Fellows
Basics of AI in Healthcare & Surgery
By: Brielle Ochoa On PubMed, the number of publications for “artificial intelligence” (AI) and “surgery” ten years ago was less than 100. In 2023, this number was up to nearly 3,500. But what basics should you know about AI in general in healthcare and surgery? AI is an umbrella term for a wide range of technologies, which share the goal of mimicking human intelligence and cognitive function and processing. AI includes large language models, robots, machine learning, deep learning, neural networks, and artificial general intelligence; while beyond the scope of this post, these terms are interrelated but distinct from one another. AI can be used in a variety of general healthcare and surgical applications, including algorithms for clinical decision making, as part of technology in medical devices, for pattern recognition in images and videos, and for preparation of written documents, such as research manuscripts and patient educational information. AI must...
Navigating Science Policy as a Medical Doctor: Strategies for Engaging Beyond the Clinic
By Sewar Banimusa, MS3 In the realm of healthcare, the influence of medical doctors transcends the boundaries of clinicalsettings. Beyond diagnosing ailments and administering treatments, there lies a realm wheremedical professionals wield the power to shape policies that profoundly impact the health andwell-being of entire populations. Engaging in science policy empowers medical doctors toharness their expertise and advocate for evidence-based solutions to pressing health challenges. Science policy encompasses the intersection of science, technology, and society - guidingdecisions that affect research funding, healthcare delivery, public health initiatives, and regulatory frameworks. For physicians, involvement in science policy represents an opportunity to contribute to the greater good and drive positive change beyond individual patient interactions. Navigating the landscape of science policy can seem daunting at first, but there are numerous opportunities to start navigating your passion. Here are some ways to start your science policy career: Joining professional organizations dedicated to health policy...
Tackling Imposter Syndrome by Embracing Failure
By: Rachel Akers Failure is something I’ve become intimately acquainted with throughout my career. I’m not alone in this. We can all recall instances in our professional lives where things haven’t gone our way, and we’ve failed to reach the expectations set by our educators, mentors, colleagues, families, or ourselves. Failure can be painful, embarrassing, and even harmful for those in the medical profession, and it’s not easy to talk about with others. As students transition to residents and eventually become attending physicians, our understanding of failure changes in tandem with our values. New responsibilities like parenthood, caring for your own aging parents, repaying gargantuan loans, and being directly in charge of patients’ well-being supersede the worries of passing exams or confidently blurting out a wrong answer. Regardless of the nature of a mistake or the level of training you’re at, failures shouldn’t be seen as something shameful to hide...
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...
Happy Five Year Anniversary, AWS Blog!
By Jane Zhao It has been FIVE years since we launched the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS): Inspiring & Encouraging Women Surgeons Blog. AWS launched the blog during a time when there were ZERO other surgical specialties that had social media platforms. The AWS was light years ahead of the curve. So much progress has been made in the past half of a decade; in addition to the success of the blog, the AWS social media presence has now evolved to become one of the leading organizations among surgical professional societies. We highlight some of the accomplishments made by women across surgery and within our own organization since 2013. When we started this blog in 2013, few surgeons were on social media or blogging yet. In 2018, we have so many interested contributors that we have grown from monthly pieces to weekly scheduled posts. With over forty thousand followers across...
Defining the Resident Role in the Operating Room
In recent years, expectations and requirements for attending supervision of residents in the operating room has increased. This has led to ambiguity for both residents and attendings as to how and when operative autonomy is earned, appropriate, and safe. Another area of uncertainty is when, how, and by whom the resident’s role should be described and explained to the patient. Research in thoracic surgery by Meyerson et al. showed that while trainees’ and attendings’ expectations of resident autonomy did not differ, both groups expected higher levels of autonomy than were observed. The January #AWSchat will explore these issues through facilitated questions led by three distinguished moderators: Dr. Shari Meyerson (@lungteacher), thoracic surgeon and Program Director for the General and Thoracic Surgery Residency Programs at Northwestern, Feinberg School of Medicine Dr. Nell Maloney Patel (@MaloneyNell), AWS member, colorectal surgeon, and General Surgery Residency Program Director at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical...
