filippou et al., 2020). In the 11th and 12th centuries, another remarkable woman, Trota of Salerno (also known as Trotula), contributed as a practitioner and writer to the medical field. She was part of the Medical School of Salerno and was responsible for important advances in education and...
All the things I do for free (Women do more “non-promotable work”)
By Carmen Fong, MD, FACS I always said yes. That’s what you’re supposed to do, right? Always say yes because you don’t know which opportunity is going to be “the one” that launches your career into orbit. So I said yes to organizing the lunch orders when the drug reps came; I said yes to an extra teaching session about bowel obstructions for the PAs; I said yes to Saturday morning medical school interviews, and Friday afternoon laparoscopic workshops, and joining XYZ committees on which I was the token Asian lesbian. I thought, someday, all this hard work, all this extra time I’m putting in, will get recognized. Little did I know that none of these things counted toward the most important benchmarks of productivity and publication. At the end of the year, when the hospital administrators have you justify your bonus, they ask you what your relative value units...
Food as fuel: optimizing health in med school, residency, and beyond
By Maya Zhou The phrase “food as fuel” is not a novel concept, but I didn’t fully appreciate the truth in this phrase until I started my surgery rotations in medical school. Studying nutrition in college, I experimented in my own kitchen to come up with convenient and simple recipes that I could rely on when on a time crunch. I tried cooking with new vegetables (like collard greens and artichoke) and proteins (like tempeh) that I hadn’t tried before, and I found ways to incorporate them into recipes that I cooked regularly. In medical school, during my surgery rotations, time became a precious resource, and cooking everyday was no longer realistic. It became more challenging to consume a balanced diet every day. Through trial and error, I developed a reliable and realistic method to optimize nutritional intake every day, and wanted to share this in case it would be...
Bienvenidos, Hispanic Heritage Month is here!
By Susana Vargas Pinto, MD September 15 to October 15 is a significant period dedicated to recognizing and honoring the contributions, history, and culture of Hispanic and Latino Americans. This observance was officially established in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan, though its roots stretch back to the 1960s. The celebration offers an opportunity to reflect on the diverse heritage of Spanish-speaking countries and the impact these communities have had on the fabric of American society. The timing of Hispanic Heritage Month is symbolic: September 15 marks the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The choice of this date as the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month serves as a reminder of the historical and cultural significance of Latin American independence movements. Additionally, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively, further anchoring this period...
Trauma: The Hidden Dimensions of a Universal Struggle and Strategies for Overcoming It
By Barbara Buccilli MD Trauma is an omnipresent force in our lives, manifesting in various forms and degrees of severity. We encounter it in our patients, our neighbors, sometimes within our own families, and we can also experience it first hand. As a medical professional, I am acutely aware of the diverse nature of trauma, raging from physical injuries to the psychological wounds inflicted by life’s hardships. Neurosurgical trauma is a field characterized by its fast pace, high stakes, and the necessity for precise decision-making under pressure. When I’m working with one of the most delicate organs in the body, in which every nucleus and every fiber has its precise and often irreplaceable function, my actions can have an immediate and tangible impact on a patient's survival and quality of life. Trauma to the brain and nervous system is multifaceted, and despite advances in medical science, we often lack definitive...
Breaking Barriers: My Journey As A Female Img And How The Association Of Women Surgeons Fueled My Surgical Aspirations
By Yashjot Kaur From a small town in India to the vast medical community in the United States, my journey as an International Medical Graduate (IMG) has been one of resilience, discovery, and growth. When I decided to pursue a residency in the U.S., I had few opportunities available. As a first-generation medical student, the first in my family to ever take an international flight, and from a background where neither of my parents spoke English fluently, my journey has had many peaks and valleys. In my first year of medical school, I fell in love with anatomy. As an artist at heart, surgery combined my passion for art and anatomy. Crafting mandala art, with its intricate designs and attention to detail, mirrors the precision required in surgery, and, very much like art, surgery provides me with an opportunity to work with my hands. When I decided to pursue a...
Need extra board exam preparation? Try Chat GPT…
By Alicia Podwojniak M4 Everyone has mixed opinions about Chat GPT and other forms of artificial intelligence. When the concept began to gain traction last year, I found myself viewing it in a negative light. I distinctly remember a friend teasing me about how Chat GPT would soon take away all our jobs. She even pointed out that it had passed the USMLE Step exams, which triggered a defensive response from me. The idea of a robot passing an exam that I, and many others, had stressed over for years made me quickly dismiss the notion. A few months later, I had a change of heart. I realized that AI was not just a passing trend but rather, becoming a substantial presence in our lives. I felt like I was being stubborn and resistant to change, much like my parents during the tech boom of the early 2000s. I understood...
